FORMER world champion Gerry Peñalosa has endorsed the Fiesta Fistiana, the biggest boxing event in the country in years, set Sunday at the Rajah Sulaiman Park in Malate, Manila.

Peñalosa, the former world super-flyweight titlist, said fans can expect a fun and exciting night with eight fights lined up by the organizing Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA), Games and Amusement Board and the City of Manila.

“Magandang lineup ang inihanda ng organizers kaya sigurado tayong masisiyahan ang mga manonood,” said Peñalosa.

Philippine super-bantamweight champion Alex Escaner faces No. 3 Jake Verano in the 12-round main bout of the event sponsored by San Miguel Corp., Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and the Philippine Sports Commission.

Also supporting the event are Philippine Airlines, SM, Caltex Philippines and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

Denver Cuello, ranked second among RP strawweights, squares off with Carlo Besares in the fight card organized to raise funds for destitute and disabled boxers.

Instead of giving out cash, as was the usual practice, the organizers are handing out business starter kits or pangkabuhayan karts to help the retired boxers establish their own source of income.

The event also underscores the efforts of the Manila Sports Council (Masco), formerly headed by Arnold “Ali” Atienza, to boost the popularity of the sport and search for potential world champions from the city.

A former presidential adviser on youth and sports, Atienza was among those who helped RP boxing icon Manny Pacquiao during the early years of his career, and Masco’s talent identification program goes on even after he has left the office to seek the mayoralty to be vacated by his father Lito Atienza.

The younger Atienza, in his last act as Masco chief, signed an agreement with the PSA to provide the venue and cosponsor the Fiesta Fistiana first held in 1955.

RP No. 1 featherweight contender Mike Fariñas faces former Philippine champion Jephrey Oñate, Jason Perater takes on Diosdado Perez and Jurland Ceniza battles Francis Borreros in four-rounders.

Spicing up the event are fights featuring women boxers with Puerto Princesa City’s Baina Londo facing Baguio’s Jessica Oyan and Babay Keckok colliding with Jujeath Nagawa, also of Baguio.

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FORMER world champion Gerry Peñalosa has endorsed the Fiesta Fistiana, the biggest boxing event in the country in years, set Sunday at the Rajah Sulaiman Park in Malate, Manila.

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