KO punchers beef up Midas slugfest

MANILA, Philippines — World-ranked lightweight Romero Duno and interim world bantamweight champion Reymart Gaballo headline a slambang show by ESPN 5 and 1Pacman party-list tomorrow at the Midas Hotel and Casino.

Duno (18-1 with 14 KOs), who has a promotional contract with Oscar de La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions (GBP), clashes with Indian Kuldeep Dhanda (7-1 with 1 KO).

Rep. Mikee Romero (1Pacman) expects a big crowd as Duno is out to make a strong statement.

“By helping stage this event, we hope to discover more talented Filipino boxers,” said Romero, who owns the NorthPort ballclub in the PBA. “We also hope to encourage our young boxers to take boxing seriously because in this sport we have a chance of winning an Olympic gold.”

Pro boxing is the newest sport Romero has supported, being the godfather of the 2007 Philippine basketball team in the SEA Games and was the shooting head during the London Olympics.

“It’s part of my personal mission to help as many sports as I can,” added Romero.

In the other explosive pairing, Gaballo (20-0 with 17 KOs) collides with Yuya Nakamura (9-2-1 with seven KOs).

The other fights on tap will feature former world flyweight king Johnriel Casimero and fast-rising Dave Peñalosa.

Duno, a protégé of JC Mananquil of Sanman Promotions, remains with GBP and is being groomed by De La Hoya as a future star in the US, where he has fought almost exclusively the last two years.

While the boxing event is free of admission, Mananquil said: “It will be a guaranteed night of action. It is worth watching. Sanman assures you of an all exciting fightcard.”