Kenny Demecillo-Lee Haskins Added to Petalcorin-Alvarado Bill Oct 21 in Manila, Philippines

By Carlos Costa

World-ranked Filipino bantamweight Kenny Demecillo (14-4-2, 8 KO’s) will face the toughest opponent of his boxing career when battles more experienced former World Champion Lee Haskins (35-4, 14 KO’s) of Bristol, England, in co-feature of the the IBF Light Flyweight world title battle between Randy Petalcorin and Felix Alvarado set for October 21 in Manila, Philippines.

Inspired by a number of Filipino boxers reigning as world champions, including his idol Manny Pacquiao and stablemate Jerwin Ancajas, the 26 year-old Kenny Demencillo aims at making his own mark in the sport of boxing and a thrilling win over the tough Briton would propel him forward in his goal as Demecillo aims at challenging for the IBF world crown, now on the head of Emmanuel Rodriguez, the unbeaten new champion of the Island of Enchantment, Puerto Rico.

Demecillo’s last combat was an impressive KO win last June in Russia over then unbeaten Vyacheslav Mirzaev (11-1, 2 KO’s). In that clash, Demecillo roughly pursued and overpowered Mirzaev, dispatching him in four chapters, and the new target is Lee Haskins.

However Lee Haskins is by far more accomplished than Mirzaev. The Englishman’s level is way above. Currently ranked as WBO # 13, WBC # 8 and IBF # 4, Lee Haskins, wants to be a world champion again. Haskins feels he can reign again. Demecillo is just on his way.

The winner of the Haskins vs Demecillo is highly likely to get converted into the challenger of the winner of the world title battle between unbeaten warriors IBF World Champion Emmanuel Rodriguez (18-0, 12 KO’s) and challenger hard-hitting world class puncher Jason Moloney (17-0, 14 KO’s) of Australia set for October 20 in Orlando, Florida.

“Sean Gibbons and Joe Ramos are doing outstanding work for Demecillo and other Filipino boxers putting together a world class fights like this one, fights that open doors,” said Australian Hall-of-Famer Peter Maniatis, the card’s co-promoter.

“Carlos, if you ask me, I’d say that I like the chances of Demecillo in this fight against Lee Haskins. Because Haskins is a strong man and a proven world class fighter. But i think Demecillo is on the way up and Goddess Victory is knocking on his door,” concluded Maniatis to Boxingscene.com.

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.