THE World Boxing Foundation (WBF) made sure that the championship fights dubbed “Quadruple WBF Showdown” tomorrow at the Grand Flash Ballroom inside the Elorde Sports Center in Sucat, Parañaque City will have a very reliable third man in the ring.

WBF president Mick Croucher, who arrived in Manila from Melbourne, Australia last night, assigned Filipino-at-heart referees Bruce McTavish and Gene Del Bianco for the four championship bouts for the vacant WBF International title fights. McTavish, a native of New Zealand, is a four decade resident of the Philippines while Del Bianco is a frequent visitor who just flew in from Washington DC early this week.

“We are expecting highly competitive action from six Filipinos and two Indonesians so the WBF assigned highly competent officials,” said promoter Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr., who makes history for himself, as well as for Philippine boxing, for staging four championship fights in a single card.

Elorde also dedicates the historic promotion to the 100th birthday of the Grand old man of boxing, his grandfather Lope “Papa” Sarreal. Part of the proceeds will the benefit St. Rita College and Orphanage-Paranaque, which celebrates its 40th founding anniversary this year.

Croucher also approved boxing reporters Alex Vidal, Salven Lagumbay and Edwin Sese and sports editor Rey Danseco, who is boxingtalk.com’s very own and first ever correspondent, to judge at ringside. Other judges in the card are Rodrigo Perez and Virgilio Garcia.

Two of six Filipinos, flyweight Sukarno “Master Showman” Banjao and former two-time RP welterweight champion Rey Pelonia, will fight Indonesian imports Yongki Afrizal and Ferri Wirawan, respectively.

The Banjao-Afrizal clash will be for the vacant WBF International flyweight crown, while the vacant WBF International welterweight title is at stake in the Pelonia-Wirawan bout.

Former Philippine champion Celso Danggod battles Sales of General Santos City for the WBF International super-flyweight belt, while ex-PABA title challenger Benjie Sorolla and Rey Orais trade leather for the WBF International minimumweight title.

Croucher, who will meet Games and Amusement Board (GAB) officials for the first time, will supervise the official weigh-in, the managers/officials briefing today at the GAB office in Makati City, as well as the actual fight, which will be televised on tape over IBC 13 on Sunday, 7-9 pm.

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