MANILA, Philippines—World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight champion Gerry Peñalosa takes on Mexico’s Heriberto Ruiz in a 10-round battle to highlight a big boxing event on Feb. 21 in Mandaue City.

The card will also feature two of the Philippines’ top bantamweights—undefeated Rolando Magbanua of Pigcawayan, North Cotabato and Jundy Maraon of Suminot, Zamboanga del Sur, who will figure in two WBO regional titles.

Maraon, 23, with a record of 11 wins (9 KOs) and 1 draw, will fight reigning WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight titleholder Jason Egera, also a Filipino.

Magbanua, 23, who has a record of 13 wins (8 KOs), will go up against a still unnamed foreign opponent for the WBO Oriental title.

Peñalosa’s appearance in the card originally intended to feature only Mindanao’s top professional boxers was finalized on Thursday following a meeting with ABS-CBN executive Peter Musngi and North Cotabato Vice Gov. Manny Piñol.

The Ruiz fight will be Peñalosa’s final tune-up prior to his defense of the WBO bantamweight title against Mexico’s Eric Morel in April.

It will not be an easy fight for Peñalosa. Ruiz is the same seasoned Mexican operator who last time beat Ray “Boom Boom” Bautista.

Piñol who manages both Maraon and Magbanua said at least six more outstanding fighters from Mindanao will see action in the Feb. 21 card which will be televised live by ABS- CBN and carried for overseas viewers by The Filipino Channel.

Also seeing action are: Featherweight Glenn Gonzales, 23, (8 wins, 4 KOs, 1 draw); featherweight Lorenzo Villanueva, 22, (11 wins with 11 KOs); bantamweight Glenn Porras, 23, (18 wins, 12 KOs, 2 losses); jr. flyweight Edrin Dapudong, 23, (16 wins, 12 KOs, 2 losses); miniflyweight Rommel Asenjo, 19, (11 wins, 8 KOs, 2 losses); and jr. flyweight Jermie Jabel, 20, (9 wins with 6 KOs). Recah Trinidad