Pinoy Pride XXII: Servania seeks revenge tonight

CEBU, Philippines - Vengeance is definitely at the back of Genesis "Azucal" Servania's mind when the undefeated ALA Boxing Gym stalwart defends his WBO Intercontinental super bantamweight throne against Panamian Rafael ‘El Torito’ Concepcion in the main event of the ‘Pinoy Pride XXII: The Revenge’  fightcard tonight at the Pacific grand ballroom of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino in Brgy. Lahug, this city.

Aside from fighting for personal glory and honor for the country, Servania (22-0, 8KOs) is also aching to score sweet revenge over Concepcion (18-6, 8KOs), who is best remembered by the Cebuanos for derailing the world title dream of his friend and stablemate AJ "Bazooka" Banal five years ago.

Banal, then an undefeated sensation adored by many Pinoy fans, fumbled in his first world title shot after he was knocked out by Concepcion in a 10-round stunner during their  interim WBA super flyweight championship bout before a stunned crowd at the Cebu Coliseum in 2008.

Now that he's given the chance to confront Concepcion inside the ring, Servania is dead-set to crush the "El Torito" from Panama to somehow comfort his comrade who up to this very moment is still being haunted by that stinging setback.

“I am feeling strong and I can’t wait to climb in the ring. I will beat him for my stablemate (Banal) and also for my goal to get show everybody my potential in being a world champion someday,” said Servania, who scaled in at 122 lbs., same as Concepcion, during yesterday official weigh-in at the Active Zone in Ayala Center Cebu.

“This is my second time here and once again I will win here against Servania,” said Concepcion. “Whether it will be in the first or last round, I will surely knock him out when I catch him.”

In the supporting main event of the slambang card presented by ALA Promotions in partnership with ABS-CBN Sports, another unbeaten ALA ring gladiator in ‘King’ Arthur Villanueva (23-0, 13KOs) will go through a tough test against Mexican Edgar ‘Chololo’ Martinez (16-7, 10KOs) in another 12-round duel for the WBO International super flyweight  belt.

Another fighter to watch out for is former IBO bantamweight challenger Roli ‘Zuma’ Gasca (20-4, 5KOs), who hopes to rebuild his path to become a world champion as he battles Indonesian warrior Lande Olin (11-4, 7KOs).

In the equally-exciting undercards, two IDOL hopefuls in Mark Vincent "Machete" Bernaldez (11-0, 7KOs) and Jessel Mark "Magnifico" Magsayo (3-0, 2KOs) will try to protect their clean records as they take on Thai Khunkhiri Wor Wisaruth (10-5, 5KOs) and Pinoy journeyman Hagibis Quiñones, respectively. (FREEMAN)