Sande Otieno Focused on Dominating Bangoyan on 10/10

By Rey Danseco

WBC International super bantamweight champion Sande Otieno arrived from Kenya on Saturday in preparation for his title defense against Filipino challenger Balweg Bangoyan on October 10 in Davao City, in Southern Philippines.

Otieno, who is ranked No. 11 in the world by the WBC, said he’s confident that he will shame Bangoyan before the Filipino fans in their scheduled 12-round bout at the Rizal Memorial College Gym in Davao City.

After matchmaker Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr. welcomed the Kenyans in Manila upon their arrival around 3:40pm after a 15-hour flight from Nairobi, Bangoyan’s handler Mayor Mayor Zhander Khan, aka Alex Wangkay, of Jose Abad Santos, Davao del Sur fetched the Team Otieno around 7pm at Davao International Airport and brought them to the Royal Mandaya Hotel.

“We don’t come here for vacation, we are here to defend the title,” said Otieno’s trainer Paul Otieno after their arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport while waiting for the connecting flight going to Davao City .

Otieno spent was on  15 hour flight with four-hour stopover in Doha, Qatar from Nairobi.

“It was a long flight but we enjoyed it above board,” said Otieno, who leads the team that includes Otieno’s brother, Nick Otieno.

Nick will make his second fight in the country after losing to Z Gorres in their 10-round fight last May in Cebu City .

Nick will fight former World Boxing Organization light flyweight title challenger Rexon Flores in 10-round contest in the undercard of “Ring War in Davao ” card of ZK International Promotions.

Otieno is now 33-year old and will bring his record with 17-0 with 7 knockout. Bangoyan, who is the current Philippine Boxing Federation super bantamweight king, has 12-0 with 7 knockouts.

The title is the same belt Manny Pacquiao had held until taking the IBF super bantamweight crown in June 2001 with 6th round knockout win over Lehlo Ledwaba of South African.