DINH HONG QUAN v ARNEL BACONAJE
IBF Asia Lightweight title
LIVE FROM THE GRAND HO TRAM VIETNAM
Saturday December 10
Congrats to Victory8 fighter Linn Sandström, who was successful in her WBA assault in York Hall London just moments ago. The Swedish boxer first appeared as a novice performer in Vietnam at Victory8 in 2018, where she challenged national champion Nguyễn Thi Tam at Nguyễn Du Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City.
Sandstrom has since forged a pro career and showed continued improvement, winning in Australia, the Philippines, Costa Rica and tonight's bout in England. Her WBA win over Croatian Sara Marjanovic was Linn Sandström's 7th in the paid ranks, and she's just getting started !
GO SANDSTORM!
Vietnam's Lightweight champion Dinh Hong Quan will face Philippines Arnel Baconaje at the Grand Ho Tram Strip for the IBF title on December 10. This will be as significant a main event as the country has ever seen, where incumbent champion Dinh Hong Quan (9-1) faces his sternest test to date against the skilful pinoy boxer.
The Vietnam rising star has the size advantage, yet Baconaje has bowled over some of the Philippines' biggest and best scoring, 11 knockouts in his 15 wins to date.This is a massive main event with both fighters having the genuine attributes to claim the IBF prize.
Dinh Hong Quan will join the Manny Pacquiao training camp in preparation for his December assignment, whilst Baconaje is currently in Japan working with pound for pound star Naoya Inoue. The match between Dinh Hong Quan and Arnel Baconaje will take place at The Grand Ho Tram Strip in Vietnam on Saturday December 10th.
Fight card and ticket information coming soon!
Have to love the ring name! Defry Palulu is Indonesia’s best fighter and is IBF approved.
He has a 25 win and 2 loss record and was a WBC regional champion before the pandemic robbed him of that title. So he's not happy!
Congratulations to the Philippines fighters that will be competing at the Grand Ho Tram in Vietnam on Saturday December 10. Arnel Baconaje and Charly will contest IBF titles in two of the main event matches.
Baconaje will take on incumbent lightweight champion Dinh Hong Quan, a Vietnam fighter that has recent history with pinoys Delmar Pellio and Jules Victoriano. Charly Suarez is expected to have a confirmed opponent soon.
Indonesia’s best fighter has given his take on the recent deeds of Charly Suarez, and also his prospects of matching up with the King's Warrior in the near future: "I am aware that I am on a shortlist of fighters for the IBF title in December with Suarez, but if he is serious about being world champ, then pick me - as I am his ticket !
From what I hear, nobody wants any part of Suarez - the Aussie, the Japan, and even I'm hearing American!And from what I see, I am the ONLY guy to call this amateur out, to expose him in the pro ranks.
But I will make a prediction, that based on what I have seen recently of Charly Suarez, not only will I damage his hopes of a world title, I will do some serious damage to his body also. The guy has zero power, so I don't see how he will compete with a top ten fighter "
Defry Palulu is a former WBC belt holder with a record of 25 and 2. He has encountered only one loss in the last 9 years, a controversial split decision defeat that he later avenged. Charly Suarez will contest the IBF Asia title at The Grand Ho Tram Strip in Vietnam on Saturday December 10th.
Big thrill to see "the Ferocious" Carlo Magali back in the ring at Sunday’s BATTLEFIELD. Carlo is one of the most rugged fighters in Philippines boxing, and he turned out in career best shape for his stoush with Charly Suarez in the main event.
Magali started very strongly and in fact edged Suarez in round 3, but it became obvious that the King's Warrior was not going to risk trading with the battle hardened warrior.The match up turned out to be stylistically wrong for Magali, but he certainly showed the physical menace that would really hurt a less lateral opponent than Suarez. We really look forward to The Ferocious appearing again soon, and watching him bust up whatever is in front of him!
*story courtesy Daily Tribune
Utilizing his all-around skills, Rio Olympics veteran Charly Suarez kept his unbeaten record intact with a lopsided 12-round unanimous decision win over rugged Carlo Magali over the weekend in Sucat, Parañaque. Suarez was defending the World Boxing Association super-featherweight title and likewise vying for the Philippine crown and easily got the job done by earning scores of 119-109 (twice) and 118-110 on the judges’ scorecards.
