Igorot warrior Natuplag faces Phayom for WBO Oriental belt in Dubai

IGOROT warrior KJ Natuplag guns for another regional belt in Dubai as he takes on Thai hard-hitter Boonrueang Phayom for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental featherweight belt on Nov. 12 at the FCC Forum.

The 26-year-old Natuplag has been campaigning in Dubai for the past two years. He lost his first fight in Dubai, a unanimous decision defeat in the hands of Hasibullah Ahmadi. But after that he won his next two contests, a fourth round technical knockout of Argel Berrio and a second round knockout of Attanon Kunlawong to win the World Boxing Council (WBC) Asian Boxing Council featherweight title.

The 23-year-old Phayom split his last two fights, losing to Van Thao Tran by a second round knockout and winning against Kittitat Chaipul by via a fourth round stoppage.

Natuplag is 10-3-2 with nine knockouts, while Boonrueang Phayom is 10-1 with 10 knockouts.

Meanwhile, Jopher Montaño battles Indian prospect Kulbir Dhaka for the WBO Oriental welterweight strap.

The 26-year-old Montaño is coming off an impressive first round stoppage win over Indonesian Ari Agustian last June in Dubai.

Dhaka won his last two fights—a unanimous decision win over Karanjeet Singh and a fifth round stoppage of Israr Usmani.

Montano is 12-5-2 with 11 knockouts, while the 22-year-old Dhaka is 6-1 with three knockouts.

Also seeing action in the same card are Pinoy warriors Jon Rey Villar and Norberto Tano.

Villar (8-6-1, 3 KOs) locks horns with Ugandan veteran Remmy Igga (12-5, 6 KOs) for the Asian Boxing Federation (ABF) Continental super featherweight belt, while Tano (2-1, 1 KO) trades leathers with Ugandan newcomer Bashir Kigozi. (EKA)