There will be knockout

CEBU, Philippines - They're both undefeated. Now that their paths will cross inside the ring, someone has to fall. And it's going to be in a painful manner.

This scenario is most likely to happen as defending WBO bantamweight champion Paulos ‘The Rock’ Ambunda (20-0, 10KOs) of Namibia and his Japanese challenger Tomoki ‘El Mexicanito’ Kameda (27-0, 18KOs) vowed to knock each other out when they figure in a 12-round rumble topbilling the ‘Battle of the Undefeated’ fightcard tomorrow night at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Bad blood was evident when the two fighters met face to face for the first time during the event's final press conference yesterday hyping up their keenly-awaited bout.

“I beat Sor Singyu like a baby when I captured the belt. This time, I will show my power again against him (Kameda),” said Ambunda. “I came here to defend my belt and to show that I am the best. After the fight, all of you people will see my hands raised and hear the line ‘and still the WBO champion’."

The 32-year-old Ambunda even belittled Kameda’s chances of winning, saying he's the more experienced and skillful boxer.

Fanning further the animosity between the two camps, Ambunda went to the extent of challenging Tomoki’s older brother, WBC bantamweight champion Koki Kameda, who was also present during the presscon.

“I will do something you guys have never seen before inside the ring - beat Tomoki and after that, I will defeat all the Kameda brothers,” said Ambunda.

But Kameda was quick enough to brush off Ambunda’s claim, even as he also promised to fulfill his father’s dream of being the only Japanese siblings to win a world championship the the same time. “We will make history and fulfill our father’s dream of being world champions in Japan.”

“I don’t want to talk too much. I am concentrating in getting that belt from him and I know that my speed and power will prevail against him (Ambunda),” said Tomoki.

The fight marks for the first time that two foreign fighters will figure in a world championship match here in the Queen City of the South.

“This is just to show that Philippines is now a boxing country like Puerto Rico, Mexico and USA,” said WBO President Francisco ‘Paco’ Valcarcel.

In the supporting main event of the slambang show presented by Kameda Boxing of Japan in partnership with Rex ‘Wakee’ Salud Promotions International, Marlon ‘Nightmare’ Tapales (22-2, 9KOs) of RWS Gym will take on Fredirex Rodriguez (11-2, 8KOs) of Bukidnon in a non-title duel scheduled for 10 rounds.

The other exciting match features former WBC flyweight champion Sonny Boy Jaro against the Mandaue-based Sarangani toughie Gherpaul Valero of Noy Pacing Flores Stable.

Valero is one of the four Team Singwangcha fighters who will strut their punching wares on the undercard. The rest are Ardie Boyose, Neil John Tabanao, and Joey Canoy.

Boyose will slug it out with Ahl Gurumo of Surigao del Sur, Tabanao will trade punches with Charlie Pucdol of Omega Boxing Gym, while Canoy will mix it up with Mindanao brawler Marwin Cristota.          

Tickets can be bought at the lobby of Waterfront at the following prices: P200 for balcony, P500 for ballroom, P800 for gold seats, and P2,500 for the VIP section. (FREEMAN)