The Mexican matchmaker/agent who foisted a “fake” Genaro  Garcia on unsuspecting ALA Promotions, their featherweight regional champion Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista and some 40,000 fight fans in Tagbilaran City, Bohol has at long last found.

World Boxing Council president Don Jose Sulaiman had summoned Correa to a hearing after he sent a fake Genaro Panterito” Garcia instead of the genuine Genaro “Poblanito” Garcia who had been contracted to fight Bautista which resulted in a scandal, but Correa was nowhere to be found.

However, Sulaiman informed the Manila Standard today that “finally we could find where Hugo Correa is licensed. He has a license in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

Sulaiman noted that Correa “he has been called for a hearing six times and he has not answered or attended.”

In the wake of his refusal to attend the WBC hearing on the fake Garcia case, Sulaiman said he is “asking the boxing commission in Ciudad Juarez to suspend him (Correa) until he complies with the WBC rules and regulations.”

ALA Promotions, determined to give Filipino fight fans a chance to see the real Garcia who is a many-time world title contender in action, have signed him  up to fight promising, undefeated super bantamweight Genesis Servania in a blockbuster fight card at the Resort World Hotel and Casino on the June 2 “Pinoy Pride XIV” card headlined by the WBO light flyweight title fight between champion Donnie Nietes and challenger  Felipe Salguero.

The real Garcia has vowed to erase the damage created by the fighter who misrepresented him. He said “Someone tried to  take advantage of my international fame. I fought the best bantamweights and super bantamweights in the world and I fought for world championships.

“Poblanito” Garcia said the Garca who pretended to be me “affected my reputation because he gave no fight” and was stopped in the 2^nd round. He added, “I resent the situation and I am set to make it clear who the real Genaro Garcia is. The Filipino fans will see when I get there that I an strong and thgrow many punches.”

WBC straw-weight silver champion Denver Cuello of the Philippines has arrived in Celaya, Mexico and predicted he will knock out challenger Ganigan Lopez in his title defense at the Palengke de la Feria in Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico  on Sunday, Manila Time..

The  World Boxing Council  informed the Manbila Standard that some 3,000 fight fans are expected to attend the fight.

The WBC quoted Cuello as pointing out that saying he studied his rival and he knows his weaknesses although he admitted that while Lopez is a great boxer it won’t matter.

Cuello said “I’m better. I will knock him out.”

Cuello remarked that Lopez had “great speed but without power” while he claimed “I’m fast and I have gtreat power in my fists so I hope I can win this fight before the 12th round.”

The devastating puncher very much like his stablemate and newly crowned WBC flyweight champion Sonny Boy Jaro who won the title with a sensational knockout of Thai veteran Pongsaklek Wonjongkam said “I want to become world champion and Ganigan Lopez won’t get in my way.”

Cuello who is managed and trained by promoter and former boxer Aljoe Jaro was deprived of a chance to fight for the WBC minimum weight title when he was disqualified in the 3^rd round of a title eliminator against Juan Hernandez in Mexico on May 22, 2010, when he had Hernandez bloodied and battered down on one knee but hit Hernandez when he was down prompting the referee Gerardo Venzon who had first declared Cuello the winner to change his mind and disqualify Cuello.

Cuello’s promoters Canelo Promotions who is headed by popular world middleweight champion Saul “Canelo” Alvarez has been described as an animal in the ring.

The 25 year old Cuello is  one of the most devastating punchers in the lower weight divisions. He  will face Lopez (20-4-1, 14 KO’s) who is ranked No. 1 by the WBC . Cuello, the WBC silver champion with a record of  30-4-6 with 20 knockouts won the title with a smashing 1^st round knockout of Carlos Perez last October 15, 2011 in Mexico.

