Cebu-based Reman Salim tries to make the country proud today as he vies for the World Boxing Council Youth superbantam title against undefeated Mexican titleholder Miguel "Mickey Mouse" Roman at the El Poliforo in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.
Both Roman and the Bago City-raised Salim yesterday came in at a perfect 122 lbs during official weigh-in at the Fiesta Inn in Ciudad Juarez.
The lanky Salim parades a 9-2, 2 KO's record, while Roman boasts of a 12-0, 8 KO's card. Both are 20-year-old fighters ready to showcase their talent.
?I only know he is Filipino and all the Philippine fighters are tough,? Roman said in a Fightnews interview when asked about Salim. ?But I know it will be an exciting fight.?
Salim, meanwhile, is given a better-than-average chance of upsetting the reigning champ, owing to his good preparation at the ALA Gym in Cebu.
"But the only thing Salim lacks is a knockout punch. He is not a one-punch KO artist, although he's got great technical skills having come from the amateur ranks where he excelled," said a source close to Salim's training.
Incidentally, set to see action in the undercard are two former foes of Luisito Espinosa, the ex-WBC featherweight king.
Cesar "Cobrita" Soto, now 34 years old, and coming off eight successive loses since taking the WBC title from Espinosa in 1999, faces local boy Adrian Valdez in a 10-round fight.
Another former Espinosa foe, Juan Carlos Ramirez, takes on Ismael Gonzalez in another 10-rounder.
(Email the writer at salven2judge@yahoo.com)
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