NEGRENSE boxer John Michael Zulueta aims to continue his rise. He eyes the IBO Oceania and Oriental minimumweight titles when he battles Ariston Aton today at the Gaisano Grand Mall in Bacolod City.
This will be the first title bout of the Calatrava, Negros Occidental native Zulueta since his successful ABF minimumweight championship defense against Mike Kinaadman last October.
Highland Hayashi Boxing’s promoter Brico Santig said Zulueta is preparing hard for the match as an impressive victory will be boost his boxing rankings and possibly land more title fights next year.
“John Michael is taking this fight seriously,” Santig said. “This is boxing. Every boxer has the capability to beat each other so John Michael is really training hard to have an impressive showing.”
The 23-year-old Zulueta will be parading an unblemished 9-0-2 win-loss-draw card, including three stoppage wins.
The 19-year-old Aton, on the other hand, has an undefeated 7-0-0 win-loss-draw card, with four knockout victories.
Negrense Joepher Montano, meanwhile, will battle Rodel Wenceslao for the vacant ABF light welterweight belt in the co-main event of the boxing card to be presented by the Highland – Guanzon Boxing Promotion.
This could be the Bago City native Montano’s bounce back match after losing his last two matches in Thailand and Japan. Wenceslao was also a loser in his last match in China last January.
The 22-year-old Montano will be entering the match with an impressive 9-4-2 win-loss-draw ring record, including eight stoppage wins, while Wenceslao has 13-17-2 slate with five knockout wins.
In the undercard, Bacolod City’s Ricky delos Santos (0-1-0) will battle debuting Romeo Anselmo Antique, while Silay City native Rodel Sioco (1-0-0) will tangle with newcomer Ronil Komilyo Antique.
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Veteran Magnolia Hotshots center Ian Sangalang has been a picture of consistency in his team’s steady rise to playoff contention to earn the 2019 Cignal PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the period of March 18-24.
The left-handed big man out of San Sebastian knows how much is at stake for Magnolia that he churned out the much-needed numbers with his averages of 18 points, seven rebounds, three assists and 1.5 blocks to help Magnolia register back-to-back wins.
Following their overtime loss to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings, Magnolia quickly got back on its feet, bucking a slow start behind a second-half surge in their 103-90 win over NorthPort Batang Pier where he finished with 20 points and four rebounds.
Sangalang had a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds, while adding five assists and a block to lead Magnolia past Blackwater Elite, 97-87, and help his team rise to 5-5 win-loss record.
The Hotshots hopes to end their elimination round campaign on a bright note when it faces the NLEX Road Warriors on April 3 in a crucial match where the winner secures a spot in the Top Six./PN
