World boxing champ gets recognition

REIGNING International Boxing Organization (IBO) world super flyweight champion Rey “Hitman” Loreto finally got his first-ever citation from the city of his birth.
“Masayang-masaya ako kasi ito ang kauna-unahang award na ibinigay sa akin ng Davao,” said the 24-year old Loreto.
Loreto, a native of the far-flung Barangay Tamayong in Calinan District, was awarded a plaque and a cash incentive of P2,000 by City Administrator Melchor Quitain during the flag ceremony at the City Hall last Monday (April 20).
It was supposed to be given to Loreto during the Davao City Sports Recognition Awards last December 2 at the Royal Mandaya Hotel. But Loreto was in La Trinidad, Benguet training for his first title-defense.
He arrived last week after successfully retaining his crown via a sensational first round knockout against South African Nkosinathi Joyi last March 22, 2015 in Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Loreto also knocked out Joyi in the third round during their first championship fight last February 1, 2014 in Monaco.
However, until now the South African boxing promoter has not yet paid Loreto of his boxer’s purse amounting to $42,000. In that rematch, Loreto even fought despite his dangerous health condition for still recovering from his operation of an acute appendicitis for only more than a month.
Loreto, who also paid a courtesy call to City Sports Development Division OIC William “Butch” Ramirez last Monday, plans to stay for three months here for his full recovery and to keep himself fit for his future fights.
He is now also training his own brother and a cousin, both 15 years old, as amateur boxers at the Empire Boxing Gym along Ecoland.
“Hindi ko pa kasi kayang mag-training dahil sumasakit pa ang tiyan ko,” said Loreto, a product of the amateur boxing program in Calinan by the late City Councilor Louie Villafuerte.
Before making his title-defense, Loreto had a tune-up fight at the Almendras gym last October 11, 2014 against Indonesian Heri Amol, who was knocked out by the hard-punching Dabawenyo in 2:32 of the 7th round in the main event of the Boxing Revolution by the Sonshine Sports Promotions.
Loreto is also this year’s Co-Fighter of the Year in the prestigious Gabriel Elorde Awards Night held in Manila for winning the IBO world super flyweight crown last year.
The other Co-Fighter of the Year is another Dabawenyo Randy Petalcorin, the Interim WBA world light flyweight champion.
Petalcorin (22-1-1, 17 Kos) will be defending his title against Chinese challenger Ma Yi Ming (12-5, 7 KOs) on April 24 at Capital Gym in Beijing, China. Petalcorin, who is now based in General Santos City, however, was not included in last year’s Davao Sports Recognition Awards.