GENSAN PUG TO VIE FOR VACANT IBO ASIA PAC LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE IN CHINA

By LITO DELOS REYES

FILIPINO boxer Ernie Sanchez of General Santos City will fight for the vacant International Boxing Organization Asia Pacific lightweight title on December 10 in Fuqing, China.

The 24-year old Sanchez (15-8-1-6KOs) will face former IBO Asia Pacific super featherweight champion Li Quan Lin (7-1-1) of China.

Lin, 20, has won all his last seven fights including two knockouts. He scored a unanimous decision against Campee Phayom last May 14 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center.

He also captured the vacant IBO Asia Pacific super featherweight crown by stopping Filipino Junar Adante by a 7^th round TKO last December 26 in Haikou, China.

Sanchez, on the other hand, previously fought but lost to Masayuki Ito by an 11^th round technical knockout last July 8 for the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) super featherweight title.

He also bowed to Mexican Oscar Valdez via a 3^rd round TKO last December 12 at the Convention Center, Tucson, Arizona, USA.

Sanchez scored his last win on September 19, 2015 via a 1^st round knockout against Ji Hoon Cha at the Culture Center in Wanju, South Korea.

Sanchez also twice fought in the undercards of 8-time world division champion Manny Pacquiao. He won two unanimous decisions against Coy Evans and Wilton Hilario both at the MGM Grand, Grand Arena, Las Vegas in 2012.

Sanchez has also fought but lost all six other title fights.

He was knocked out in the 8^th round by Sergey Lipinets for the vacant WBC International Silver super lightweight title last Nov. 28, 2014 in Moscow, Russia.

Sanchez lost by a split decision Randy Megrino for the vacant WBC Youth World super featherweight title last June 25, 2014 in Mandaluyong.

He earlier dropped UDs to Mexican Andres Gutierrez for the WBC Silver super bantamweight title and Rey Vargas for the WBC Youth Silver super bantamweight title both in Mexico in 2013.

Sanchez also bowed to Robert Kopa Palue by a UD for the interim WBO Asia Pacific featherweight title on Sept. 17, 2011 in Indonesia and to Edgar Gabejan by UD for the Philippine Boxing Federation featherweight title on May 14, 2011 in Lanao del Norte.