Since the questionable loss to Hernandez, the southpaw Cuello has won nine fights in a row, seven by TKO and 2 by KO. Lopez is also a southpaw and has won his last four fights, 1 by knockout and 3 by TKO after winning the WBC Silver belt with a twelve round decision over Omar Soto on August 14, 2010. During a brief stopover in Los Angeles en route to Mexico, Cuello went jogging with Manny Pacquiao and had a new set of mouthguards courtesy of well known dentist and sometime cutman Dr. Ed de la Vega.

World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion and “Fighter of the Decade” Manny Pacquiao will gift the eight division world champion an exclusive diamond ring as superchampion.

WBO  president, Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel has announced that  the diamong ring will be presented to Pacquiao before his fourth title defense against undefeated junior welterweight champion Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on June 9.

Valcarcel said “We are going to gift Manny Pacquiao with a diamond ring, an exclusive ring, for him as a superchampion.The ring is specially designed for Pacquiao. There are just two in the World, this for Pacquiao, and the other one we gave to Oscar de la Hoya in 1995. This ring is for elite boxers”, Valcarcel said.

Pacquiao who holds a ring record of 54-3-2 with  38 knockouts is scheduled to  receive his ring the week of his fight versus Bradley who is undefeated in 28 fights with 12 knockouts.

South Africa’s Macbute Sinyabi is ready to put the heat on Thailand’s hometown favorite  Thangthong Kiattaweesuk when they clash in an open air venue at the hottest time of the day in an IBF super bantamweight eliminator on Saturday.

The 33 year old Kiattawqeesuk who is undefeated with a record of 23-0 with 16 knockouts is ranked No. 3 by the IBF while the 25 year old Sinyabi who sports an 18-1 record with all 18 wins coming by way of knockouts is ranked No. 4.

The Thai southpaw is the IBF Pan Pacific super bantamweight champion as well as the WBC International bantamweight champion.

Boxing writer Nick Gordon reported from Bangkok that Sinyabi wrapped up his final preparations for the fight which was his third session since arriving in the busy Thai capital last Saturday.
Sinyabi’s trainer Nick Durandt said “That’s the business right there. We’re ready to go” after  Sinyabi’s training session in conditions where the mercury reached the high 30s.

Gordon reported “the fact that the fight is being staged in the afternoon is of little consequence to the team who have settled into their routine of roadwork in the mornings and a training session in the early afternoon pointing out that this is part of everyday business  in Durandt’s downtown Johannesburg gym when his stable of professionals go through their paces at the same time every day.”
Durandt pointed out that “settling in here isn’t a problem because it’s very similar to what we do at home. The fact that we’re training in this heat at the same time as we are going to fight is convenient. Working at this time is not unusual.”

It seems the Thai media soon left Sinyabi’s workout without showing much interest  but Sinyabi isn’t worried and hopes to make them sit up and take notice when the fight takes place.
Trainer Durandt beamed “That’s the killer right there” as Sinyabi unloaded left hooks on one of the many heavy bags hanging from the open air venue, a local Muay Thai academy, with the apparatus groaning from the weight of the Eastern Cape-born fighter’s blows.

Sinyabi said “I’m fit and ready for this. They’ve tried to play some mind games with us  but I’m ready. He was referring to the fact that the gym was an inconvenient drive away from the hotel, although the fact that there was less traffic made the commute less tiring.

At this stage Sinyabi – who spent last night analysing videos of his opponent –  is well inside the weight limit of 55.3kg, and Durandt has already decided that Sinyabi will do two more road sessions today  ahead of tomorrow’s weigh-in in the province of Nakhonratchasima.

The venue  is a three-hour drive from the team’s current base in Bangkok.

Denied a chance to fight for the WBC minimum weight title after he was controversially disqualified in the 3^rd round of a title eliminator against Juan Hernandez in Mexico on May 22, 2010, Denver Cuello  won’t make a mistake this time when he battles another Mexican Ganigan Lopez at the Palengke de la Feria in Celaya, G uanajuato, Mexico  on Sunday, Manila Time..

