Moralde fights in Loma-Lopez undercard; Bernaldez, Bacon vs Argentines

October 11 ------ John Vincent Moralde and fellow Sanman fighters Mark Bernaldez and Jameson Bacon return to action on October 17 in separate venues in the United States. Given a second chance to get back on track, Moralde battles Mexican super featherweight Jose Enrique Vivas in the undercard of the Vasyl Lomachenko-Teofimo Lopez lightweight unification at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Bacon tangles with Gonzalo Sallera while Bernaldez tries to recover from a lopsided loss when he clashes with Ezequiel Teves at Airtime Center in Miami, Florida. Moralde, who totes a 23-3 card with 13 knockouts, was supposed to take on Mexican Alexis del Bosque on July 16, but the bout got scrapped after the Filipino contracted COVID-19. When he got well, Moralde proceeded to Miami where he resumed training under Cuban coach Moro Fernandez and waited for a new opponent who turned out to be Vivas (19-1, 10 KOs).

According to Sanman head JC Manangquil, Vivas is more dangerous than Del Bosque but he is upbeat Moralde will be able to pull through. "He (Vivas) is a pressure fighter, a good one," said Managquil. "But I saw lapses on his defense which Moralde can exploit." Moralde, who stopped his last two opponents, relishes the new opportunity. "I miss boxing and I can't wait to fight again. I am happy to be given this privilege," Moralde told Philboxing. "I have never left the gym and training with Moro Fernandez since the start of the pandemic. Having a good challenge in the person of Vivas even motivated me more to win impressively and make my countrymen happy."

Pitted against unbeaten 6-footer Albert Bell (16-0), Bernaldez fell short and dropped to 20-4, 14 KOs. Argentina's Tevez (13-5, with 4 KOs) is far from Bell's level so Bernaldez should prevail in the 8-round lightweight encounter. Bacon (23-4, 15 KOs) is also favored over 32-year-old Dallera (6-8) in their 8-round welterweight tussle because the Argentine is on a four-bout slide.

Source: rappler.com/sports