DACQUEL ARRIVES IN AUSTRALIA FOR UNIFICATION TITLE FIGHT FEB. 22

OPBF super flyweight champion Rene Dacquel jogs near the Richmond Victoria Hotel for his unification title bout with unbeaten WBA Ocenia super flyweight champion Andrew Moloney in Australia. [Photo by BRICO SANTIG]

By LITO DELOS REYES

ORIENTAL and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) super flyweight champion Rene “Commander” Dacquel arrived in Sydney, Australia on Monday for his unification title fight with unbeaten WBA Oceania super flyweight champion Andrew Moloney on February 24 at the Town Hall, St. Kilda.
He is being accompanied by international promoter-matchmaker Brico Santig of Highland International Boxing Promotion.

“”I’ll do everything I can to win for my country even if it’s a bit hard because we’re fighting in a foreign land,” said Dacquel (20W-6L-1D, 6 KOs).

But Dacquel has been training by himself only and without an official trainer.

“Matagal na akong walang trainer at sariling sikap lang talaga para manalo. Disiplina lang talaga.,” [I’ve have no trainer for a long time now and have been doing all by myself only to win. It’s only a discipline.] said Dacquel, who owns the Commander Boxing Gym in Cainta, Rizal.

“Moloney is a good fighter and this fight will be my test to determine if I’m ready now for a world title fight,” said Dacquel.

“I’m not taking Moloney for granted. That’s why I have been sparring also with boxers at the different gyms in Manila,” said Dacquel.

He said that he’s been hitting the heavy bags and mitts with different trainers.

“I only added more on my stamina,” he said.

The 27-year old Dacquel is making his third title defense of the crown he won via a unanimous decision over Japanse Go Onaga last year in Naha. Onaga was downed once in Round 8.

Dacquel then retained his title by a split decision over another Japanese Shota Kawaguchi last April 2 at the EDION Arena in Osaka. He previously won by a unanimous decision against Hayato Kimura last July 19 at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.

Moloney (15W-0L, 10 KOs), on the other hand, is making his first title defense of the vacant WBA Oceania super flyweight crown he won via a 4th round technical knockout against another Filipino Raymond Tabugon of Gensan last August 19 at the Function Centre, Melbourne Park.

In that fight, Moloney also won the interim OPBF super flyweight title.

Moloney then stopped Hasimu Zuberi also by a 4th round TKO last October 21 at the Function Centre to keep his WBA Oceania super flyweight title.