Almario’s pugs to London?

Muntinlupa Councilor Dante Almario is negotiating to bring newly-crowned World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia-Pacific lightflyweight champion Celso Danggod to London for a fight against former European flyweight titlist Damaen Kelly of Belfast, tentatively on May 15.

Not only that. Almario’s also arranging to fly another protégé, the country’s No. 1 featherweight Jeffrey Onate, to London. Onate has a pending offer to face Manny Pacquiao’s brother Bobby in a Jun Sarreal promotion in Bataan on April 6 but if the London bout pushes through, Almario says he’ll go overseas instead.

Unlike in the US where only a few Americans campaign in the lower weight divisions, England has a lot of "small" fighters who are world contenders. Because it’s easy to communicate with Filipinos due to the facility of language, more and more English promoters are looking to import talent from here. Besides, Filipino fighters are known to be rugged crowd-pleasers.

Melvin Magramo, Eric Jamili, and Juanito Rubillar were among the Filipino beakbusters who’ve seen action on English shores in recent years. In 1983, Frank Cedeno of Talisay, Cebu, captured the World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight title via a knockout over Charlie Magri in London. Former world champions Rolando Bohol and Dodie Boy Peñalosa also fought on British soil.

Onate is lined up against unbeaten World Boxing Federation (WBF) Intercontinental superfeartherweight ruler Nicky Cook of Dagenham, Essex, in London on April 20. Described as "a punishing fighter" by Boxing News editor Claude Abrams, Cook boasts a 16-0 record with nine KOs. He’s coming off a third round demolition of Marcelo Ackermann of Argentina.

Cook’s problem is his brittle hands which he calls "girls hands." He has suffered a slew of bone fractures, including a broken bone in the back of his right hand. Although he’s scored four first round knockouts, none of his opponents has been world-class. Cook has feasted on patsies, tomato cans, and junkyard dogs. A prime example is Algerian joker Foudil Madani who surrendered after being butted in the first round last May. The butt, incidentally, left Cook with a gaping cut that took five stitches to sew up.

Cook, 22, turned pro in 1998 and is trained by his father Paul.

Onate, 27, says he’s ready to rumble in London. Fighting abroad isn’t new to Almario’s battle-scarred veteran who has won twice in three assignments in Japan and lost twice in Thailand. His record is 27-13-6, with 15 KOs. Experience will be an advantage against Cook who isn’t used to fighting a relentless buzzsaw like Onate.

If Cook’s problem is his brittle hands, Onate’s problem is his brittle eyebrows. The Zamboanga fighter cuts easy like Muhammad Ali victim Chuck Wepner, nicknamed the Bayonne Bleeder.

Onate says he’s working hard in the gym. He’s sparring with the likes of Oriental lightweight champion Dennis Laurente and Philippine superbantamweight titlist Dino Olivetti. Onate says his only fear in the ring is facing a southpaw – he was knocked out by portsider Benjie Duran in a single round in 1998. Luckily, Cook is righthanded.

As for Danggod, he was impressive in halting Jonie Coma at 2:07 of the seventh round for the WBO Asia Pacific 108-pound crown at the Flash Grand Ballroom in Sucat last Saturday. Like Onate, Danggod is a rugged tough-as-nails slugger. Almario likes his boys cut from the same brawler’s mold.

Danggod, 26, holds a third round knockout win over highly-regarded Philippine bantamweight king Abner Cordero and was once the Philippine lightflyweight titleholder. His record is 25-13-11, with 11 KOs.

Kelly, 28, is a stylish ring cutie who likes to box and dance. Boxing News described Kelly as "a superb boxer capable of dancing around opponents and picking them off with accurate combinations." He’s a former International Boxing Organization (IBO) flyweight champion. Last year, Kelly was stripped of the IBO title for failing to defend it within the prescribed period. He blamed his agent Panos Eliades of Panix Promotions for the strip and recently contracted Jess Harding to manage his affairs.

Kelly dreams of someday challenging World Boxing Association (WBA) flyweight champion Eric Morel. Last January, he poleaxed trialhorse Simphewe Xabendlini with a left to the chin in the first round in Coventry but not before suffering a nasty cut over his right eye due to an accidental butt. The cut took six stitches to close. The win raised Kelly’s record to 16-1, with eight KOs. His only loss was a sixth round stoppage to Keith Knox in Ireland three years ago.

For Danggod and Onate, the trip to England could usher in a bright new chapter in their boxing careers. It won’t be a vacation. Forget about viewing the crown jewels or visiting the Queen or taking pictures of the Big Ben or watching the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace. Almario’s boys should be prepared for war in London – no more, no less.