Suico to make ring comeback

CEBU, Philippines – Former world title challenger Randy Suico comes out of a 16-month hiatus next month as he fights Japanese Takayuki Hosokawa in a junior middleweight bout in Osaka, Japan.

Suico, 32, won his last fight via majority decision over former Philippine welterweight champion Arnel Tinampay in Nov. 2010 but suddenly stopped due to personal reasons.

He, however, decided to stage a comeback and re-stake his claim as one of Cebu’s most respected prize-fighters.

“I feel that I still have something to show,” said Suico, who trains for three weeks now at the RWS Gym of Cebuano promoter Rex “Wakee” Salud.

In coming out of a long layoff, Suico said he draws inspiration from pal Malcolm Tuñacao, the former WBC flyweight titlist who is on a nine-fight winning streak capped by a fourth round stoppage of Yuki Takemoto last March 3 in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan.

“I was really inspired by Malcolm (Tuñacao) because he keeps on winning. I don’t see any reason why I can do it. But of course, I have to work hard for it,” said Suico. 

Suico, Tuñacao and Rev Santillan were the original Golden Boys of Cebu boxing launched by ALA Promotions in 1998.

In his comeback bid, Suico (30-6-1, 25 KOs) will take on a Japanese warrior who has a 19-9-3, including 5 KOs, record. Hosokawa lost via sixth round TKO to compatriot Makoto Fuchigami in their Japanese middleweight championship last Aug. 8 in Tokyo.

Hosokawa, however, bounced back in style, knocking out Ekapop Mor Krungthep Thonburee of Thailand in the sixth round last Nov. 13 in Osaka.