By CALVIN CORDOVA
TAGBILARAN CITY — A chance to contend for a world title fight is hard to come by for most boxers.
With this in mind, hard-hitting boxer John Vergil Vitor vowed to go all-out when he goes up against a South Korean opponent in the main event of the “Kumong Bol-anon 8” card on Thursday, Dec. 8, at the Calape Gymnasium, Calape town, Bohol.
In what could be a career-defining fight, Vitor, 25, will be putting his WBO Oriental junior super featherweight belt on the line against a determined 31-year-old Dong Kwan Lee.
A successful title-defense will definitely boost Vitor’s chances of earning a shot at bigger and lucrative fights next year which his promoter promised to him.
“This is an opportunity I can’t miss. I am lucky that I was given the chance to see action in a title fight. This is only my first title-defense and I will do my best to win it,” the PMI Bohol Boxing Stable stalwart said after their weigh-in on Wednesday, Dec. 7, at the Tagbilaran City Hall.
The two fighters were on the dot as they both weighed in at the 130-pound limit.
Vitor, who totes a 19-2 win-loss record, including 12 by knockouts, won his current belt against Thailand’s Arnon Yupang at the Dimiao Gymnasium in Dimiao town, Bohol last Sept. 9.
Floriezyl Echavez Pudot, Vitor’s manager/promoter, said should his ward continue to show impressive performances, a world title fight may be up next for him.
“Giving Vitor this kind of a quality fight is long overdue. It should have been given to him three years ago. We will see how he performs against Kwan Lee. This is a very important fight for him as we may gun for a world title eliminator or even a world title fight next year,” said Pudot.
Against Kwan Lee, Vitor said a knockout within five rounds is doable.
“I will really go for a knockout but I am ready if it will last for 12 rounds. I prepared hard this fight,” said Vitor, a native of Tagbilaran.
Sporting a 16W-2L-2D, 7KOs record, Kwan Lee warned that knocking him out is easier said than done and not even his opponent’s so-called homecourt advantage could intimidate him.
“Perhaps he can’t even hit me. I will reverse the result because I will knock him out,” said Kwan Lee, who has already fought at least four Filipino opponents.
In the co-main event, PMI’s Daniel Nicolas will face Jestine Tesoro for the WBO Oriental Youth featherweight belt.
Spearheaded by matchmaker Edito Villamor, the card will have a total of 13 fights and will start at 2 p.m.