Cuello who is referred to by his promoters, Canello Promotions as an animal in the ring was declared the winner by referee Gerardo Venzon when he had Hernandez bloodied and battered down on one knee but hit Hernandez when he was down prompting the referee to change his mind and disqualify Cuello in the title eliminator.

Hernandez earned the right to face Japan’s Kauzto Ioka for the title and dropped a unanimous twelve round decision.

Cuello, the 25 year old a protégé of former boxer Aljoe Jaro who is both his manager and trainer  is  one of the most devastating punchers in the lower weight divisions. He  will face Lopez (20-4-1, 14 KO’s) who is ranked No. 1 by the WBC as against Cuello, the WBC silver champion with a record of  30-4-6 with 20 knockouts. Cuello won the Silver title with a smashing 1^st round knockout of Carlos Perez last October 15, 2011 in Mexico.

Since the questionable loss to Hernandez, the southpaw Cuello has won nine fights in a row, seven by TKO and 2 by KO. Lopez is also a southpaw and has won his last four fights, 1 by knockout and 3 by TKO after winning the WBC Silver belt with a twelve round decision over Omar Soto on August 14, 2010.

CueWell known dentist Dr. Ed de la Vega fitted Cuello with two excellent mouthguards and spoke to Ceullo who told him he had “trained hard to ensure a victory and was eager to give honor to our country.”

Dr. de la Vega also reported that Cuello went to the Wild Card Gym for a light workout and to hopefully get some pointers from celebrated trainer Freddie Roach.

Cuello also thanked the WBC for the opportunity to fight Lopez in a title eliminator.

The Philippine Powerlifting team amassed a big medal haul in the 2012 Asian Powerlifting Championships held recently in Udaipur, India.

The Filipinos won a Best Lifter 1^st runner-up trophy, 8 gold, 17 silver, and 1 bronze medal and in a powerful display every team member won a medal and in the process established 4 world records, 11 Asian records, and 23 Philippine records.

Led by  Anita Koykka, the best active powerlifter in the Philippines who competed against lifters who were some  20 to 30 years younger, Koykka proved that age didn’t matter as she won 1 gold and  3 silver medals in the very tough Open category.

In the process, she achieved 5 Masters World records and consequently 7 Asian records.  Koykka’s gold medal came from her 90kg bench press. In addition, Koykka earned Open Best Lifter (MVP) 1^st runner-up honors, a very difficult achievement.

Powerlifting official Nina Oca sent us a detailed report in which she said  “there were tough moments for Koykka as she failed her 85kg 1^st attempt in the bench press. She came back strongly in making her 2^nd attempt, still at 85kg, before achieving the world record on her 3^rdattempt.”

Oca said that inn the deadlift, her 165kg world-record breaking try on her 2^nd attempt was red-flagged due to a mere technicality she corrected well with an easy 165kg on her 3^rd attempt. In the squat, there were no problems at all on her 155kg 2^ndattempt which was her first try at a world record in this competition. In the end, her 410kg total broke her own world record Total.

Betina Bordeos was a crowd favourite due to her strong lifts and charming beauty. Competing in the Juniors class, the 21 year-old’s rank was moving back & forth between first place to last place due the very close lifts among all the other lifters. While Bordeos’ bronze in the squat was expected, she was disappointed with “only” a silver medal in the bench press where she was edged out by a Kazakhstan lifter on having a lower bodyweight but with identical lifts of 85kg. However, Bordeos came roaring back to get the gold deadlift event with a lift of 167.5kg, a new Asian Junior record, to catch up to the other lifters and win the gold in the Total with 385kg combined squat, bench press & deadlift.

19 year-old Regie Ramirez lived up to expectations when he ruled all the events in the 53kg Juniors class with gold medals in the squat, bench press, deadlift for a total of 482.5kg to win 4 gold medals. Another Filipino lifter, Raph Hidalgo, won 4 silver medals to make it a 1-2 finish for the Philippines in the same weight class by overwhelming the 3^rd running Uzbekistan lifter.  Actually, Hidalgo had some opportunities to edge out teammate Ramirez for the gold in the bench press & deadlift. Ramirez had to successfully lift 105kg in the bench press and struggled with 197.5kg deadlift, barely making it, to beat Hidalgo. Ramirez’ 180kg squat, however, was never threatened. Ramirez’ bench press, deadlift & total were all new Asian Junior records.

