TORNADO TO FACE EX-WORLD CHAMPION ESTRADA

Raymond Tabugon (left) and Juan Francisco Estrada

By LITO DELOS REYES

PHILIPPINE Boxing Federation (PBF) super flyweight champion Raymond “Tornado” Tabugon of General Santos City will face former world champion Juan Francisco “El Gallo” Estrada of Mexico on October 8 at the Estadio Francisco León García in Puerto Penasco, Sonora, Mexico.

Tabugon, also a former International Boxing Organization Inter-Continental light flyweight title-holder, has a record of 18 wins with 8 knockouts, 5 losses and one draw.

Estrada, a former WBA super world flyweight and WBO world flyweight champion is toting a record of 33 wins with 22 knockouts and only 2 losses.

“Juan Francisco is a really good boxer. It will be a tough assignment for Tabugon,” said manager Jim Claude “JC” Manangquil, chief executive officer of Sanman Promotions.

“But Tabugon will try his best to make an upset,” said Manangquil.

The 25-year old Tabugon, however, is coming from a 5^th round technical knockout loss against Makazole Tete in their battle for the vacant IBF Inter-Continental super flyweight crown held July 29 at the Orient Theatre, East London in Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Tabugon last won against Renante Suacasa by a 6^th round TKO win to capture the PBF super flyweight title last March 8 in T’boli, South Cotabato.

Estrada, on the other hand, last saw action when he retained his WBA super world flyweight and WBO world flyweight crowns via a 10^th round knockout win against Hernan Marquez last September 26, 2015 in Mexico.

Estrada reportedly now also wants a rematch with WBC World super flyweight champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez (46W-38KOs), who recently retained his title via a UD against Carlos Cuadras last Sept. 10 at the Forum in Inglewood, California, USA.