29.01.04 – By Dennis Principe: Another world title hopeful takes center stage tonight to try to solidify his bid of becoming the country’s next boxing sensation. Undefeated Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) superfeatherweight champion Randy Suico of the Philippines will put everything on the line when he battles 9th ranked Seung-Won Baek of Korea in a 12-round OPBF mainer at the posh Waterfront Hotel in this city. The 24-year-old Suico, parading an astonishing record of 20-0, with 17 KO’s, is currently the second-ranked contender in both the prestigious World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Association (WBA) 130-lb division.
Suico won the OPBF crown when he stopped one-time world title challenger Korean Sung-Ho Yuh in the 6th round on April 27, 2002 also in this same hotel. The current Golden Boy of boxing hotbed Cebu, Suico has successfully defended the crown once by scoring a 5th round stoppage against Indon Timbul Hutagalung last March 29, 2003 in Lapu-Lapu City. Suico has also fought once in the US where he scored his most impressive victory so far, a 4th round TKO win over Mexican Juan Carlos Garcia held last September 13, 2003 at the Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Suico is already booked to fight in South Africa in April where he will face the WBC top contender, South African Mzonke Fana in a 12-round eliminator to determine the next mandatory WBC title challenger. Defending WBC world champion Jesus Chavez of Mexico will stake his crown versus superstar compatriot Erik “El Terrible” Morales on February 28 in Las Vegas where the winner is mandated to defend the crown versus the victor of the Suico-Fana match.
In the co-main event of this promotion dubbed “Explosion at the Waterfront”, OPBF superbantamweight boss Pedrito Laurente aims to settle a score versus tormentor and undefeated WBC #8 Jimrex Jaca as they battle for the former’s crown in a 12-round encounter. The 20-year-old Negros-born Jaca (20-0, 9 KO’s) previously scored a lackluster 12-round decision over Laurente in an RP 122-lb title match last March 15, 2003 in Dumaguete City.
Spicing up this event put up by noted boxing manager/promoter Rex “Wakee” Salud is a 12-round battle for the vacant RP minimumweight title pitting Elmer Gejon versus Jun Arlos.