Davao hosts Sonshine boxing card

MANILA, Philippines - Two Filipino boxers out to regain the world title they once held, and another one trying to make up for lost time will headline the “Clash of the Little Titans” boxing card in Davao City on Oct. 11.

Rey Loreto, the former IBO junior-flyweight champion, and Edrin Dapudong, the ex-IBO super-flyweight titlist, will battle their respective opponents from Indonesia and Thailand at the Almendras Gym.

Denver Cuello, always worth watching in the minimumweight division, is on a comeback trail. He was sidelined for a year after dislocating his shoulder in a loss to China’s Zhou Xiong Zong in Dubai early last year.

The exciting card will coincide with the launch of Sonshine Sports TV, a new sports program that aims to further promote sports not only in Davao but the entire country as well.

Loreto goes up against Heri Amol of Indonesia while Dapudong will trade punches against Wisanlek Sithsaithong of Thailand. Cuello will lock horns with Indonesian Jaipeth Saksongym.

Sonshine Sports Management CEO Manny Pinol said this is just the start of something big. Pastor Apollo Quibuloy is the man behind SSM.

“From here we hope it will grow nationwide,” said Piñol, who also bared the construction of a 75,000-seat King Dome in Davao City, also a project of Quibuloy.

“We are hoping in the years to come that Davao will become the sports haven, the sports mecca of the Philippines. The King Dome could serve as venue for big sports events. No more need to go to Macau,” he added.

Loreto, who hails from Davao, said he trained three months for the fight, actually a tune-up fight for his Dec. 12 rematch against South African tormentor Nkosinathi Joyi in South Africa.

“This is all part of a program. Loreto will fight for a world championship in December, Dapudong also for the world title by the second quarter of 2015 and Cuello, by God’s grace, in the second quarter of 2015,” said Piñol.

“Edrin wants to get the title back,” said Piñol.

“But boxing is not the only activity of Sonshine Sports TV,” said former governor of North Cotabato and a noted boxing promoter and manager.

Piñol told yesterday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate that Sonshine Sports is also committed to promote volleyball, golf, motocross, drag-racing and other sports needing the proper exposure.

For starters, Sonshine Sports will focus on staging more sports events in Davao City and hopes to move farther in the coming years.

Pinol is even suggesting the staging of a Manny Pacquiao fight by 2016. He said the massive venue could host the last fight for the Filipino boxing superstar if he intends to retire two years from now.

“This excites me as a sports fan,” said Pinol.