Filipinos in Supporting Fights in "Ridhwan vs Ambunda II" March 29 in the Lion City, Singapore

By Carlos Costa

Five tough Filipino fighters will battle for victories in Ringstar Boxing show “Ridhwan vs Ambunda II: The Rematch,” scheduled for Friday March 29 at the Indoor Stadium in the amazing Lion City, Singapore.

In the shows main event Singapore’s # 1 star boxer “The Chosen Wan” Muhamad Ridhwan (11-1, 8 KO’s) fights again the man who shattered his unbeaten record: veteran former WBO bantamweight world champion Paulus Ambunda (27-2, 11 KO’s) of Namibia.

Will the popular Ridhwan, 31, be able to avenge his one-and-only defeat and in the process claim the WBC Silver 126 pound belt?

“You see Paulus (Ambunda), I am going to knock you out, and your coach too.. because he talks too much,” said a smiley 100% confident Ridhwan today at the Ringstar Boxing office in Singapore.

In the event’s co-feature, an intriguing all-Filipino affair will unfold when the reigning IBO bantamweight world champion Michael Dasmariñas (28-2-1, 19 KO’s) of Camerines Sur engages fellow Pinoy IBF # 3 Kenny Demecillo (14-4-2, 8 KO’s) of Cebu’s Omega Gym in a crucial make-or-break 12-round IBF eliminator that will choose the mandatory challenger to the IBF bantamweight world champion.

A skilled southpaw with good power, Dasmariñas, 26, comes from a hard-fought 10-rounder non-title draw against unbeaten Ghanaian knockout artist Mao Plangue (17-0-1, 15 KO’s) last September in Singapore; while Demecillo, also 26, lands-in from a spectacular stoppage win over undefeated Vyacheslav Mirzaev last March in Russia, a clash in which Demecillo badly propelled the Russian boxer to dreamland.

Both highly-ranked by the IBF, Dasmariñas and Demecillo need so bad this win to knock on the golden doors of a world title fight. Who will get it?

Will the more experienced, slightly taller Dasmariñas dominate Demecillo with his good right jab, well-timed counters and effective body shots?

Or will an unpredictable and devastating Demecillo shock Dasmariñas to the bones with a repeat of the same chilling, awesome performance he executed in Russia?

In another exciting battle, dangerous Reymond Yanong (9-4-1, 8 KO’s) of Negros Occidental, Philippines, locks horns against heavily-tattooed Ringstar fighter Cairo George (16-1, 9 KO’s) of Hamilton, New Zealand, for the vacant WBC Asia Silver 140 pound belt.

FORMER ALA FIGHTERS CAITOM AND ROMA RATE IN ACTION IN THE LION CITY

Moreover, unbeaten Ringstar fighter Rey Caitom (7-0-1, 2 KO’s) of Mandaue City, Cebu, clashes against coming-forward Indian warrior Hans Raj Thakur (3-1, 1 KO) in a four-rounder action battle in the 108 pound division.

Caitom – a six-time Filipino amateur national champion, former head coach and former ALA fighter – engages in his second combat after twelve years away from the fighting mode.

Even so, the Caitom is widely expected outclass the much younger, less-experienced Thakur, though in boxing nothing is written in stone.

In super flyweights, another former ALA fighter Lorenz Michael Romarate aka “Roma Rate” (11-1, 8 KO’s) of Cebu climbs the square ring for the first time in five years to trade blows against the taller Yuya Nakamura (9-2-1, 7 KO’s) of Osaka, Japan.

Interestinly, Yuya Nakamura fought six times in 2018, winning most of his wars; while “Roma Rate” fought first combat after five years. So what should we think?

Will the Cebuano Roma Rate still have enough quality of a fighter and spirit in him to dominate and outmaneuver the very active Yuya Nakamura? Or will Nakamura make the Filipino look bad, out of distance and rusty?

TICKETS PRICES FROM 20 DOLLARS TO 1,400 BUCKS

Tickets prices range from general admission at US$ 20 (SG$ 26.60) to VIP Ringside Sofa Seats at US$ 1,400 (SGD 1,888)

The classy VIP sofa seat comes with uninterrupted views of the ring action and as well as personalized butler service and free flow of drinks. Early Bird discounts are of 30% off on all tickets till February 28 with promo code, ‘Ringstar’

Tickets can be purchased at www.sportshub.com.sg/ridhwan-ambunda

The exciting 12-bout boxing show March 29 at Singapore’s Indoor Stadium is a production of Ringstar Boxing of award-winning promoter Scott Patrick O’Farrell in association with Nutrifirst and Roomaif, and the whole show will be broadcast live.

Fights start at 5:30 PM (Singapore Time GMT+8)

The author Carlos Costa is a Panama-born fight reporter based in Cebu, Philippines. Carlos can be reached by email: carlos512@hotmail.com and whatsapp +639184538152.