LORETO NOW CLOSELY MAKING WEIGHT LIMIT

BANGKOK – Former world champion Rey “Hitman” Loreto of the Philippines is now close to making the weight limit for his coming championship fight with undisputed WBA world minimumweight king Knockout CP Freshmart on July 15 at Chonburi, Thailand.
After training for more than three hours at the newly-opened Thailand-branch of Highland Boxing Gym, Loreto tipped the scales at only 106 lbs., just a pound over the weight limit last Tuesday.
Loreto then ran around the track oval of the Thailand Sports Complex six times today. He also did skipping ropes and shadow boxing from the watchful eyes of chief trainer Joven “JJ” Jorda and trainer Nino Jalnaiz.
“Makukuha niya ang timbang na 105 lbs. pagdating sa laban,” (He will get the 105 lbs. on the fight) said Jorda.
“Hindi naming puedeng biglain agad kasi para hindi rin siya humina,” (We can’t do it immediately so that he will not become weak) said Jorda.
After training, Loreto was given a massage by assistant trainer Jayvee Alipio at his room at the Empire Hotel.
“OK lang ako. Nawawala ang pagod ko kapag nasa training na,” said the 26-year old native of Davao City.
“Mababawi agad ni Loreto ang kanyang timbang after the official timbangan sa July 14,” said Jorda.
Team Loreto is planning to go early to Chonburi in order to avoid the heavy traffic and long trip.
“Kailangan hindi mapagod si Loreto sa biyahe pagdating sa laban,” said Jorda, who is also assisted by Nino Jalnaiz.
Loreto, who is a former International Boxing Organization (IBO) light flyweight champion, last fought as a minimumweight in 2011 when he stopped Dodoy Alapormina by a 3rd round technical knockout in La Trinidad, Benguet.
Loreto then fought 11 times in two higher divisions – flyweight and light flyweight.
He first lost by a technical decision to Benezer Alolod for the WBC International light flyweight title in 2013. But Loreto bounced back by capturing the interim PABA light flyweight crown via a 10th round technical decision on Pornsawan Porpramoook on August 23, 2013 at Siam Park in ‘Bangkok.
“We were not even given a good accommodation during that time unlike now we’re in a big hotel,” said Jorda.
Loreto then went to Monte Carlo, Monaco to capture the vacant IBO world light flyweight title by knocking out Nkosinathi Joyi in the 3rd round on February 1, 2014.
He retained it by stopping Nkoshinathi Joyi in the first round on March 22, 2015 in Eastern Cape, South Africa. However, until now the promoters have failed to give Loreto his purse of US$42,000.
Loreto currently has a fight record of 23 wins with 15 knockouts against 13 loses and no draw while the undefeated Knockout CP Freshmart, whose real name is Thammanoon Niyomtrong has 15 wins with seven knockouts.
Niyomtrong, who is also a former WBC Youth world minimumweight champion, successfully last defended his title by knocking out Japanese Go Odaira in the 5th round last March 1 at the Chonburi Provincial Ground in Chonburi.
Meanwhile, Highland Boxing Gym owner Brico Santig confirmed that Games and Amusements Board (GAB) Chairman Abraham Kahlil Mitra and Commissioners Edward Trinidad and Fritz Gaston are coming to give their moral support to Team Loreto.
“They also want to meet the Thailand boxing commission,” said Santig.
As of press time, Team Loreto will be making a public workout in a mall to promote the world title fight.

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