Night of Champions XVII:  “The Rock” Toyogon and Jun Blazo in WBC Rumbles May 4 @ Elorde Complex on ESPN5 Philippines

By Carlos Costa

The successful Elorde’s Night of Champions boxing series continues thrilling Filipino fight fans craving for action-packed title combats. 

And thrilling fans is precisely what popular award-winning promoter Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde aims at in “Night of Champions XVII,” his newest boxing show featuring promising young warriors risking it all in WBC clashes.

The exciting card will unfold at the Elorde Sports Complex in Parañaque, Metro Manila, with the clashes being televised live May 4 on ESPN5 Philippines. 

In the main event, action warrior WBC Asian Silver Super Featherweight Champion “The Rock” Al Toyogon, 21, defends for the second time his hard-earned WBC belt from the fast ‘n furious attacks of Japanese samurai Ryo Sagawa, 25, a clash that might not make the distance.

With this second title defense, the focused, well-trained “The Rock” Al Toyogon (10-2-1, 6 KO’s) aims at pressing forward his fighting career after outclassing tall ‘n tough Ryusei Ishii of Japan last January.    

But the promising “Rock”   —   born in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental  —   will not have walk in the park fighting this menacing gladiator from the Land of the Rising Sun.

That’s because Ryo Sagawa is a dangerous aggressive come-forward warrior who has badly stopped three of his last five enemies at the famed Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.   Yacks.   

Will Sagawa do the same to Toyogon?    Or will “The Rock” prevail over the incoming Japanese toro?

CO-MAIN EVENT:  BLAZO BATTLES “THE BULLDOZER” ALOLOD FOR WBC ASIAN SILVER

In the co-main feature, rugged Elorde Gym fighter Jun Blazo (11-6-3, 8 KO’s), a man who has engaged in violet combats four times in Japan, this time battles in the Motherland against experienced former WBC International champion Benezer “The Bulldozer” Alolod (19-11-5, 7 KO’s), a fearless Mindanao warrior who wants to take home the shining, brand-new WBC Asian Silver Bantamweight belt.

Very evenly paired by shrewd matchmaker Patrick Pepito Pante, this exciting Blazo vs Alolod cash is absolutely impossible to predict. 

Indeed, with both men having their own strengths and defects in their fighting skills, the battle is a perfect delight for those fans who love unpredictable action, and for those aficionados who love to bet.

Will Alolod be able to get win and belt?    Or will it be the Leyte-born Jun Blazo, 26, the one to claim the beautiful and heavy green WBC Asian Silver strap?    

MORE TITLE COMBATS IN “NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS XVII”

“Night of Champions XVI” also features tough veteran Nathan Bolcio (14-15-3, 4 KO’s) of Benguet Province challenging Negros Occidental southpaw Roldan Aldea (12-7-1, 6 KO’s) for his GAB Lightweight strap.

Bolcio and Aldea, both have battled in Japan, Thailand and other countries facing tough opposition abroad, a feat that has made them better boxers, more ring savvy.   

This is another attractive pairing.   Will the 29-year-old Nathan Bolcio win the Philippines GAB title… or will Roldan Aldea, 25, retain it?  

In another well-matched collision, Cebuano-native, reigning GAB Super Lightweight Champion Jheritz “Goodboy” Chavez (8-3-2, 6 KO’s) defends for the first time his GAB 140 pound title against experienced and strong Junar Adante (7-11-1, 4 KO’s), a dangerous warrior who hails from the flourishing Province of Surigao del Sur in the beautiful Caraga region of Mindanao.

The two men come to this melee from prior losses, both wanting so bad to get back into the green winning circle.  Who will do it?

Plus, in a non-title action rumble, unbeaten Filipino-American Kawelo Alcos (2-0, 1 KO) from the The Friendly Isle of Molokai in the Aloha State of Hawaii lands in the Motherland to square off the more experienced, well-trained Negros Occidental warrior Alvin Tayo (2-7-1, 2 KO’s) in a scheduled 6-rounder combat (or less) in the Light Flyweight division.

Alcos is trained in Hawaii by popular Phil-Am coach Bobby Villaver, the same man who years ago taught boxing fundamentals to current world champions Vic Saludar and Jerwin Ancajas. 

“Night of Champions XVII” featuring a WBC Asian Title Double-Header on May 4 at the Elorde Sports Complex is a production of award-winning promoter Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde in association the Naris Singwancha Foundation and ESPN5 Philippines.

Fights begin at 12 noon.  (Philippines time, GMT +8)

For fans outside of the Philippines, fights can be watched live online on http://tv5.espn.com/

May the best men win  ??

The author Carlos Costa is a Panama boxing reporter living in the Philippines.   Carlos can be reached at carlos512@hotmail.com and by whatsapp/viber/wechat:  +639184538152.