By Ronnie Nathanielsz

 

Apol Suico attempts to snap the recent string of losses by Filipino boxers in South Africa when he battles South African flyweight champion Moruti Mthalane for the vacant WBC International flyweight title in Johannesburg on Saturday.

 

Suico has a record of 10-1 with 6 knockouts while Mthalane also has only one defeat as against 19 wins with 13 knockouts.

 

Suico’s only loss was a second round TKO against talented Danilo Lerio last March 3. However, he bounced back from that setback to win a unanimous ten round decision over Herry Manganip last June 23.

 

Mthalane won the South African flyweight title with a sixth round knockout of Akhona Aliva on August 11, 2006 and in his last title defense scored a fifth round retirement when Xola Sifama quit, turned his back and walked towards his corner in the fifth round.

 

Although Suico isn’t given much of a chance against the South African champion, he is confident of pulling off an upset.

 

His stablemate JR Sollano who is also managed by Rex “Wakee” Salud lost by a fourth round TKO to Ali Funeka in a WBC   International lightweight title fight last weekend. Another stablemate Alex Aroy dropped a controversial seventh round majority decision to Zukisani Kwayiba when a sudden power failure forced a premature ending just when Aroy appeared to be getting the upperhand in the WBC International mini-flyweight title bout.

 

South African promoter Branco Malenkovic has said he would work on a rematch which drew a counter offer from Salud who said he is prepared to promote the rematch in the Philippines.