The crowd at the Flash Grand Ballroom of the Elorde Sports Center rallied behind Magali but Suarez had no trouble keeping his foe at bay with shots fired from long range. The victory raised Suarez’s record to 13-0 with seven knockouts and the Magali conquest put him on line for a quick return to the ring on 10 December in Vietnam.
“We are fast-tracking his climb to the world ratings,” Suarez’s chief trainer and longtime national team pal Delfin Boholst. Charly’s ripe (for a title shot) because of his age and his wealth of experience (fighting in the amateur ranks),” Boholst added. Though already 34, Suarez has fought extensively and once faced Vasyl Lomachenko, now regarded as one of the world’s finest fighters.
Hot on the heels of Charly Suarez's clinical WBA and National title win yesterday, the champion's focus now moves to his next assignment. The King's Warrior has been approached to fight in Vietnam in December, and the Philippines' most "ducked" fighter is looking to take his first international scalp on foreign soil.
It seems at this stage, the US, Australia and Japan have stamped Suarez papers as "too dangerous", and given his amateur and pro record, this is hardly surprising! So the search is on for top quality guns that are ready to be lit up by Suarez.
One name that interestingly resurfaced recently was that of a fighter who apparently still holds an opinion on the Philippines star. Charly Suarez was recently made subject of a “call out” by Indonesia’s #1 fighter Defry Palulu, a hard hitter with a 25 and 2 record.
Palulu is classed as one of his country’s best since the mighty Chris John, and the heavy handed southpaw was meant to defend his WBC regional belt against Suarez back in 2020, a match that was cancelled due to the pandemic. At the time Palulu was confident of dismantling the fledgling pro Suarez, and to this day, he still remains optimistic about the task:
Charly Suarez has done very well in his career so far, but I feel I am now a stronger fighter than i was back in 2020, and I just know he hasn’t yet fought someone of my ability. I am hearing that he is the best in Asia at 130, some say even in the world, but I know that I have the power to hurt him and slow his fast hands. "I have been in with many "amateur style" boxers before, and it always ends the same way for them!” warned the man aptly tagged “the Unseen Hammer” !!
Defry Palulu is unbeaten in three fights since returning from the pandemic, and has experienced only one loss in the last 9 years - a split decision loss that he later avenged. VSP Promotions will look into this guy - if the quotes are real, and he's ready to walk the walk, this could be interesting!
Champion Philippines boxer Mark John Yap and Team Raka trainer Ephraim Montoru meet after the historic bout between PNG and Philippines.
What was the topic they discussed? " Mark, which one in your opinion is better?
The San Miguel or riding the Red Horse? "was Ephraim's opener !
Papua New Guinea's very popular Junior Kauko Raka enjoys a meal with other competing boxers after yesterday's huge BATTLEFIELD card in Parañaque Manila.
Raka put on a stoic display in a cracking undercard fight with Philippines champion Mark John Yap.
Junior Raka pressured Yap throughout, winning the admiration of the crowd.
This was the first match for the PNG PRODIGY in almost two years, so expect to see a vastly improved fighter in future bouts.
And our advice is that anyone that is thinking of facing Raka ,?
WATCH OUT ! You are in for one hell of a fight!
PNG PRODIGY IS ON THE MARCH !
Despite a slow start, RoyRoy Sumugat wore down a very good looking Ivor Lastrilla.
Lastrilla appeared to outbox Sumugat in the opening sequence, and he looked to be in career best form. He definitely created problems for RoyRoy, and there are wins in store for this smart boxer without doubt. But it was Sumugat to the fore in latter rounds, with his accuracy and nice combination punching earning him the stoppage.
After the gunshots have fallen silent, and the smoke has cleared !
Huge performances tonight from Mark John Yap and Junior Kauko Raka.
Yap showed all his boxing skills and put an exclamation mark on why he has been a multiple title holder. This "Journeyman" has a lot left in the tank, and he looks invigorated at 130lb.
Raka was a junkyard dog, constantly pressing the champion Yap onto the back foot. Junior Raka showed understandable signs of ring rust, but it was a wholehearted display that won the plaudits of Philippines fans, and was sure to make PNG proud.
Make no mistake, Raka will derive huge benefit from tonight's performance and he will be a menace to top fighters in the division.
Top quality bout. Bravo !
