By Abac Cordero
Philippine Star Sports
A boxing card featuring IBO world junior flyweight champion Rey Loreto, former world super flyweight titlist Edrin Dapudong and the comebacking Denver Cuello will take place at the Almendras Gym in Davao City on Oct. 11.
The card dubbed as the “Clash of the Little Titans” will highlight the launch of Sonshine Sports TV, a sports program that aims to further promote and develop sports in the country.
Loreto, who won the IBO junior-flyweight with a 3rd round knockout of two-time world champion Nkosinathi Joyi of South Africa in Monaco on Feb. 12, battles Heri Amol of Indonesia.
This will be Loreto’s first fight in his home city, Davao, which he left as a struggling boxer many years ago. He is now based in Baguio City where he is managed by promoter Brico Santig.
Dapudong, the ex-IBO super-flyweight titlist, takes on Wisanlek Sithsaithong of Thailand.
Cuello, who came close to a world title fight until he suffered a serious shoulder injury, will come off a year-long layoff when he faces Jaipecth Chaiyongym in a 108-lb contest.
It will serve as tune-up fight for Loreto, who is scheduled for a rematch with Joyi in East London, South Africa on Dec. 12
Dapudong is also seeking a victory that should line him up for his own rematch against Lwandile Sityatha, who defeated the Filipino in a conrtroversial split decision in East London, South Africa last July 18.
“Edrin wants to get the title back,” said Sonshine Sports CEO Manny Pinol.
“This is all part of a program. Loreto will fight for a world championship in December, Dapudong also for the world title by the second quarter of 2015 and Cuello, by God’s grace, in the second quarter of 2015,” he added.
“But boxing is not the only activity of Sonshine Sports TV,” said former governor of North Cotabato and a noted boxing promoter and manager.
Pinol told yesterday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate that Sonshine Sports is also committed to promote volleyball, golf, motocross, drag-racing and other sports needing the proper exposure.
For starters, Sonshine Sports, a brainchild of Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy, will focus on staging more sports events in Davao City and hopes to move farther in the coming years.
“From here we hope it will grow nationwide,” said Pinol, who also bared the construction of a 75,000-seat King Dome in Davao City, also a project of Quiboloy.
“We are hoping in the years to come hat Davao will become the sports haven, the sports mecca of the Philippines. The King Dome could serve as venue for big sports events. No more need to go to Macau,” he added.
Pinol is even suggesting the staging of a Manny Pacquiao fight by 2016. He said the massive venue could host the last fight for the Filipino boxing superstar if he intends to retire two years from now.
“This excites me as a sports fan,” said Pinol.
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