Suico faces test against big, bad Aussie champ

Undefeated Philippine junior lightweight champion Randy Suico, rated No. 6 world contender by the WBC, faces the toughest test of his career when he battles big, bad Australian champion Karim Nashar in the featured bout of a blockbuster quadruple main event at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Aug. 31.

The fight card titled K.O.@ANTIPOLO promoted jointly by Gov. Casimiro "Ito" Ynares and Vic del Rosario, president of the Viva Entertainment Group, will also feature three other prospective world champions from Cebu, home of the late all-time great, Gabriel "Flash" Elorde who reigned as world junior lightweight champion for nearly seven-and-a-half years.

Former WBA minimumweight champion Joma Gamboa takes on tough Thai No. 3 Samransak Singmanassak in a final tune-up bout before another shot at the world title against the winner of the Chana Porpaoin—Yutaka Niida title fight in Yokohama on tomorrow.

In a Cebu vs Bangkok minimumweight challenge flashy Noel Tunacao, the Philippines’ No. 2 contender, battles former world champion Songkram Porpaoin in what promises to be a 10-round war while unbeaten Rodel Mayol, the No. 1 contender, clashes with gutsy Pigmy Muangchaiya, Thailand’s No. 2.

Nashar is a flamboyant fighter who is in the same mould as Nedal Hussein who engaged IBF super bantamweight champion Manny Pacquiao in a bruising and bitter battle last year before referee Carlos Padilla stopped the bout due to a nasty gash on Hussein’s cheek in the eighth round of an action-packed rumble. Nashar said he is eager to avenge the controversial loss suffered by Hussein and warned "your Filipino champion is in trouble."