Davao City’s Randy Petalcorin knows he cannot take Nicaraguan light flyweight contender Felix Alvarado lightly.
Alvarado is touted to be the most devastating puncher in the lightflyweight division today and he’s out to take home the vacant IBF 108-pound title. The fight is set at the Solaire Resort Hotel and Casino on Oct. 29 with the winner ascending the throne relinquished by South Africa’s Hekkie Budler.
Alvarado, who totes an impressive 33 wins, 2 losses with 29 KOs is wrapping up his training camp and has all the confidence of coming out victorious in his October 29 fight with the Filipino multi-belted champ.
The Dabawenyo goes to the fight packing a ring record of 28 wins with 22 KOs against a pair of defeats and a draw.
According to Alvarado, “Randy is a champion and a good fighter but I need and will bring that belt home to Nicaragua. I have waited for so long for this chance and will never let it go. My country is filled with conflicts and tragedies. This win will be my gift to the Nicaraguan people. We anticipate Randy’s good condition and did our best to be in better shape than him. I have done everything in the gym. Come fight night I am just claiming the win I deserve. Fight in our enemy’s turf, we will never let this fight be decided by the judges. Lastly, I am very grateful to my promoter William Ramirez for this opportunity.”
Alvarado is set to arrive in Manila on October 23 together with his corner.
The Petalcorin-Alvarado fight for the IBF Jr. Flyweight world title is promoted by MP promotions, Sanman Promotions, ESPN5 and Peter Maniatis Events.
‘Quirky rules’
Alvarado, 29, is the IBF’s No. 1 contender and Petalcorin, No. 3. Under the IBF’s quirky rules, the No. 2 slot is vacant. Alvarado will arrive in Manila on Monday while Petalcorin, 26, flies in from General Santos City, where he lives, on Wednesday. Alvarado is 5-4, an inch taller than Petalcorin, and enjoys a 4 1/2 inch reach advantage but more than his physical attributes, what makes the Nicaraguan a dangerous proposition is his bone-crushing power. He has scored 29 KOs in a slate of 33-2, a lofty 87.9 percent KO rate. Petalcorin’s record is 29-2-1, with 22 KOs.
But Petalcorin’s co-manager J. C. Manangquil, who owns the Sanman boxing stable, isn’t fazed. “We’re confident,” he said. “Randy’s target is to do 110 rounds of sparring and the other day, he already logged 98. He’s six pounds over the limit so making weight won’t be a problem. Randy’s working hard with his trainer Fernando Lumacad. Alvarado has power but we know what to do to win. When the fight’s over, the Philippines will have a new world champion.”
Petalcorin’s other manager Australian Peter Maniatis landed yesterday from Melbourne. The fight was initially scheduled in Melbourne on Oct. 20. “Joe Ramos of MP Promotions and matchmaker Sean Gibbons helped to get the fight to Manila,” said Maniatis. “It’s 50-50 because now, it’s in Randy’s home country and that’s an advantage. Alvarado is the biggest puncher and most dangerous 108-pounder. That’s why he’s been avoided by champions and contenders alike. This could be the fight of the year. Randy has also been avoided. We’re grateful to Sen. Manny Pacquiao, the IBF, Joe, Sean and Sanman for making this happen.”
