'PINOY HEARNS' TO FIGHT FOR WBA OCEANIA CROWN IN AUSTRALIA

SONNY “Pinoy Hearns” Katiandagho of General Santos City will now fight for WBA Oceania super lightweight title on April 8 at the Doltone House in Sylvania Waters, New South Wales in Australia.

Katiandagho (11-1-0, 6 KOs) will challenge reigning WBA Oceania super lightweight champion Darragh Foley (10-2-0) of United Kingdom.

The 12-round championship fight is promoted by John Ioannou of JNI Promotions with Chris Carman of BigTicket Events Pty Ltd. As the matchmaker.

The 24-year old Filipino fighter from the Highland Stable in La Trinidad, Benguet won the vacant WBC Eurasia Pacific Boxing Council welterweight title via a 3^rd round technical knockout on Rafik Harutjunjan last July 9 at the Sichuan Gymnasium in Chengdu, China.

Katiandagho previously stopped Stevie Ongen Ferdinandus in the 7^th round last December 1 at the ZheJiang University Stadium (Zi Jin gang Campus) in Hangzhou, China.

Katiandagho, who was one of the awardees in the 17^th Gabriel Flash Elorde Memorial Awards Banguet of Champions in Manila is one of the Filipino sparring mates of WBO world welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao during his preparation for his title fight with Jessie Vargas.

Foley, on the other hand, retained his title in his first title defense by a unanimous decision against Sergion Eduardo Gonzalez last December 2 at the Luna Park in Sydney.

Foley won the vacant WBA Oceania super lightweight title by a 6^th round TKO against another Filipino boxer Joebert delos Reyes (15-6-1) last July 2 at the Club Punchbowl in New South Wales.

Foley is also a former Australia – West Australia State super lightweight champion, Australia – New South Wales State super lightweight and Australian lightweight champion.