By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Hard-hitting Randy “Komong Bato” Suico, fresh from a fourth round TKO victory against over-matched Thai challenger Muangfahlek Kiatwichien in his fourth defense of the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation super featherweight title in Lapu Lapu City in Central Philippines last Saturday, has issued a challenge to WBC champion Marco Antonio Barrera to put his belt on the line against him.
The 25 year old Suico demolished Muangfahlek who clowned around much of the time before Suico nailed him in the corner with a series of devastating hooks and uppercuts that sent him sprawling against the ropes and down on the canvas. Internationally renowned referee Bruce McTavish didn’t even bother to count as the Thai whose record was a dismal 10-4 with 7 KO’s coming into the fight, was in no condition to continue. It was also noted that three of Muangfahlek’s seven knockouts listed by boxrec.com were against the same fighter, Mahasamut Kiatpakpanung who in turn had a dismal 1-8 slate and that the Thai challenger had lost his last two fights against Takanori Kariya and Ryuhei Sugita before the showdown with Suico.
McTavish described the title fight as a “barroom brawl” and said Suico “hit him with everything he had and finished him off with a five-punch combination” although McTavish lamented the fact that Suico “got hit more than he should.” This was the same observation when Suico lost a controversial world title eliminator to South Africa’s Mzonke Fana in Johannesburg last May. Fana went on to fight Barrera for the world title and was annihilated in two rounds with most boxing fans claining Suico would have put on a better show because of his punching power. But nobody dared predict how much better against Barrera who beat Erik "El Terrible" Morales in a classic third encounter before Morales beat Pacquiao in an epic last March. Pacquiao had previously annihilated Barrera in eleven rounds on November 15, 2003 in San Antonio, Texas.
Suico, in a post-fight interview claimed he had shown he was ready to face the Mexican legend. At the same time the lanky Filipino who stands 5’7” said he had learned that former champion Jesus Chavez and Carlos Hernandez will face each other in a fight billed as a title eliminator but said “the winner should never come over me as the official challenger as I have regularly defended my OPBF belt which is under the WBC and I have a better record than Chavez and Hernandez.” Suico added “I want to fight Barrera next but if necessary I wish to fight the Chavez-Hernandez winner anywhere to decide the challenger to Barrera.” Suico pointed out that he had been loyal to the WBC which “hopefully will not ignore me by giving a higher rank to the winner of the self-proclaimed eliminator.” Suico’s record is 23-1 with 20 knockouts.
In the main supporting bout WBA No. 1 ranked minimum weight Eriberto “Yukka” Gejon dropped another terribly over-matched Thai, Namchai Thaksin-Isarn once in the opening round and twice in the second with cracking overhand rights before the referee mercifully called a halt. Gejon who is slated to get a crack at champion Yutaka Niida in a mandatory title fight later this year improved his unbeaten record to 21-0-1 with 13 knockouts.
