3 PINOY BOXERS AIM FOR BIG WINS IN AUSTRALIA

SYDNEY, Australia – Filipino boxers Sonny “Pinoy Hearns” Katiandagho, Mark “The Slam Man” Sales and Joel dela Cruz are all aiming for big wins against their respective Australian opponents on Saturday here at the Doltone House in Sylvania Waters, New South Wales.
“I am ready to go all out to trade punches,” said Katiandagho, who is challenging WBA Oceania super lightweight champion Darragh Foley (10-2-0, 7 KOs) in the main event.
Foley is making his second title-defense of the vacant crown he won via a 6ht round TKO win over another Filipino Joebert delos Reyes last July 2 at the Club Punchbowl here.
Katiandagho, one of the sparring mates of WBO world welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao during his fight with Jessie Vargas, won the vacant WBC Eurasia Pacific Boxing Council welterweight crown by stopping then-unbeaten Rafik Harutjunjan in the 3rd round last July 9 in Chengdu, China.
“I also want to win this title for my country,” said Katiandagho, a native of General Santos City and also former WBC Youth World super lightweight champion.
Katiandagho, 24, arrived together with his trainers Joven Jorda and Jayvee Alipio and business manager Brico Santig of Highland Promotions.
Sales, on the other hand, said that he is ready to score an upset against reigning Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) welterweight champion Jack “The Ripper” Brubaker of Australia in their 12-round championship fight.
“Pinaghandaan ko siya ng tatlong buwan at pinanood ko ang kanyang mga laban sa youtube,” said Sales, a former World Boxing Federation (WBF) International flyweight champion from Davao City.
The 35-year old Sales has prepared for the 12-round title fight at the Thaibox Fitness Gym in Lipa City. He has sparred with WBA Inter-Continental super bantamweight champion Jhon “The Disaster” Gemino and Marbon Bojongan of Kambal Kamao Team.
“Todo ensayo naman ako dito. Sisikapin ko pong manalo. Gagawin ko ang lahat ng makakaya ko,” said Sales, ,who settled a controversial split draw with Japanese Ryuji Ikeda in last fight held October 9 in Hiroshima, Japan.
Brubaker, on the other hand, previously stopped Chatri Charoensin by a 2nd round knockout last December 12 at the Southern Cross Group Stadium in Woolooware, New South Wales.
The 25-year old Aussie successfully made his last title defense by a split decision on Japanese challenger Suyon Takayama last July 25 at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
Brubaker survived a knockdown in the 11th round to escape by a split decision and improved his record to 12-1-1 win-loss-draw with 6 knockouts.
Dela Cruz is more excited since it will be his “homecoming” bout after he left Sydney in 2015. Dela Cruz was based here for almost three years and also has relatives and fans who will be cheering for him during the fight.
Dela Cruz captured the International Boxing Organization (IBO) Asia Pacific lightweight title via a unanimous decision Ryan Langham at the Southport RSL Club, Southport in Queensland in 2011.
“I’m very happy and excited to see all my relatives and friends here,” said the 31-year old dela Cruz, also a former Philippine Boxing Federation (PBF) super featherweight champion.
Dela Cruz (20-25-3), a native of Zamboanga del Norte is fighting Ben Savva (5-1-0) in the undercard.
The official weigh-in will be tomorrow (April 7) at 5:30 p.m. at The Sting Bar according to promoter John Ioannou of JNI Promotions.
They will be joined by matchmaker Chris Carmen of Big Ticket Events Pty Ltd. and OPBF president Juan Ramon Guanzon from the Philippines.