LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Rex Wao will shrug off five years of rustiness when he “debuts” against a dangerous Jonjojn Estrada as one of the nine undercards in the Relentless: Fists of Fire topbilled by Charly Suarez and Eduardo Mancito at the Urdaneta Cultural Sports tomorrow.
Wao needed to shed off 14 kilos (31 pounds) for his return bout against the man nicknamed Wolverine who vowed to knock out the Igorot warrior.
Wao had to go under strict diet to meet the weight at lightweight at 132 pounds to meet Jonjon Estrada who came in at 129 pounds.
Wao last fought Jeo Santisima on Nov. 25, 2016 and lost via technical knockout to complete a three game losing streak. He was earlier knocked out via body shot by Takahiro Yamamoto for the Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation featherweight title. On November 3, 2015, Wao failed to get the World Boxing Council – Asian Boxing Council when he lost to Chinese Xian Qian Wei.
Wao debutted in June 18, 2011 when he beat fellow first timer Jerron Talaman via KO and went on a nine match streak before he was stopped by Silvester Lopez whom he lost his WBC – International bantamweight title he earlier won over Virden Rivera.
Another Highland Boxing Promotion boxer Jeric Canawil will make his debut as a professional when he faces Jonniel Laurente, also in the featherweight division.
Canawil shifts from Muay Thai, where he won three Philippine National Games gold, to professional boxing as he also shed off 13 kilos (29 lbs.) to make it to fight night.
Suarez, a 2016 Olympian, hopes to extend his winning streak when he faces Mancito in the lightweight bout that headlines the Elorde Promotions offering aimed to promote grassroot boxing.
Suarez, who came in at 136 pounds, had been explosive since coming out in January 16, 2019 and has won five his bouts in either KO or TKO that included him winning the vacant Philippines Mindanao Professional Boxing Federation lightweight title and the vacant Luzon Professional Boxing Federation super featherweight crown.
Mancito, at 134 pounds, may just make life miserable for the former Philippine boxing team member as “The Nightmare” who is 18-11-2 (win-loss-draw) in 31 fights.
The undercards feature also Bienvenido Ligas, who weighed 111 lbs. facing Miel Fajardo (113 lbs.),
Jhunriel Ramonal (125 lbs.) against Landy Cris Leon (125 lbs.), Lorenz Ladrada (126.25 lbs.) versus Claudevan Sese (124 lbs.), Jino Rodrigo (139 lbs.) fighting Roberto Gonzales (139 lbs.), Arnel Baconaje (129 lbs.) opposite Jan Ivor Lastrilla (130 lbs.), Cris Ganoza (107 lbs.) against Junuel Lacar (107 lbs.), and the Ranelio Quizo (114 lbs.) – Joseph Bayubay (115 lbs.) fight.
