Ciudad de Merida, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico – Filipino flyweight Romel “Little Assassin” Asenjo arrived in this city shortly before midnight today (March 25 Mexico time), three days before he will challenge the feared Mexican Juan Francisco Estrada in 12-round battle for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and the World Boxing Association (WBA) titles.
It will be a difficult assignment for the native of Pigcawayan, North Cotabato who traveled from Manila to Mexico for about 30 hours in a mission to fulfill a childhood dream of becoming a world boxing champion.
Estrada is not going to be an easy opponent for the smaller Asenjo, a natural miniflyweight (105 lbs.) who moved up to the flyweight division (112 lbs.) just to get a chance to fight for the world title.
Estrada, considered as one of the best flyweights in the world today, has included Filipinos Brian Viloria, Richie Mepranum, Milan Melindo and Joebert Alvarez as among his victims.
The Mexican champion has a record of 31 wins 22 of which came by way of knockout and lost only twice.
At 5′ 4″, he is two inches taller than Asenjo who has a record of 26 wins, 20 of which came by KO and three losses, including a 3rd round stoppage by Rayito Garcia in another title fight in Mexico three years ago.
Asenjo is undaunted.
“I have no pressure. I am the challenger. Everything is against me,” Asenjo said, characteristic of the do-or-die spirit Filipino boxers are known for the world over, including here in Mexico.
Tomorrow, after a long night rest, Asenjo and Estrada will face the Mexican press and prepare for the weigh-in on March 27.
(Photo caption: At the Merida airport yesterday, a Filipino missionary who is assigned here in the predominantly Catholic Mexico, Fr. Gerard Sala, arrived along with Asenjo and this writer. Fr. Sala’s welcomers also welcomed Asenjo. Tomorrow, the Filipino fighter will attend mass in Fr. Sala’s parish. Photo shows Fr. Sala, in black, striking a fight pose with Asenjo.)
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