By Ronnie Nathanielsz
WBO super bantamweight champion Wilfredo Vazquez Jr wants challenger Zsolt Bedak of Hungary to engage him in a toe-to-toe battle when they clash in Vazquez’ first title defense at the Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez in Bayamon, Puerto Rico on May 29.
Vazquez won the title with a 4th round knockout of Filipino Marvin Sonsona Jr who moved up two weight divisions to take on the hard-hitting Puerto Rican after Sonsona lost his super flyweight title when he couldn’t make the weight in his first title defense in Ontario, Canada last November.
Coincidentally, Bedak also won the WBO Intercontinental title against another Filipino, Ramie Laput, with a 7th round knockout on December 4, 2009.
The 25 year old Vazquez, son of former world champion Wilfredo Vazquez who was one of the all-time greats from Puerto Rico has a record of 18-0-1 with 15 knockouts while Bedak, nicknamed “Mr. Left Hook” has a record of 15-0 with 5 knockouts.
Vazquez who has stepped up his training for the title defense against Bedak said “I like my fights fought at close range. I always welcome a toe-to-toe fight” providing an idea of his aggressive intentions which he also demonstrated in overwhelming Sonsona on February 27, 2010.
There is no indication that Bedak who was a member of the Hungarian team to the 2004 Athens Olympic Games would oblige since he is more of a boxer rather than a big puncher although he did knock out Laput.
Bedak fought as a bantamweight and defeated current Golden Boy Promotions prospect Abner Mares in the round of 32 by a score of 36-27. However, he lost to Maksym Tretyak of the Ukraine in the round of 16 in a close fight, 24-27.
Meantime, there is no word on what the handlers of Sonsona have planned for the young southpaw who was last reported enjoying himself in his hometown of General Santos City.
