Randy Petalcorin returns to the ring in Australia

MANILA, Philippines – Frustration is the word that comes to mind when Randy Petalcorin explains the past year and a half. The 24-year-old junior flyweight from Davao City, Philippines was poised to break out in August of 2014 when he knocked out Walter Tello  in 7 rounds to win the WBA interim 108 pound title.

The win earned him a top 10 ranking in THE RING magazine’s divisional ratings, but his only activity in 2015 was a one-round blowout of Yi Ming Ma in China. With 2015 in the rearview mirror, Petalcorin (23-1-1, 18 knockouts) looks towards a fresh start this Friday when he faces Tanzania’s Omari Kimweri (15-3, 6 KOs) at the Melbourne Pavilion in Flemington, Australia. 

Petalcorin has since vacated the WBA interim title but has a chance to add the vacant WBC Silver flyweight title, though the fight will be fought at a catchweight of 109 pounds.

(READ: After Pacquiao: 5 Filipino boxers 25-and-under to follow)

Petalcorin, rated no. two by RING, has been training in Australia for the past two weeks at the house of co-manager Peter Maniatis. He wants to put his name alongside the greats of Philippine boxing and fill the void left by the recent retirement of Manny Pacquiao.

“He wants to join the group of names like Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire, Brian Viloria, Gerry Penalosa,” says co-manager Jim Claude Manangquil.

Petalcorin isn’t totally unfamiliar with Kimweri. The two have sparred a couple of times in Australia in the past, and the results have made him confident about fighting the 33-year-old. 

“He doesn’t have that great power. He’s not a good boxer to me,” Petalcorin said. 

“It depends really if Randy shows ring rust if this would be competitive,” said Manangquil. “But if he shows the real Randy then I think he will blow this guy out.”

Petalcorin hopes that this fight can lead him to a big fight against one of the acknowledged world titleholders at 108 pounds, particularly WBA champion Ryoichi Taguchi (23-2-1, 10 KOs) of Japan. 

“I want to see him with Taguchi, the WBA world champion,” says Manangquil. “If he can read this, I hope he’s listening and Randy badly wants to fight him.” – Rappler.com