Already a black belter in Taekwondo at age 13 and a member of the Philippine team at age 15, a Dumaguetnon combat specialist will vie for the 125 kg category of the WBC Super Flyweight championship belt in Dumaguete City later this month.
Asian Games gold medalist in Muaythai Romnick “Leon Kilat” Pabalate (15-0) will be trading kicks, elbows and punches with Thai standout Detnarong “Tong Po” Omkrathok (23-2) in a duel dubbed as “Mano-Mano: Fight to Unite,” scheduled on June 28-29 at the Lamberto Macias Sports and Cultural Center.
Event organizer Ed Dames of DTC Promos, Inc, said this will be a nerve cracking and breath taking experience for Dumaguetenos and Negrenses alike, including Muaythai afficionados from all over the world.
He said if Pabalate will be fighting for honor, the Thai muaythai boxer will also be fighting for honor of his own country that started the sports more than 3,000 years ago, even got their independence because of Muaythai.
The promoter believes because of Pabalate’s hip hop and taekwondo background, he can do a lot of unconventional moves. In fact, he has knocked down some of his opponents using his kick.
Dames acknowledged the full support of Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Remollo and Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, saying to produce a world champion requires the help of the whole community.
Records will show that Pabalate aka “Leon Kilat” is the first Filipino to beat a Thai muaythai boxer in a Thai muaythai competition during the Asian Games in 2009.
During his elementary and high school days, Pabalate was training at the place of Muaythai instructor Ike Xavier Villaflores, currently the city sports and youth development officer of Dumaguete City.
Villaflores said Pabalate hails from Mabinay, studied in Mabinay, but during weekends, he comes down to train with Villaflores at his small gym in barangay Taclobo until his potential was discovered.
Eight other matches round-up the exciting card sanctioned by WBC Muaythai Philippines and supervised by the Games and Amusement Board with fighters coming from Iloilo, Cebu, Leyte, Bacolod, Baguio, Batangas and Pangasinan.
Co-main event is MMA fighter Arvin “Asintado” Chan who hails from Pamplona, Negros Oriental, against Chun Seongjin from South Korea. (Juancho Gallarde)
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