CEBU, Philippines - Undefeated super featherweight prospect Boyose A. Singwangcha will take on a new opponent in the main event of another slambang slugfest bankrolled by Naris/Wakee Promotions on August 2 at the Tabunok Sports Complex in Talisay City.
The fighting pride of San Remigio, Cebu was originally set to slug it out with Nino Val Falcunaya of Lipa City, Batangas in a 12-round rumble for the Asian Boxing Federation championship, but Falcunaya pulled out of the match as he is still recuperating from an injury he sustained during an accident recently.
Thus, Singwangcha will now face off with Richard Betos, a brawler from Butuan City who once reigned as the former WBC Asia Boxing Council super bantamweight champion.
"Though he's only a substitute, Betos still poses a big threat to Boyose. He's a strong puncher and a veteran fighter," said event matchmaker Willie Flores.
The 27-year-old Betos holds a 20-8-1 win-loss-draw record packed with 8KOs. Though he lost three of his last four bouts, he remains a dangerous opponent owing to his vast experience. He snatched the interim WBC Asian Boxing Council super bantamweight crown with a fourth round stoppage of Thai Petchnamnung Sithsaithong two years ago at the Father Saturnino Urios University Gym in his hometown of Butuan City.
It's going to be the third time that Betos will see action in the Queen City of the South, both at the Cebu Coliseum. The first was when won by a six-round unanimous decision over Michael Romulo on February 21, 2009. He followed it up with an eight round TKO of Korean Jong-Hwa Lee two months later at the same fight arena.
On the other hand, Singwangcha, formerly known as Ardie Boyose before he hooked up with Thai boxing patron Naris Singwangcha, sports an immaculate 11-0 slate spiked with 7KOs. He stopped his last six opponents within just two rounds, the most latest was a first-round decking of Elmer Colve on Labor Day at the Saint Joseph College of Sindangan Gymnasium in Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte.
In the supporting bouts, two other wards of Naris in Tabanao Singwangcha of Panabo City, Davao and Canoy Singwangcha of General Santos City, the hometown of Pinoy ring superstar Manny Pacquiao, will take on separate rivals. Tabanao will face off with John Gemino of Lipa City in a featherweight clash scheduled for 10 rounds, while Canoy will go up against JR Salvador of Phil-Aust Gym in an eight-rounder, light flyweight duel.
The rest of the card assembled by Cebuano topnotch promoter Rex "Wakee" Salud and his Thai counterpart Naris Singwangcha in partnership with the Talisay City Sports Commission and GMA-7 Kapuso network pits Kenny Demecillo of Iligan City vs. Rogen Flores of Dipolog City; Katiandagho S. Singwangcha of GenSan vs. Rodel Wenceslao of Phil-Aust Gym; Elias Joaquino of Mandaue City vs. Robert Awitin of Bohol; and Melmark Dignos of Lapu-Lapu City vs. Albert Mering of Bohol. (FREEMAN)