Aguelo-TI Yamagata all set for PBF title defense

CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue City's pride Adones Aguelo-TI Yamagata (16-7-1, 9KOs) is all primed and ready for his Philippine Boxing Federation (PBF) featherweight title defense against Mindanao brawler Godwin Tubigon (7-5-1, 3KOs) in the main event of a one-of-a-kind boxing and dancing extravaganza bankrolled by TI Yamagata Promotions this Saturday night at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex.

As an added treat to Cebuano fight fans, the general admission is open to the public for free, while tickets are reasonably priced at P100 for the lower box and P300 for the upperbox.

Aguelo, who fights under the aegis of Japanese boxing patron Akira Sato, will make the second defense of the PBF belt he seized with a fourth round stoppage of Bukidnon brawler Jake Verano on September last year in Maria Siquijor.

Aguelo vied for the interim WBO Oriental featherweight championship but lost to the unbeaten Australian power-hitter Joel Brunker (20-0, 13KOs) by 12-round unanimous decision on November 25, 2011 at the Mansfield Tavern in Mansfield, Queensland, Australia.

In his previous ring appearance, however, the 24-year-old Aguelo showed some class in a 10-round unanimous decision victory over Renan Branzuela to keep his PBF belt last February 19 at the Basak Sports Complex in Lapu-Lapu City.

Interestingly, a day before Aguelo's masterful beating of Branzuela, the Dipolog City-native Tubigon fell prey to James Bacon of the ALA Boxing Gym by decision at the Panglaon town plaza in Panglao, Bohol.

In the supporting main event of the slambang card held in partnership with Cebu 6th District Rep. Luigi Quisumbing, Girly E. Montes and Nature's Spring, TI Yamagata Valero of Mandaue will slug it out with Michael Bastasa of Dipolog in a flyweight rumble scheduled for eight rounds.

The rest of the bouts pit TI Yamagata Masashi vs. Jaime Bermiso; TI Yamagata Ardie vs. Rommel Bangquirego; and Margarito Moya vs. Ruel Sumabong.— EBV (FREEMAN)