Borbon guns for WBO Aspac youth belt

Royder Lloyd Borbon gets his biggest break tonight as he challenges World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia-Pacific Youth minimumweight champion Ronbert Paradero at the Manolo Fortich Gym in Bukidnon.

The 22-year-old Borbon, who trains at the Omega Boxing Gym, is inexperienced but he has vicious power in his fists with all of his wins coming by knockout. He hasn’t faced an opponent of Paradero’s level but he has fought a promising young fighter like Clyde Azracon, who beat him by a close split decision.

“This is going to be exciting. It’s hard to predict but it’s going to be a good fight for both,” Omega Pro Sports International (OPSI) vice-president Jerome Calatrava told SunStar Cebu.

The 21-year-old Paradero is ranked No. 1 in the WBO and is already at the brink of a world title shot against Ryuya Yamanaka.

Borbon is 5-2-1 with five knockouts, while Paradero has an impressive slate of 16-0 with 11 knockouts.

Borbon and Paradero both tipped the scales at the 105-pound limit in their eightround title fight,

Five of Borbon’s teammates are also seeing action in the undercard - Tomjune Mangubat, Christian Araneta, Marjun Piencenaves and Carlo Bacaro.

Mangubat (9-0, 8 KOs) takes on former ALA pug Boyce Sultan (9-9-1, 5 KOs) in an eight rounder.

Christian Araneta (14-0, 12 KOs) makes his ring return following a shoulder injury and takes on Ian Ligutan (6-10-2, 3 KOs) in a six-rounder.

Piencenaves (4-0-1, 3 KOs) slugs it out with battle-scarred veteran Jeffrey Jimenez (8-32-2, 5 KOs), while Bacaro makes his pro debut against Rhonvex Capuloy (1-0, 1 KO) in a couple of four-rounders. /