Lorona, Flores ready for Final Encounter

Stablemates WBF Asia-Pacific super-featherweight champion Baby Lorona Jr. and Rexon Flores are 100 percent ready to face separate foes in the "Final Encounter" card at the Grand Boulevard Hotel on Roxas Boulevard, Manila July 21.

Lorona has done 90 rounds of sparring while the three-year pro-slugger Flores completed 80 rounds both against boxers from the Elorde Sports Center in Sucat, Parañaque.

"Everything is already set, and our boxers, particularly in the main event are all ready for Wednesday’s fight. I believe they are now like a hard nut to crack whose punching skills are at par with the world’s best in their respective divisions," said Gabriel "Bebot" Elorde, CEO of the fight card’s promoter Elorde International Productions.

Elorde also said Philippine super-featherweight champion Bobby Pacquiao is in tip-top shape for the scheduled fifth meeting and fourth title defense against Lorona.

"Pacquiao has improved his skills in the last two years, but he knows that Lorona is after him and very capable of knocking him out again," said the eldest son of the great Gabriel "Flash" Elorde. "They will surely deal this fight like a sudden-death that’s why the card is dubbed ‘Final Encounter’."

Flores, rated No. 16 under WBO world champion Omar Narvaez, is slated to fight Thai import Aree Phosuwungym for the vacant WBO Asia-Pacific flyweight crown.

The aggressive Thai fighter will arrive from Bangkok with his manager and Cuban trainer Ismael Salas tomorrow night via Philippine Airlines.

Lorona did most of his sparring against a southpaw like Pacquiao, reigning Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) lightweight champion Dennis Laurente.

Pacquiao went through spartan training regimen with the help of his older brother Manny and trainer Buboy Fernandez, who mastered under American trainer Freddie Roach in Hollywood’s Wild Card Gym.

For tickets reservation, call 825-7229.