Braveheart pugs brace for crucial tiffs abroad

Two boxers from the Braveheart Boxing Stable of North Cotabato will figure in overseas fights that could very well determine the course of their respective boxing careers.

Jundy ‘Pretty Boy’ Maraon (15W-0L-1D, 12 KOs) is all set for his twelve-round bout against Juan Carlos Payano (13W-0L, 7 KOs) of the Dominican Republic on the morning of June 15 (Philippine Time) Saturday at the Richard J. Codey Arena in New Jersey,U.S.A.

Maraon weighed in at 116.5 lbs while Payano stepped on the scales at 116.9 during the official weigh-in held a day before the fight. They will engage in a WBA bantamweight eliminator that will serve as the main event of ESPN Friday Night Fights.

Maraon was one of the best prospects from the Braveheart stable before he was sidelined by his often injured hand for more than two years. He is being trained in the U.S. by Nonito Donaire Sr.

DAPUDONG FIGHTS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Meanwhile, Maraon’s stablemate Edrin ‘The Sting’ Dapudong will get a second chance at the International Boxing Organization (IBO) super flyweight title held by South African Gideon Buthelezi in Johannesburg.

Because of the six hour time difference between South Africa and the Philippines, Dapudong’s fight will take place early dawn on Sunday (June 16) here in the Philippines.

This fight will be a grudge rematch after Dapudong (28W-5L,16 KOs) lost to Buthelezi (13W-4L, 3 KOs) by split decision in Johannesburg last November.

The controversial verdict was disputed by Dapudong’s camp, claiming that their boxer, who scored a knockdown in the 9th round of that fight, did enough to win the fight.