Ranee Ganoy-Fernando Angulo May Be in Jeopardy

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

The IBF lightweight title eliminator between the Philippines Ranee “KO Kid” Ganoy and American Fernando Angulo at the Carousel near Pretoria on Friday night (Saturday in Manila) has been threatened by the political turmoil in Thailand.

That’s because Thailand’s Devid Lookmahanak  (18-2, 9 KO’s) who is scheduled to battle South Africa’s undefeated  Evans Mbamba (15-0, 7 KO’s) in a WBC junior bantamweight title eliminator has been unable to get a flight out of Bangkok where the two airports have been taken over by anti-government demonstrators.

While Lookmanahak was scheduled to arrive in South Africa on Monday, Ganoy has been there since then along with trainer Hermie Bohol, son of Dido Bohol who has a stable of Filipino boxers in Sydney, Australia.

Well known WBC 2007 “International Promoter of the Year” Branco Milenkovic is hoping that with the situation in Thailand easing a little, Lookmahanak will be able to catch a flight for South Africa Wednesday otherwise the card may have to becalled off since the Thai is fighting in the main event.

Reigning IBF Pan Pacific lightweight champion Ganoy  won the vacant title with an 8th round KO of former world title challenger Robbie Peden who dropped a twelve round decision to Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera. Ganoy retained the title with a 2nd round knockout of Somchai Nakbalee in a grudge rematch on November 30, 2007. The Sydney-based is coming off a 2nd round KO of another Thai, Sapapetch Sor Sakaorat last July 19 although it wasn’t an impressive showing by Ganoy who simply overwhelmed his opponent with his power.

Angulo is coming off a 3rd round KO of Brazil’s Daniel Souza Santos last August 30.  Angulo had earlier lost a twelve round decision in a WBA title fight against Juan Diaz on November 4, 2006.

Mbamba successfully defended his WBC International super flyweight title with a split decision win over Unathi Ggokoma last January 18 while Lookmahanak lost a twelve round unanimous decision to Mexican warrior Jorge Arce in a WBC title eliminator.

The Thai’s only other loss was a stunning 2nd round TKO at the hands of hard-hitting Filipino Richard Olisa on August 17, 2007.