PORRAS VOWS TO BOUNCE BACK ON FEB. 26 AGAINST MANANQUIL

FORMER WBO Asia Pacific Youth bantamweight champion Glenn “The Rock” Porras of MB Promotions vowed to bounce back in his winning ways when he fights brawler Ben Mananquil of Sanman Promotions on February 26 at 5 p.m. at the Lagao Gym in General Santos City.

Porras (29 wins-5 losses-0 draw-17 knockouts) and Mananquil (12 wins-1 loss-2 draw-3 KOs) are fighting for the vacant World Boxing Federation (WBF) International bantamweight title in the Sanman’s inaugural boxing show for 2017 billed as the “Rise of the Next Champions”.

“OK ang laban naming ito ni Mananquil. Malalaman lang yong gagawin ko sa kanya pag nandiyan na siya sa ring,” said Porras, who has been training at the MP Davao Gym in Davao City.

Porras left boxing after losing by a 2nd round knockout to Mexican Jose Nieves in their WBO Latino bantamweight championship held Dec. 7, 2012 in Florida, USA.

But the 31-year old Porras successfully made a comeback last year by beating Renante Suacasa by a unanimous decision to win the vacant Minproba bantamweight crown in President Roxas Gym, North Cotabato.

Porras, who is now handled by the Singapore-based MB Promotions said he will come 100 ready and will look to stop Ben Mananquil.

Porras said that he is now more prepared to fight than in his previous assignment wherein he lost by a 5^th round technical decision to Jayar Estremos last November 26 in Agoncillo, Batangas.

Porras suffered a nasty cut on his right eye due to an accidental headbutt forcing the referee to stop the fight in 40 seconds of the 5^th round. The decision was made based on the three judges’ score sheets with Estremos leading against Porras.

“Glenn is a very good Boxer He is a fighter and exciting to watch in the ring. Basta pareho lang og timbang,” said Porras’ manager Jilson Basang.

“His last fight was a big mistake of accepting Jay-ar Estremos, who came to weigh in over almost 10 pounds over for the contract 118 lbs.,” said Basang.

“But we had no more choice for we can no longer find a late replacement,” said Basang.

“I was so frustrated for that fight and I told Glenn that it will be the last mistake,” Basang added.

He said that the Games and Amusements Board should penalize those boxers who fail to make the agreed fighting weight and to boxers in ratings who won a match by breaching the contract.

“Boxers need to be disciplined if they cannot get the weight then (they) have to move to other weight division,” said Basang.

Porras currently weights 121 lbs. or just three pounds over the weight limit.

He has been training under Rene Inocian, who is confident that Porras can get the 118 lbs. before the fight.

“Mas mataas at maganda ang aking preparasyon ngayon,” said Porras.

“Glenn is really preparing hard for this fight. Babawi daw siya ngayon,” said Basang.

“Porras is also a former Philippine GAB and Philippine Boxing Federation (PBF) bantamweight champion.

“We want Porras to win his fifth title,” said Basang.

Porras won his first two fights in the US in 2011 and 2012 all by UDs. He first beat Adolfo Landeros on Dec. 2, 2011 at the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, California then crushed Jose Silveria on Aug. 10, 2012 at the Morongo Casino Resort and Spa in Cabazon, California.

Basang said that Manangquil is also a good boxer and a good opponent for Porras.

“They will be both tested on this fight. As what Jim Mananquil said it will be a great fight in the ring and I agree with that,” Basang said.

But he said Porras’ experience and determination to be back in the world ranking will “overpower Manangquil in this fight”.

 

“Once step at a time and just focus on the fight. Nobody can defeat you when you are in focus. Glenn is a fighter that’s all what he need in the ring,” Basang said.

“We will keep on praying for his success on this fight,” he added.

Promoter Jim Claude Manangquil, Chief Executive Officer of Sanman Promotions thinks that match could be the Best Fight of the Night since both fighters are known to fight toe to toe.

Ben Mananquil, a native of Zamboanga del Norte had a controversial technical draw with unbeaten Kwanpichit Onesongchai Gym in Thailand.

He also had a split draw with China’s Jing Xiang in China. Mananquil, however, won his previous fight via a unanimous decision over Bukidnon’s Romulo “Demon” Ramayan Jr. last Dec. 4 at the Robinson’s mall atrium in GenSan.

The Mananquil-Porras title fight is one of the four championship bouts featured in the official boxing event of this year’s Kalilangan Festival.

It is sponsored by the city government of Gensan, Mt. Sabrina Resort, Barberlife and Amoy Promotions. It will be covered by Solar Sports. Admission is free to the public.

The other championships will have Jade Bornea (6-0-0-4 KOs) against Raul “Vulcan” Yu (9-1-2-8 KOs) for the vacant IBF World Youth super flyweight, Eden “Sanman”Sonsona (35-6-2-12 KOs) agains Jovany Rota (9-9-0-6 KOs) for the WBF International super featherweight and Lolito “Thunder Shot” Sonsona (20-1-4-9 KOs) and former Philippine light flyweight champion Renren Tesorio (15-9-3-4 KOs) for the WBF Asia super flyweight crown.

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