Mexican Eden “Anestesista” Marquez, who will challenge Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista on Saturday, is slated to arrive in Cebu on Monday for his 12-round battle at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel in the co-main event of the "WBO Night of Champions" card.
Marquez planes in at 9 a.m. accompanied by manager Fernando Dominguez and trainer Edmundo Gaitan.
Nicaraguan Eddy Castro arrived Sunday with his trainer Ernesto Jose Castro.
Marquez bids to snatch the WBO Inter-Continental super bantamweight crown from Bohol-born reigning king Bautista, who won the crown after defeating another Mexican fighter, Marino Montiel, in February 2007 in Cebu City.
Bautista successfully defended the title twice last year.
Anestesista Marquez (16-3-3) is the leading demolitionist in his home-state of Sonora, Mexico in the 122-pound weight level. Until this time, his campaigns were confined to the boarders of Sonora, Sinaloa, and Baja California Sur. His dispute with Bautista would be his first fight outside the Mexican border and his first breakthrough into the regional headship.
Meanwhile, the WBO mini-flyweight kingdom of Donnie “Ahas” Nietes is under siege by Nicaraguan warrior and WBO No. 9 contender Eddy Castro.
Castro is the leading available challenger after higher-ranked contenders failed to make their bids for various grounds, mostly recently concluded non-title fights. A hungry warrior who is also making his first contest, and a championship bid at that, outside his usual grazing ground in Managua, Nicaragua.
He is currently WBA FEDECARIBE No. 6 and WBC FECARBOX No. 7.
In the undercard, four ALA Gym warriors — Jason Pagara, Jomanz Omanz, Weng Haya, Rey Las Piñas and Jerson Mancio — will be holding their grounds against Kongdej Sithrajtrakan of Thailand, Roger Galixia of Mandaluyong, Gideon Amba of Lapu-Lapu, and Mario Suson of Parañaque, respectively.
Eden Marquez and Eddy Castro will hold a joint public appearance and workout on August 27, 4 p.m. at the ALA Gym at the Banilad Town Center.
The August 30 boxing festival, “WBO Night of Champions,” opens with the contest between visiting Filipino-American pugilist JV Tuazon of New Jersey and Albert Villacampa of Bantayan Island.
This event is presented by ALA Promotions in cooperation with Cebu City Waterfront Hotel & Casino and ABS-CBN Sports.
Major sponsors include Lai Garden Restaurant SM City, Visayan Electric Company, KIA Motors, Hola España, Chika-an sa Cebu , SM City Cebu, Gaisano Grand, La Tegola Cucina Italiana, The Freeman, Cebu Daily News, Sun.Star Daily, Y101, Sunriser Motorcycles, and Media Images & Production Concepts.
Tickets are available at the ALA Promotions Office, ALA Gym Banilad Town Center and Shang Mactan Town Center, Islands Souvenirs Ayala, BisayaIspisyal Ayala, USA Sports Ayala, and Marfori Bakeshop Mandaue.
