It’s 50-50 for vacant title

MANILA, Philippines — It looks like all bets are off on the scheduled 12-round bout between Davao City’s Randy Petalcorin and Nicaragua’s Felix Alvarado at the Midas Hotel and Casino tent tonight as the battle for the vacant IBF lightflyweight title is tipped to be a 50-50 proposition with neither fighter a clear favorite to ascend the throne.

The talk along cauliflower row is if it goes the distance, Petalcorin wins but if it ends in a knockout, Alvarado will be the new champion.  Anything can happen in the unpredictable contest.  Alvarado, 29, is a dangerous, heavy-handed KO artist while Petalcorin, 26, is a smooth operator, a technician in the mold of former two-division world titlist Gerry Peñalosa.  The Nicaraguan is ranked No. 1 by the IBF and Petalcorin, No. 3.  The No. 2 slot is vacant.

Pittsburgh’s Ernie Sharif will be the referee while the judges are Michael Alexander of Doncaster, UK, Alejandro Lopez of Mexico and Silvestre Abainza of the Philippines.  According to Abainza, the IBF allows one judge to come from the country of one fighter, another judge to come from the country of the other fighter and the third judge from a neutral country.  Abainza was also a judge in IBF superflyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas’ title defense against Irishman Jamie Conlan in Belfast last year.  Other governing bodies, however, require all judges to come from neutral countries. 

Australian promoter Peter Maniatis, who co-manages Petalcorin with General Santos City’s Sanman Gym owner J. C. Manangquil, said, “if Randy won’t get banged up early and settles into the fight, he’ll win on points because he has better skills than Alvarado.”  But Alvarado said he’s in the best shape of his career and predicted the bout won’t go the full route.  “I will knock out Petalcorin and become the new world champion,” vowed Alvarado in Spanish.

Petalcorin said he trusts in his power and has never been floored.  Once, he lost to Marlon Tapales by a second round stoppage but claimed it was an aberration.  Petalcorin said he didn’t train properly for his sixth pro outing at the Cuneta Astrodome in 2010 and surrendered when he couldn’t catch his breath without going down.  Against Alvarado, he said he’ll fight smart and counter.

“Alvarado looks very confident,” said Manangquil.  “He’s a little bit taller than Randy but I think height won’t be a factor.  Randy’s also very confident.  He’s done his work in the gym.  Now, it’s time to fight.  We trained to go the distance but if there’s a chance to score a knockout, Randy will definitely go for it.  Our plan is to box, use angles, go in and out and try to confuse Alvarado with Randy’s southpaw style.”  Alvarado’s record is 33-2, with 29 KOs compared to Petalcorin’s slate of 29-2-1, with 22 KOs.  Alvarado is touted to be as tough as the late legend Alexis Arguello and former world champion Chocolatito Gonzalez, both Nicaraguans.

“I’ve trained hard for this fight,” said Petalcorin in Pilipino.  “I am blessed to get this opportunity.  I’m grateful to Sir Peter, Sir J. C. and MP Promotions for making the fight happen in Manila.”  The fight was originally scheduled in Melbourne on Oct. 20 but was reset to Manila.