March 23, 2002
March 23, 2002
CEBU, PHILIPPINES-Unbeaten WBC #5 and WBA #14 ranked 130-pounder Randy Suico, 15-0, 13 KOs, will fight Korean Sungho Yuh for the vacant OPBF super-feather belt in Cebu, Philippines, on April 27.
WBC #4 ranked Tiger Ari, a lefty Filipino veteran, lately renounced his OPBF throne as his manager Gabriel gBeboth Elorde Jr. decided to make his boy fight Cassius Baloyi for the vacant IBO title in South Africa on April 17.
The tall 22-year-old sensation Suico had been negotiating for his mandatory shot at Ari, 35, before his relinquishment, but he will square off against ex-OPBF 135-pound champ Yuh, 13-2, 7 KOs, who will move down to the super-feather division. The Korean failed to win the WBC lightweight belt via first round demolition by Jose Luis Castillo in Mexico last year. Yuh previously wrested the OPBF throne by dismantling Japanfs Yuji Watanabe in three onesided rounds in Tokyo in October 2000. The rugged Korean fought ex-WBA 130-pound champ Lakva Sim, losing a close decision in Seoul last year, but displayed his tremendous durability and stamina.
Suico, ex-national amateur champ, is called gKomong Bato (stone hand)h due to his fierce attack, and became popular fight after fight to be regarded as the brightest prospect in his coutry. Suico has scored 6 consecutive KO victories over the likes of Chowkin Paulino and Australian champ Karim Nasher, a Naseem Hamed stylist.
It will be a sensational card featuring a couple of OPBF title bouts. WBC #13 ranked Rev Santillan, 14-0-1, 11 KOs, will defend his OPBF welter belt against top ranked Yonghwa Choi, 8-0-1, 1 KO, in a mandatory defense.
The elongated lefty hard-puncher Santillan captured the regional belt by outscoring Korean Sukhyun Yun in Cebu in 2000, and kept it twice in Japan. Choi acquired the Korean national title by beating Byungchul Oh on points in August 1999, and defended it three times. The Korean is not a hard-puncher, but has such a strong chin as to remain unbeaten.
This sensational card will be promoted by Rex Wakee Salud in association with Ring Japan at Waterfrnot Hotel to be telecast nationwide.
(3-23-02)