By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Pan Asia Boxing Association light flyweight champion and WBA No.4 ranked Nethra Sasiprapa has declined to defend his title against interim champion Randy “Razor” Petalcorin of the Philippines forcing well-known Australian promoter Peter Maniatis to pit Petalcorin against Fernando “Batang Bato” Ocon in Iligan City on September 23.
Maniatis told BoxingScene.com/Daily Inquirer that once Petalcorin won the interim title Nethra’s handlers offered Petalcorin a title shot in Bangkok but that “the money was very small.”
Maniatis said he made an offer that was four times bigger for Nethra to fight Petalcorin in Melbourne, Australia but the Kokiet Group turned down the offer.
The multi-awarded Victorian promoter and host of the top-rated KO Boxing show in Australia said that in order to keep Petalcorin active he is doing a co-promotion in which Petalcorin will face Ocon in a ten round battle of southpaws.
The 19 year old Petalcorin who has a record of 14-1 with 12 knockouts won the PABA Interim title when Michael Rodriguez was disqualified in round eight for hitting Petalcorin when he was down reportedly after a slip. Petalcorin had dropped Rodriguez in the previous round.
Maniatis believes Ocon “will be a good test” for Petalcorin since the 20 year old Ocon’s only loss was to Jether Oliva in a WBO Oriental minimum weight title fight last May 13. Ocon has a record of 7-1 with 1 knockout.
Oliva went on to challenge Mexican veteran Ulises Solis and while he fought gamely, lost a lopsided twelve round decision in an IBF light flyweight title fight in Mexico last August 27.