MANILA – Negrense Robert “Toto” Landero will have another shot at world championship when he faces IBO World minimumweight champion Simphiwe Khonco of Africa on July 22 in Umtata, South Africa.
This will be the second bid for a world title for Landero, a native of Pontevedra, Negros Occidental, who lost to WBA World minimumweight champion Thammanoon Niyomtrong of Thailand on March 6.
Unlike in his first world title fight against Niyomtrong, he has much time to prepare for his match against Khonco, Landero told Panay News.
“Madami tayong natutunan doon sa laban natin sa Thailand kaya mahaba ang naging preparation ko for this fight,” Landero said. “Feeling ko mas prepared ako against Khonco.”
The 22-year-old is set to parade an impressive 10-2-2 win-loss-draw ring record, with two stoppage wins. It will be the Negrense fighter’s second time to fight outside of the country.
“Pero siyempre ang game plan pa din namin is to make the match as short as possible dahil hindi rin ganoon kadali manalo sa Africa by decision, especially kung taga-roon ang kalaban mo,” he added.
Khonco has an 18-5-0 slate with seven knockout wins.
This will be the African’s third title defense on his world championship. The second time was against another Filipino – Lito Dante – in June 2017./PN
