Boxing: Height doesn't matter for Singwancha

MANILA, July 29 (PNA) -- When Thai challenger Wandee Singwancha faces World Boxing Council (WBC) international superflyweight champ Silvester Lopez, the 5'6" Filipino's height and reach advantage won't matter.

Singwancha said he will pressure Lopez to fight his way since he likes his opponents tall, according to his assistant trainer/interpreter David Trehanne of Canada who accompanied him on Wednesday's press preview at the Elorde Boxing gym along Pasay Road.

Lopez has a healthy respect for the shorter but muscular 30-year old Thai whom he will meet in the main fight starting at 5 p.m. at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City on Saturday.

After losing in May last year to Marvin Sonsona, who knocked him out in the second round to bag the then vacant WBO Oriental flyweight title, Singwancha has bounced back by wining six fights in a row, including three against Filipino foes Brix Ray, Joel Rafols and Edwin Tumbaga.

Trehanne said Singwancha's 62 wins with 14 KOs and 11 losses record isn't something to be sneezed at. Even his Thai trainer Phinit Iamthuan and veteran Thai international matchmaker Narong Hengtrakul have placed so much faith in Wandee.

Singwancha and Lopez headline the "Bakbakan sa Elorde" card promoted by Elorde International Productions and supported by Rizal Gov. Casimiro Ynares Jr., Burlington socks and Ginebra San Miguel.

Having the 44-year-old Canadian in his corner is also an added boost for the Thai pug since he also trained Singwangcha when he beat Juanito Rubillar by unanimous decision to bag the WBC interim lightweight crown in Bangkok four years ago.

The bespectacled Hengtrakul, a lawyer by profession but who has been arranging fights for the last 28 years, likes his compatriot's chances, saying "this (Lopez-Singwancha) will be a good fight."

"Our boy has already fought (former WBC super flyweight kingpin) Vic Darchinyan of Australia," said Hengtrakul," and I believe Sonsona is a better boxer than Lopez."

No less than a shot the regular WBC title vacated by Darchinyan, who has since moved up to a higher weight division, is in store for the winner of the highly-anticipated clash.

Hengtrakul added that Singwancha is not worried that about fighting in front of a hometown crowd "since the pressure is on your local boxer and not him."

Also lined up in the triple main event is the bout featuring Thai WBC international flyweight champion Sooksan Chaichan Sangmuangloei, who puts his title on the line against Filipino Rey Bito, a former WBO Asia-Pacific champion.

Ex-amateur standout Warlito Parrenas and Jonathan Tacuning slug it out for the WBC international light flyweight title, completing the troika of top fights scheduled this weekend. (PNA)