Amonsot, Domingo confident of winning in Pacquiao card

MANILA - Reigning WBO Asia Pacific super featherweight champion Czar Amonsot and RP bantamweight titlist Michael Domingo both expressed confidence of disposing off their respective Mexican foes in the undercard of Manny Pacquiao-Oscar Larios showdown tomorrow morning at the historic Araneta Coliseum.

Meanwhile, the official weigh-in of the "Mano-A-Mano Philippine vs. Mexico" card is scheduled this 8 am at the Discovery Suites, the official hotel of the mammoth promotion co-presented by ABS-CBN and MP Promotions, Incorporated.

Amonsot, the Tagbilaran City punching dynamo fighting out of Cebu's famed ALA Stable, will show his stuff against Silverio Ortiz, while the Sultan Kudarat-native Domingo will slug it out with former IBA flyweight title-holder Alejandro Felix Montiel.

"I haven't seen yet my opponent in person nor watched a videotape of his fight but I'm confident of beating him because that is why I came here for - to win," said Amonsot during yesterday's SCOOP forum at Kamayan Restaurant along Padre Faura corner Adriatico Street here.

The Amonsot-Ortiz duel will open up the four bouts that will be shown by television giant ABS-CBN on Pay-Per-View basis starting at 8 am.

The succeeding matches pit Gerry Peñalosa versus Tomas Rojas (9am), Jimrex Jaca against Hector Marquez (10 am) to be followed the hotly-anticipated main event featuring Pacquiao's WBC International super featherweight title defense against ex-WBC super bantamweight crown-holder Oscar Larios set to start at 11 am.

Curiously, Amonsot and Domingo are both eleventh hour replacements.

Amonsot was tabbed to replace Cebuano hard-puncher Randy Suico, who pulled out of the Ortiz bout due to a world title shot against undefeated WBA lightweight champion Juan Diaz on July 15 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Domingo, on the other hand, was picked as substitute for ALA ring star Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista, who withdrew from the multi-million extravaganza because of a virus infection.

Amonsot said he is out to make a statement as he considers fighting in the undercard of Pacquiao right before the eyes of the entire Filipino nation 'a once in a lifetime opportunity."

"This is the break I've been waiting for. This is my chance to make a name for myself and I will make the most out of it. I hope all my fans especially my townmates in Bohol to pray for my victory because this fight is for them and for all my Filipino countrymen," added Amonsot.

Amonsot is hard-pressed to beat Ortiz so as not to jeopardize his forthcoming title defense of his WBO regional belt against mandatory challenger Moises Seran of Indonesia on July 22 at his hometown in Tagbilaran.

"We will know if Amonsot can fight on July 22 after his fight against Ortiz. If this fight last the distance, of course, we will make a request to WBO to postpone Amonsot's defense," said international promoter Sammy Gello-ani.

Like Amonsot, Domingo is also in confident mood, more so that Gello-ani, his manager, assured him of bigger fights in the United States once he gets past Montiel.

"I'll try my best to score an impressive win. If given the right timing, I'll waste no time in knocking him (Montiel) out," said Domingo.

Gello-ani described Domingo as the best person to replace Bautista because he is a regular sparring mate of the Boholano boxing phenomenon.

"After Bautista puled out, the only boxer we think who is capable and ready to fight Montiel is Domingo," said Gello-ani.

It is interesting to note that Domingo is unbeaten in seven fights, including three abroad, since he hooked up with Gello-ani in December 2004. In his last fight, he dismantled ex-WBC International super flyweight champion Roger Galicia in the fifth round to keep his RP crown.

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