Pinoy boxer Dennis Laurente to fight on PBC undercard

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino fighter Dennis Laurente will get another chance to compete in the United States when he competes on the undercard of Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Championship (PBC) at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida on August 3 (August 2 in U.S.).

Laurente (45-5-5, 30 knockouts) squares off with slugger John Jackson in a ten-round light middleweight contest that will be broadcasted live on Bounce TV in the United States.

The 37-year-old southpaw from Butuan City, Agusan del Norte had 3 bouts in 2014, beating the likes of Singdet Nonpitayakom, Elly Pangaribuan and Tadashi Yuba.

His sixth-round stoppage of Yuba this past December earned him the vacant OPBF super welterweight belt, which happened at the historic Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.

Laurente was one of the country’s few world-rated boxers who has not yet received an opportunity to vie for a world title despite his respectable résumé. 

A prizefighter since 1994, the 5-foot-8 heavy puncher has beaten the likes of Yosuke Otsuka, Somchai Nakbalee, Marvin Cordova Jr., Ben Tackie and Ayi Bruce.

Since ending his four-year stint in the United States after losing to Kenny Abril via split decision in November 2012, Laurente is now riding high on a six-fight knockout streak.

On the other hand, Jackson (19-2, 15 KOs) is a promising 26-year-old pugilist from Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands and has lost twice in his young career, bowing down to high-caliber opponents like Willie Nelson and Andy Lee.

The card will be headlined by WBA bantamweight titleholder Juan Carlos Payano (16-0, 8 KOs) of Dominican Republic defending against 3-time U.S. Olympian Rau’shee Warren (13-0, 4 KOs).

PBC is headed by Haymon, who is Floyd Mayweather’s adviser and is currently being sued by U.S. promoters Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions for allegedly violating the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act. – Rappler.com