Cheap ticket prices, quality fights: Fist of Fury card a treat for boxing fans

Sports

TRUE-BLUE sportsman Lorenzo “Chao” Sy is determined to revive boxing in Cebu. Achieving the ambitious goal will start with the Fist of Fury 10: Philippines vs. China slated May 9 at the Coliseum.

Sy said boxing fans can look forward to affordable tickets and quality fights in the highly awaited card that will be headlined by ARQ Boxing Stable’s Ian Paul Abne and China’s Dianxing Zhu in an International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight title eliminator.

“This has been my passion. We want to promote quality boxing cards with the fans not needing to spend much,” Sy said during the card’s press launch at the La Fortuna Bakeshop in downtown Cebu City on Monday, April 12.

Ticket prices are pegged at P100 for general admission, P300 for the upper box, P500 for the lower box, and P1,000 for ringside and sponsor seats.

“We want to revive boxing in Cebu and this is one way of doing this. Putting up a quality card with low ticket prices,” said Sy.

The winner in the Abne-Zhu duel will earn a shot at current IBF world minimumweight king Pedro Taduran.

If given the opportunity, Sy said he will not hesitate to promote the world title fight in Cebu.

“If they agree, we will promote the world title fight in Cebu,” Sy said.

The 10th installment of the boxing series put up by the Chao Sy International Promotions will be the first major boxing card at the Cebu Coliseum since Milan Melindo defeated Thailand’s Teeraphong Utaida for the IBF interim light flyweight title in 2016.

“Reviving boxing is the most important thing. I want quality fights. I don’t want boxers who couldn’t last even for just one round. That’s not fair to those who spend money for tickets,” Sy added.

Sy disclosed that when he planned the staging of the upcoming card, he sat down with respected boxing patron Antonio L. Aldeguer, founder of the now defunct ALA Boxing Gym.

Aldeguer suggested having the card held at the Cebu Coliseum. Sy obliged as he vowed to to put up more boxing shows.

The initial plan is to stage a boxing show every two months.

“We will do our best to have a boxing event every two months, especially at the Cebu Coliseum,” Sy said.

The upcoming card will feature 10 supporting bouts, including the showdown between John Paul Gabunilas, a new recruit of Chao Sy Boxing Stable, and Omega Boxing Gym’s Ramil Roda.

Fighting for the World Boxing Federation silver flyweight title are Jemuel Aranas and Jeric Noynay.(CCM)