By Rey Danseco
FORMER Filipino champions Armand dela Cruz and Eric Barcelona will aim to become the only fighters in the country to claim world titles this year.
Dela Cruz and Barcelona, both southpaws, will take on separate formidable foes for the vacant International Boxing Organization (IBO) world titles.
Dela Cruz faces unbeaten South African minimumweight champion Nkosinathi Joyi for the IBO 105-pound crown, while Barcelona trades leathers against veteran Mbwana Matumla for the IBO super flyweight title.
The championship bouts will be held Saturday, Nov. 4, at the Emperors Palace Casino, where the four-man Filipino contingent stay, in Kempton Park in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr, who matched the two Filipino boxers for the bouts, and well-traveled promoter-matchmaker Leonil Lazarito will work on the corner in each fights bankrolled by South Africa’s leading promoter Golden Gloves Promotions.
Dela Cruz, native of Guindulman in Bohol, has a reputation as WBC international minimumweight champion and WBC Youth minimumweight king in 2003.
Barcelona, 25-year old southpaw from Bukidnon, once held the Philippine super flyweight title until losing to Eden Sonsona last May.
It will be Barcelona’s second title crack under IBO in South Africa. He lost to Silence Mabuza for IBO bantamweight title over 12-round decision in November 2004.
Elorde is confident that the Filipinos will prevail.
“Maganda ang weather dito at maganda ang pagasikaso sa amin ng Golden Gloves Promotion at ng Emperor Palace Hotel and Casino,” said Elorde in an interview by this writer yesterday.
