Lopez assured of title shot

MANILA, Philippines - No less than WBC president Jose Sulaiman has guaranteed a title shot for No. 1 superflyweight contender Silvester Lopez as he recently decreed that the winner of the March 27 fight between WBC champion Suriyan Sor Rungvisai of Thailand and Japanese challenger Yota Sato is obligated to stake the crown against the Zamboanga Sibugay fighter within 90 days of their championship bout in Tokyo.

Lopez’s manager Gabriel (Bebot) Elorde Jr. told The Star yesterday Sulaiman himself sent an e-mail to confirm the title crack. Elorde and Lopez will be at ringside to watch the Suriyan-Sato duel at the Korakuen Hall. They will formalize Lopez’s challenge after the fight.

“If Sato wins, it will be difficult to bring Silver’s fight to the Philippines,” said Elorde. “It’s not often that Japanese world champions defend their titles out of Japan. But if Suriyan retains the title, we’ll definitely make a purse bid. Gov. Imee (Marcos) of Ilocos Norte has given the go-signal to try to bring the title fight to Laoag.”

Lopez, 24, said he couldn’t care less whom to face. “I’m ready to fight anytime, anywhere, even next week,” said Lopez in Filipino. “I never stop training. I wake up 4:30 every morning to run then go to Mass at 6. I work out in the gym every afternoon. I’m always in shape. I try to maintain a weight of 126 pounds so it’s not hard to go down to 115 when the time comes. I fought (Oscar) Ibarra in Mexico last year and wasn’t afraid to lose. I won by knockout. It doesn’t matter if I fight Suriyan in Thailand or Sato in Japan. I know what I have to do to win.”

Before the year ends, Lopez said he’ll be a world champion. “I’m fighting for my parents,” he said. “I come from a poor family. My father (Roseller) was a former fighter who is now a security house caretaker for the vice mayor. Three of my brothers became boxers but I’m the only one still active. I’m the second youngest in our family. From what I’ve earned as a boxer, I bought my parents a refrigerator, tricycle and land. When I become a world champion, I want to build a house for them.”

Lopez said when he was a boy, his father asked if he wanted to pursue a career in basketball or boxing. “I chose boxing because I’m not tall,” he said. “I started to box when I was 13. After high school, I worked for a rubber company and drove a tricycle. Whatever I earned, I gave to my parents. Then Celso Danggud (a former boxer) took me to Muntinlupa to join Dante Almario’s stable. I didn’t stay long with Mr. Almario because the trainers thought I was too thin. So Celso brought me to Mr. Elorde who took a chance on me with trainers Archier (Villamor) and Ding (Cabanela).”

To warm up for his title shot, Lopez will take on Japan’s Yuki Fukumoto at the Elorde Grand Ballroom in Sucat on March 10. The 26-year-old Fukumoto, who once lost to Sato, has a 12-5 record, with three KOs. “It won’t be an easy fight for Silver,” said Elorde. “Fukumoto’s motivation is with a win, he gets the title shot. So Silver won’t take any chances. Fukumoto is a stablemate of Dai Iwai who just won the WBC youth silver featherweight title by stopping Dizon Cag-Ong in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, last week. He comes from a stable of brave Japanese boxers who aren’t afraid to fight outside of Japan.”

Lopez, the holder of the WBC Silver belt, said with God on his side, there’s no way he’ll lose. He serves as an altar boy at Mass in the St. Rita Chapel on Sucat and is a devout Catholic.

Lopez is coming off a first round disposal of Thai Chatpayak Sitnarits in Laoag last December. It was his fourth knockout win in a row, third in the first round. He has now won 14 of his last 15 since losing a disputed technical decision to Juan Jose Montes in Mexico in October 2010. His record is 18-3-1, with 14 KOs. “Silver is the mandatory challenger as the No. 1 contender,” said Elorde. “I’m prepared to start the purse bidding at $100,000. Silver is very dedicated. He’s focused on his boxing career. He never takes off from training so when an opportunity to fight comes, he’s always prepared.”