TINIYAK ni Melbourne-based promoter Peter Maniatis na sa Australia kakasa ang alaga niyang boksingero na si IBF No. 3 light flyweight Randy Petalcorin laban kay 1st ranked Felix Alvarado ng Nicaragua para maging patas ang sagupaan sa bakanteng IBF junior flyweight title.
“Melbourne promoter Peter Maniatis has contacted Fightnews.com. to confirm he has locked in IBF #3 Randy Petalcorin and IBF #1 Felix Alvarado for the vacant IBF light flyweight title for Saturday, October 20th in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia,” ayon sa ulat ni boxing writer Ray Wheatley.
“Randy’s training camp will be in starting soon and co-manager Jim Managquil will oversee Petalcorin’s training,” sabi ni Maniatis. “Both Alvarado and Petalcorin are the most avoided boxers in the light flyweight division. I rate Alvarado very high but Petalcorin gets a chance to be two-time world champion.”
Binitiwan ni dating IBF light flyweight champion Hekkie Budler ang kampeonato matapos tumangging kasahan ang kinatatakutang si mandatory challenger na si Alvarado na kilalang knockout artist.
May rekord si Alvarado na 33-2-0 na may 29 panalo sa knockouts ngunit halos lahat ng laban niya ay naganap sa kanyang bansang Nicaragua at natalo lamang siya nang lumaban sa Japan at Argentina.
May kartada naman si Petalcorin na 29-2-1 na may 22 pagwawagi sa knockouts at huli siyang natalo sa kontrobersiyal na 10-round split decision kay Australia-based Tanzanian Omr Kimweri na limang beses niyang pinabagsak pero natalo pa rin para sa bakanteng WBC Silver flyweight title.
-Gilbert Espeña
