NEGRENSE boxer Richard Claveras will make his boxing return tonight as he battles fellow Filipino fighter Christian Araneta at the IPI Tingub Gymnasium in Mandaue City, Cebu.
This is the first bout of the Silay City, Negros Occidental-native Claveras since scoring a sixth-round stoppage victory over fellow Filipino Richard Rosales in Manila City in February 2020.
Claveras is a veteran road warrior, having fought in various countries such as Australia, Japan, Thailand, and Mexico. He also fought for the world title when he squared off and lost to Mexican Pedro Guevara for the WBC world light flyweight title in 2015.
The 32-year-old Claveras, a former WBC international light flyweight champion, has struggled in his previous matches as he dropped five of his last seven matches.
Araneta presents a difficult foe for the Negrense fighter as the former is aiming for a bounce back after suffering a controversial unanimous decision loss to South African Sivenathi Nontshinga last April in South Africa.
Both Claveras and Araneta have almost identical records. Claveras has 19 wins, seven defeats, two draws with 16 stoppage wins, while Araneta has 19-2-0 (win-loss-draw) with 15 knockouts (KO) in his resume.
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Over at the Urdaneta Cultural Sports Complex in Urdaneta City tonight, Ilonggo fighter Arnel Baconaje is seeking his second straight victory as he battles returning Ivor Lastrilla.
The San Rafael, Iloilo-native Baconaje is coming from an impressive second-round stoppage victory over fellow Filipino boxer Jay Lloyd Quidlat just two months ago in Urdaneta City.
For Leyte-native Lastrilla, on the other hand, this will be his first bout in nearly two years or since suffering a unanimous decision loss to WBA Asia featherweight champion Anurak Thisa of Thailand.
Baconaje, a former WBC Asia Boxing Council silver featherweight champion, will enter the ring with a 12-4-0 slate with 10 stoppage wins, while Lastrilla has a 12-10-1 record, including seven KO wins./PN
