MANILA, Philippines — Vulnerable on the ground, Ale Cali has been working intensely on this weakness in his comeback fight in the Pacific Xtreme Combat 43 against unpredictable Ernesto Montilla Jr. at the Ynares Sports Arena on Saturday night.
The flaw in Cali’s fight plan was exposed by grappler Louis Smolka when the Hawaiian seized the flyweight belt from the Davao-based boxer through submission in November last year.
“Since then, I’ve been trying to become better in wrestling and jiu-jitsu,” said Cali in Filipino, who absorbed his second loss in seven times in the cage.
Winning over Montilla, a striker with a granite-strong chin, could get Cali back in contention for another title fight in the division vacated by Smolka, who signed up recently with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
“I’m not used to revealing my plans. Let’s just see on the night of the fight,” said Montilla.