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| Asenjo shadow boxes in a Frisco hotel gym. |
Mexico City - World Boxing Organization (WBO) Number 1 Miniflyweight contender Rommel Asenjo arrived in Mexico City April 27 (28 in the Philippines) for his first crack at the World Title in the 105-lb. division against newly-installed champion Raul "Rayito" Garcia on Saturday, April 30.
It was a long trip for Team Asenjo which included former North Cotabato governor Manny Pinol who is Asenjo's manager, ALA Boxing vice president Dennis Canete and trainer Bruce Lerio of the Braveheart Boxing Club. After the 18-hour trip from Cebu City to San Francisco, the team had to spend the night in Daly City before taking another 6-hour plane ride to Mexico City.
In spite of the long and rigorous trip, the 21-year-old Asenjo appeared in high spirits and even warmed up in the gymnasium of the La Quinta Hotel in San Francisco after which he tipped the scale at 107 lbs., only two pounds over the weight limit.
Tomorrow, Thursday (Friday in Manila) Asenjo will meet the defending champion face to face in a public preview. The fight will be carried live in Mexico by Fox Sports but will not be shown in the Philippines where the left-handed power puncher is hardly known to boxing fans.
Rayito Garcia, who has 29 wins against 1 loss, was the WBO Interim Miniflyweight titlist but was installed recently as full-fledged champion after long-time titleholder Donnie Nietes of the Philippines relinquished the title as he moved up to the junior flyweight division.
Before Nietes relinquished the title, he and his manager Michael Aldeguer made sure that another Filipino fighter will fight for the title against Garcia.
Garcia once held the IBF version of the title which he won from Filipino Florante Condes but lost it to South African Nkosathi Joyi in his first title defense.
Against Asenjo (20 wins, 16 KOs, 2 losses), Garcia has the advantage fighting before a hometown crowd, age and experience.
But Asenjo, whose father is a farm tenant, is bouyed by an intense desire to lift his family out of poverty and by the dream of making history as the first boxer from North Cotabato to win a regular world boxing title.
Last Sunday, churchgoers in the town of Pigcawayan led by ardent Asenjo supporters former board member Rolly Dillera, Councilor Greggy Saljay III, Engr. Mila Casis and Bobong Estaris, offered prayers for Asenjo.PR
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Team Asenjo at the Tribu Restaurant in Daly City. From left, Asenjo, Dennis Maniwang, Manny Pinol, Bruce Lerio and Dennis Canete.
