At all cost, reigning WBO Oriental jr featherweight champion Ciso “Kid Terrible” Morales (11-0, 7KOs) vowed to defend his throne when he battles Thai Narongnoi Or Muangklang (9-1, 5KOs) in a 12-round showdown topbilling the keenly-awaited “Collision at the Coliseum” boxing extravaganza tomorrow night at the Cebu Coliseum.
“Kinahanglan nga dili mailog ang ako bakos kay garbo ni natong mga Pilipino,” said Morales during yesterday’s news conference at the penthouse of GV Tower located on corner Sanciangko Street and Osmeña Boulevard, this city.
Morales will risk for the second time the WBO regional belt he snatched via a 12-round unanimous decision victory over Marangin Marbun last February 9 at the Mindanao Civic Center in Tubod, Lanao del Norte. In his previous defense, the Boholano warrior knocked out Korean Yoo-Shin Kim in round five last April 6 at the Araneta Coliseum.
Morales was reluclant to predict of an early stoppage, saying it will just come if opportunity presents itself.
Kenneth Rontal, the manager of Ciso, assured the Cebuano ring buffs of an impressive showing from Morales, who he described as an “exciting, aggressive fighter with a killer instinct.”
“Expect an impressive performance from Morales,” said Rontal. “Boxing is not only about hitting your opponent. It also entails the boxer’s ability to take punches from his opponent and Morales has that distinct characteristic,” he added.
If victorious, revered international promoter Sammy Gello-ani is poised to insert Morales in the undercard of Gerry Peñalosa’s WBO bantamweight title defense against a still undetermined foe on September 20 in Tubod.
The Australia-based Ranee “K.O. Kid” Ganoy and former world title challenger Bert “Ninja” Batawang, on the other hand, make up the surefire triple-header presented by Gello-ani’s SGG Sports Promotions in association with Viva Sports, Tanduay Rhum and Pioneer Elasto Seal.
Ganoy (21-10, 20KOs), flaunting a well-chiseled physique, targets Thai visitor Sapapetch Sor Sakaorat (13-4, 8KOs) as his next knockout victim, while Batawang (47-7, 36KOs) is seeking for decisive triumph over fellow countryman Benjie Soralla (22-13-3, 6KOs) to bolster his campaign for another world title shot.
The rest of the action-packed undercards pit Balweg “Davao Hitman” Bangoyan (11-0, 7KOs) vs. Phil Angcamor of Cagayan de Oro City (14-5-2), Jonghwa Lee of South Korea (5-0, 1KO) vs. CDO’s Brian Diano, Pol Apolinario of Saranggani Province vs. Jason Layson of Manila, Marvin “Marvelous” Sensona of CDO vs. Jerome Buntog of Mandaue City and Chum “Warrior” Sedillo of Dumaguete City vs. Gerry Pahal of Cebu City.
Tickets are reasonably priced at P100 for upperbox, P200 for lower box, P300 for ringside and P500 for VIP/Sponsor.