By Ronnie Nathanielsz

World-rated WBO Intercontinental junior featherweight champion Ramie Laput (36-3, 19 KO’s) faces super featherweight Rene Bucag who has just 4 wins against 9 defeats in a fight card to be staged in Bucag’s hometown of Zamboanga City on Friday.

Laput is one of the talented  boxers from the American Boxing Academy based in Digos, Davao.

ABA manager Ken Smith conceded in an email to BoxingScene.com, insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports that while Bucag is bigger than the WBO’s No. 7  ranked Laput he is “obviously overmatched.”

In an effort to downplay the mismatch Smith made it clear they were using the fight as a preparation for Laput’s impending fight abroad He said “Ramie is just taking this bout to stay busy until we finalize the upcoming bout overseas.”

Laput won the WBO Intercontinental title with a twelve round unanimous decision over Donriel Marcos last December 21 while Bucag lost by a 6th round TKO to Elmer Legaria last January 15 after he was dropped twice by powerful hooks to the body in round six forcing the referee to call a halt.

Also on the card will be another fancied product of the American Boxing Academy, the Philippines No. 1 rated flyweight Fernando Lumacad (18-1-2, 7 KO’s) who is scheduled to face Arnold Montojo of Bohol in a rematch. Their last meeting ended in a technical draw when the fight was stopped following an accidental clash of heads in the fourth round last November 28..

According to boxrec.com Montojo has a record of 1-5-1 with 0 KO’s.

Lumacad on the other hand won the WBO Oriental flyweight interim title with a ten round unanimous decision over Dondon Jimenea last December 21.

Smith also informed is that the ABA is expecting to showcase up and coming super flyweight, undefeated Bert Udtuhan (7-0, 6 KO’s) in a six round clash against another reportedly unbeaten fighter Kent Marmol of Zamboanga.

Undefeated Ricardo Claveria (7-0, 4 KO’s) a crowd-pleasing slugger will take on BroBro Languido over six rounds while ABA featherweight Cerilo Espino who has a record of 8 wins against 2 losses with 6 knockouts faces tough hometown boy Rolando Teofilo over eight rounds.

Rounding out the card will be undefeated upstart Joebert “Sugar” De Los Reyes (3-0) against Nelson Nabi in a four round bout.