RAUL GARCIA
LOOKING to hit two birds with one stone, Mexican boxer Raul “Rayito” Garcia will arrive tomorrow in Bacolod City for his much-anticipated showdown with Donnie “Ahas” Nietes in the main event of the “Pinoy Pride 36: A Legend In The Making” at the Saint La Salle University Stadium.
Garcia, a former WBO and IBF world minimum weight champion, is gunning to accomplish two things in the May 28 showdown but the task may be too daunting as Nietes will be fighting in front of his fellow Ilonggos.
Garcia (38-3-1, 23 KOs) will be out to steal the WBO world light flyweight belt of Nietes (37-1-4, 21 KOs), while also trying to exact sweet revenge.
Garcia’s twin brother Ramon lost to Nietes in 2011 at the same venue.
The win netted Nietes WBO world light flyweight title and went on to become the longest reigning Filipino boxing world champion.
Nietes has been a world champion for more than eight years.
Garcia will be accompanied by his trainer Leodegario Camacho.
On the other hand, Juan “El Peñita” Jimenez (22-9, 15 KOs), the opponent of former world title challenger “King” Arthur Villanueva (28-1, 14 KOs) will arrive on Tuesday morning along with his trainer Franco Gabaldon.
Thai boxer Chatchai Or Benjamas (5-7, 4 KOs ), who is scheduled to fight the promising Kevin Jake “Kj” Cataraja (3-0, 2 KOs) in the undercard will arrive on Wednesday together with trainer Thuwachit Boongome.
Mexican Maximino Flores (19-2, 13 KOs), the replacement opponent of two-time world title challenger Milan “El Metodico” Melindo (33-2, 12 KOs) has yet to advise ALA Promotions International regarding their flight details.
Flores is the replacement of former world champion Javier “Cobra” Mendoza, who was supposed to fight Melindo for the IBF world light flyweight title eliminator but backed out after suffering a back injury during his training.