Mabait returns to Mexico to defend title

MARVIN Mabait returns to Mexico to defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) Inter-Continental bantamweight crown next month.

Mabait faces off with former world title challenger Alejandro Hernandez in the main event of Boxeo Telemundo in Foro Polanco, Mexico City on March 28.

The 26-year-old Filipino prospect captured his WBO regional crown with a first round knockout of Mexican Johnny Garcia in Mexico last October.

This will be the first title defense of Mabait, who is training in the US under the tutelage of Nonito Donaire Sr.

Hernandez is a tough former world title challenger that has fought some of the best in his division the likes of current world champions Leo Santa Cruz and Omar Narvaez; and former world champions Akifumi Shimoda, Marvin Sonsona and Carlos Tamara.

Hernandez fought for the vacant WBO super flyweight belt in 2009 against Sonsona in Canada. Sonsona vacated his crown after tipping the scales overweight. Hernandez,
however, failed to snag the vacant crown after the fight ended in a draw.

Mabait, rated sixth in the WBO, is 19-1-2 with 13 knockouts, while the 27-year-old Hernandez is 26-10-2 with 14 knockouts.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/sports/2014/02/11/mabait-returns-mexico-defend-title-327835