John Castelar, lifting in the 74kg Sub-Juniors class, lifted 205kg in what seemed to be a successful lift for the bronze medal in the squat, even better than his earlier 190kg successful attempt. However, 2 of 3 judges thought otherwise and red-flagged it. Frustrated with the squat results, the 18 year old Castelar focused on the bench press where he opened with 130kg. He again got red-flagged on a technicality. Making sure on his 2^nd attempt, he easily heaved 130kg to get a comfortable lead against an Indian lifter for a guaranteed bronze. Castelar then successfully lifted 137.5kg on his 3^rd attempt to overtake the Kazakh lifter for the silver.

Clark Cruz comfortably won the deadlift gold medal in the 93kg Sub-Juniors class with 225kg, well below his limit but taking the safe route to win it over a big Afghan lifter to successfully defend the gold he won in last year’s Asian Championships. However, with Cruz having a minor injury, he settled for the silver medal in the bench press (130kg), squat (230kg) & total behind the same Afghan lifter whose bodyweight was 20 pounds heavier.

Head of Delegation Ramon Debuque also contributed a medal, winning the silver in the bench press event of the 93kg Masters II category with a 160kg bench press. There were tense moments as Debuque got red-flagged on his first 2 attempts on technicalities. But with proper motivation on his 3^rd attempt, he finally lifted it successfully.

Raymond Debuque, son of the head of delegation, scored 4 silver medals. Due to a knee injury, Raymond had to take a much lower weight attempt in the squat, allowing the Iraqi lifter to win the gold over him and eventually the total. In the bench press and deadlift, Raymond beat the Iraqi lifter with lifts of 180kg & 230kg respectively but an Afghani out-lifted him for the golds.

Coaches for the team were Eddie Torres & Ramon Debuque.

243 lifters from 16 countries were nominated in the competition including Afghanistan, Iraq, Japan, India, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Oman, Indonesia, Philippines, Hong Kong, Mongolia, Taiwan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, & United Arab Emirates.

The team was supported by Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Dewfoam, and Gold’s Gym.

Cuello who is referred to by his promoters, Canello Promotions as an animal in the ring was declared the winner by referee Gerardo Venzon when he had Hernandez bloodied and battered down on one knee but hit Hernandez when he was down prompting the referee to change his mind and disqualify Cuello in the title eliminator.

Hernandez earned the right to face Japan’s Kauzto Ioka for the title and dropped a unanimous twelve round decision.

Cuello, the 25 year old a protégé of former boxer Aljoe Jaro who is both his manager and trainer  is  one of the most devastating punchers in the lower weight divisions. He  will face Lopez (20-4-1, 14 KO’s) who is ranked No. 1 by the WBC as against Cuello, the WBC silver champion with a record of  30-4-6 with 20 knockouts. Cuello won the Silver title with a smashing 1^st round knockout of Carlos Perez last October 15, 2011 in Mexico.

Since the questionable loss to Hernandez, the southpaw Cuello has won nine fights in a row, seven by TKO and 2 by KO. Lopez is also a southpaw and has won his last four fights, 1 by knockout and 3 by TKO after winning the WBC Silver belt with a twelve round decision over Omar Soto on August 14, 2010.

CueWell known dentist Dr. Ed de la Vega fitted Cuello with two excellent mouthguards and spoke to Ceullo who told him he had “trained hard to ensure a victory and was eager to give honor to our country.”

Dr. de la Vega also reported that Cuello went to the Wild Card Gym for a light workout and to hopefully get some pointers from celebrated trainer Freddie Roach.

Cuello also thanked the WBC for the opportunity to fight Lopez in a title eliminator.