By Rey Danseco
CUNETA Astrodome in southern Manila’s Pasay City has been chosen as venue of the title fight between champion Jun Paderna and challenger Chotipath Wongprated, as they battle for the Pan Asian Boxing Association (PABA) super featherweight belt on September 16.
Promoter Rex “Wakee” Salud personally choose the newly renovated gym in Pasay City, saying the 10,000 seat air-conditioned stadium is fit for a huge boxing event like the third title defense of the 23-year old Filipino champion.
“Malaking card ito kaya ayos na ayos ang Astrodome na venue,” said Salud to this writer yesterday over the telephone.
The last time Cuneta Astrodome hosted a huge boxing card was in April 25, 1998 when Salud bankrolled the card where Gerry Penalosa defended the World Boxing Council super flyweight title over top ranked challenger Joel Luna Zarate of Mexico in a mandatory fight.
The fight was stopped in the second round after a head butt by challenger cause a cut under Penalosa’s right eyebrow. Penalosa was landing jabs to Zarate's head when the two clinched briefly about halfway through the round.
When American referee Richard Steele separated the two boxers, blood flowed profusely from Penalosa’s injury. The fight was declared a technical draw.
During the announcement ceremony and crowd mobbed Penalosa in the ring, including then president Fidel Ramos, one side of the ring partly collapsed due to the over weight of the crowd of photographers and others who swarmed toward the fighters. No one was hurt.
In Paderna’s defense, Salud assured of having a first class ring as he wants to prepare exciting matches in the undercard.
Malabon City-based boxers Rene Banares and Rex Migrino both signed over the weekend to fight Salud’s Cebu-based fighters, Aljun Salogaol and Rey Orais, respectively for 10-round non-title fights.
Banares, a former RP contender, takes on Salogaol in 114-pound limit while Migrino agreed to fight Orais in 109-lb limit.
Paderna (12-6-1, 6 KOs) will put the title on the line for third time after he retained it with whom he captured the belt, Suttisak Samaksaman in a rematch in Thailand and hand-picked challenger Kularbdang Kiatkrerin in Rajah Sulaiman, Manila last April.
Wongprated is currently rated No. 11 by PABA. He is a former amateur boxer who captured a gold medal in the 2001 Southeast Asian Games and bronze medal in 1998 Asian Games in 54 kilograms division.
