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Mayor Lito Atienza of Manila is confident the Fiesta
Fistiana set Sunday at the Rajah Sulaiman Park in Malate will draw a
huge crowd since the fight card features some of the finest
fighters, including women pugs, in the country.
A boxing fan himself, Atienza is
thrilled that such a unique fight card was put together for the
event. Women boxers get to show their game at a big venue, with
Puerto Princesa City’s Baina Londo taking on Jessica Oyan of
Baguio and Babay Keckok, also of Puerto Princesa, squaring off with
Baguio’s Jujeath Nagawa.
“This is an interesting fight
card and we are sure a lot of people, even those who are not boxing
fans, would be drawn to watch the fights,” said Atienza.
The Philippine Sportswriters
Association, in cooperation with the Games and Amusements Board and
the City of Manila, is organizing the event designed to raise funds
and provide a source of income for destitute and disabled boxers.
Livelihood packages or
pangkabuhayan karts will be given instead of cash to the selected
boxers. San Miguel Corp., Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp. and
the Philippine Sports Commission are the main sponsors of the event
that will be free to the public.
Also supporting the event are
Philippine Airlines, SM, Caltex Philippines and the Philippine
Charity Sweepstakes Office.
Some of the best fight cards in
the country were promoted by the PSA, including the Manny
Pacquiao-Reynante Jamili showdown for the WBC international super
bantamweight title in 1999.
Arnold “Ali” Atienza, before
relinquishing his post as Manila Sports Council chief, signed an
agreement with the PSA to provide the venue and co-sponsor the event
first held in 1955. Coming off a second-round knockout win over
Japan’s Akio Konishi, Philippine super bantamweight titlist Alex
Escaner shows his wares anew this time against a tough challenger in
RP No. 3 Jake Verano in the 12-round main bout.
Denver Cuello, a 20-year-old
left-hander who is ranked second in the RP straw weight division,
collides with fellow southpaw Arman de la Cruz, 22, while
fourth-ranked super bantamweight Jun Talape faces off with Johnny
Lear.
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