DALY CITY, CALIFORNIA — WBO Super Bantamweight Champion and media darling Ana Julaton defends her title against respected veteran Franchesca Alcanter tonight at the Craneway Pavilion in Richmond, California. Their ten-round title clash, which will be televised in both the United States and the Philippines, headlines a four-bout card as part of a sports and music expo geared towards the Filipino-American community. Fighters weighed in Thursday night at the Mink Bar & Lounge in nearby Daly City.
Julaton (7-2-1, 1 KO) of Daly City has been out of the ring since reclaiming the WBO title via ten-round split decision over Mexico’s Maria Villalobos back in June of last year. Julaton, who is immensely popular both locally and in the Philippines, and her team picked a very respectable opponent for the first defense of her second reign in Alcanter. “From being a three-time world champion, I know I am in a position that people are trying to take what I have, and that is just the name of the game,” said Julaton. “I just have to make sure that I don’t take anything lightly and stay grounded.”
Alcanter (18-9-1, 9 KOs) of Kansas City, Missouri has been around the block and taken on some of the biggest names in women’s boxing in her twelve-year pro career. In her last ring appearance, Alcanter went the ten-round distance in a failed attempt at claiming a 126-pound title from Ina Menzer in Germany. Alcanter does hold two clear advantages in the fight, her experience and the fact that she is the naturally larger fighter.
After Thursday’s weigh-in, it is still hard to figure how far Alcanter came down in weight, because the scales seemed to read about three to four pounds light. Julaton, who has routinely weighed in between 120 and 122-pounds in her career, scaled 116 ½-pounds at Thursday’s weigh-in. Alcanter, who has fought as high as 140-pounds in her career, weighed in at 118 ½ on Thursday night. “I trained really hard for this fight, and I know I scaled in at the actual weight class,” Julaton explained simply after the weigh-in. “The last time I weighed-in at 116, I was fifteen-years-old.”
Also on the card, former amateur standout Bruno Escalante Jr. (1-0-1) of San Carlos, California by way of Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines will take on Martin “Tarzan” Sandoval of Oakdale, California in a four-round featherweight fight. While Sandoval will be making his professional boxing debut, he has already been successful as a mixed martial artist, posting a 6-3, 3 KOs, 3 Submissions record. Escalante, the 2008 National PAL Champion at 112-pounds, trains out of the same Undisputed Boxing Gym in San Carlos as Nonito Donaire Jr. Escalante weighed in at 122 ½, while scaled Sandoval 124 ½-pounds.
Amateur Kickboxing
Two amateur kickboxing bouts complete the card tonight. In a three-round pairing of heavyweights, Gary Grant of Antioch, California will take on Xavier Vigney of Pleasant Hill, California. The long and lean Vigney, who trains out of Team Black in Pleasant Hill, scaled 206-pounds. Grant, who trains out of Guila Hawaiian Kajukenbo-Kickboxing in Antioch, weighed in at 222 ½-pounds Thursday night.
Rounding out the card, Dee Alhadi of San Jose, California will take on Marc Talledo of Milpitas, California in a three-round super lightweight bout. Talledo, who trains out of the Unlimited Training Center in Milpitas, weighed in at 134 ½-pounds. Alhadi, who trains out of the famed American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, scaled 130-pounds Thursday.
The event, dubbed “Return of the Hurricane,” will also feature musical performances by the A.J. Rafael Band and Sway Penala. MYX will televise in United States and TV5 will broadcast in the Philippines. Tickets for the event, promoted by CP Presents, Phantom Promotions and Orion Sports Management, are available online at BrownPaperTickets.com.
Quick Weigh-in Results:
WBO Super Bantamweight Championship, 10 Rounds
Julaton 116 ½
Alcanter 118 ½
Featherweights, 4 Rounds
Escalante Jr. 122 ½
Sandoval 124 ½
Amateur Kickboxing Weigh-in Results:
Super Lightweights, 3 Rounds
Alhadi 130
Talledo 134 ½
Heavyweights, 3 Rounds
Grant 222 ½
Vigney 206
Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com.
