KOBE, Japan — ALA fighter Roli “Barili” Gasca and his Japanese opponent Yukinori Oguni take part in their official weigh-in today here prior to their OPBF superbantam showdown tomorrow at the Sambo Hall in Kobe.
Gasca, the 22-year-old gunslinger fighting out of the ALA gym, will be making the first defense of his OPBF 122-lb crown against the elongated Japanese fighter, who is at least four inches taller than the young Filipino fighter.
Gasca (17-1, 3 KOs) is not expected to have rough sailing against the scales today, as he was already at the 122-lb backyard when interviewed by this writer yesterday. Oguni (6-0, 2 KOs) had previously beaten two Filipinos — Gideon Amba and Eric Rapada — prior to today`s crack at Gasca.
“However, for tomorrow`s weigh-in I want to come in at 121 lbs, just to be sure ‘coz I don`t know how their weighing scale will behave tomorrow,” informed the young Gasca, who took the title with a 12-round majority decision over another Japanese fighter Hiromasha Ohashi back in August.
ALA trainer Peter Cuizon, who will strategize for Gasca`s corner along with youthful trainer Joseph Baldago, said that they are familiar with Oguni`s fighting style, as the latter had previously trained at the ALA Gym some months back.
“He trained with us months ago. He stayed in the gym for almost a month, and we have seen how he sparred against some of our young fighters,” said Cuizon, who will miss the company of ALA press relations chief Chad Canares who could not make the trip.
Gasca, who hails from the quiet town of Barili in the southwest part of Cebu, has indicated he had sparred more than 100 rounds of sparring in preparation for the fight.