RAUL YU IN GENSAN FOR IBF YOUTH TITLE FIGHT

Raul Yu.

GEN. SANTOS CITY- ALA boxer Raul ?Vulcan? Yu arrived in the host city Friday afternoon together with trainer Robert Etorma for his Sunday showdown against Sanman?s Jade Bornea for the vacant IBF Youth super flyweight title.

Yu spoke to the Cebu boxing writers who were together with him on the plane ride to Gensan ? Freeman sports editor Manny Villaruel, Calvin Cordova of the Cebu Daily news and this writer- about his thoughts about the fight.

The 22 year old Yu (9W-1L-2D, 8KO?s), from Butuan City, did not want to make any predictions knowing that he will be up against a very good opponent. But he was upbeat about his chances and is very confident of his training which included sparring sessions with two-division world champion Donnie Nietes and world ranked Arthur Villanueva.

The 21 year old Bornea (6W-0L,4KO?s) had a distinguished amateur career - winning a bronze medal at the AIBA World Youth tournament and is a two-time Asian Youth gold medalist. He beat future WBO minimumweight and junior flyweight world champ Kosei Tanaka of Japan when they were amateurs during the finals of the 2013 Asian Youth championships held in Subic Bay, Philippines. Bornea?s last two pro bouts both ended in less than two rounds.

Together with twin brother Jake Bornea, they signed with Sanman Promotions last year. The Bornea brothers are managed by Alex Amoy of Amoy Boxing Stable.

The card billed as ?Laban Pinoy 3?:Rise of Champions will be held at the Lagao Gym of Gen.Santos City February 26. It is the official boxing event of this year?s Kalilangan Festival. The official weigh-in will be held Saturday noon at the Sydney Hotel.

There are also three WBF titles to be disputed with Eden ?Sanman? Sonsona (35-6-2, 12 KOs) facing Jovany Rota (9-9-0, 6 KOs) for the World Boxing Federation (WBF) International super featherweight title, "Iron" Ben Mananquil (12-1-2, 3 KOs) vs former WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight champion Glenn ?The Rock? Porras (29-5-0, 17 KOs) for the WBF International bantamweight crown and Lolito ?Thunder Shot? Sonsona (20-1-4-, 9 KOs) fighting Renren Tesorio (15-9-3-4 Ko?s) for the vacant WBF Asia super flyweight title. Former WBA interim world light flyweight champ Randy Petalcorin is also set to see action in a non-title contest against Mark Anthony Florida.

Sanman CEO Jim Claude Manangquil informed this writer that Solar Sports will televise this fight card on a delayed basis.