By CALVIN CORDOVA
Four months after losing a world title fight, Regie “The Filipino Phenom” Suganob will be tested once again when he takes on the hard-hitting Venezuelan fighter Ronald Chacon in the main event of “Kumong Bol-anon XII on Saturday, Nov. 4, at the Bohol Wisdom Gymnasium in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.
Suganob is determined to redeem himself after losing to Sivenathi Nontshinga in their International Boxing Federation (IBF) light flyweight clash via unanimous decision in South Africa last July 2.
“I am not going to make any prediction but I expect a great fight. I know my opponent is experienced and has a high knockout percentage. But I’m determined to win after I lost in my last fight,” said Suganob during the weigh-in on Friday, Nov. 3, at Island City Mall in Tagbilaran.
Both fighters tipped the scales at 107.8 pounds.
At stake in the Suganob-Chacon fight is the vacant WBO Global junior flyweight title.
The 26-year-old Suganob, who holds a 13W-1L, 4KOs record, knows the importance of the fight against Suganob. He too knows he is up against a dangerous fighter, but the Dauis,Bohol-native boxer is undeterred.
“I don’t feel any pressure at all. In fact, I’m excited because I want to face high-caliber opponents that are ranked because that’s how your skills will be tested as a boxer,” said Suganob.
PMI Bohol Boxing Promotions Floriezyl Echavez Podot is also aware of the consequences if Suganob falters for the second straight fight.
Podot admitted that Suganob could have taken a favorable fight after losing in South Africa but they opted to face an opponent they believed would lead them to bigger fights.
Suganob is currently ranked No. 7 by the IBF and No. 14 by the World Boxing Council.
Chacon is rated No. 10 by the World Boxing Association . He has 30 wins, 22 by knockouts, two losses, and one draw.
The 32-year-old Chacon expressed readiness for only his second fight outside Venezuela.
Leon Panoncillo, President of WBO for Asia-Pacific, said winning a Global belt is crucial for a boxer’s world title aspirations.
In the co-main event, undefeated Cebuano prospect Christian Balunan (8-0, 4 KOs) takes on 17-year-old Thai Adetip Maungcharoen (5-0, 3 KOs) for the vacant WBO Asia-Pacific minimumweight strap.
