BAGAMA’T dalawang beses nang natalo sa Russia, bibiyahe sa ikatlong pagkakataon ang dating boksingero ni Manny Pacquiao na Juan Pablo Sanchez upang lumaban sa walang talong si Russian boxer Evgeny Chuprakov para sa WBO Inter-Continental super featherweight title sa Hulyo 14 sa Ekaterinburg, Russia.

Nagpalit ng management group si Sanchez na dating MP Promotions boxer pero hawak na ngayon ng Sanman Promotions.

“I am very excited to have another opportunity to fight abroad. This will be my second fight under Sanman Promotions and I feel like a brand new fighter. New environment, new trainer. I feel like I’m a different fighter now,” sabi ni Sanchez sa Philboxing.com.

Maikakategorya nang journeyman si Sanchez sa rekord na 18-11-1 na may 9 pagwawagi sa knockouts.

Sa kanyang unang laban bilang Sanman boxer, pinatulog niya ang tubong Bohol na si Noel Ademita noong nakaraang Abril 28 para magbalik sa win column matapos ang dalawang sunod na pagkatalo sa Russia at Australia.

“It’s also my first time in a long while to have an eight-week camp and that makes me very confident for my upcoming fight,” dagdag ni Sanchez.

Mabigat ang laban ni Sanchez kay Chuprakov na may perpektong rekord na 19 na panalo, 10 sa knockouts at nagpatigil kay dating world rated at WBC International Silver super featherweight titlist Eden Sonsona na isa ring Pilipino.

Ngunit may babala si Sanman big boss Jim Claude Manangquil: “People might underestimate Sanchez because of his record but we know his ability especially if he is in good shape and in his real weight division of super featherweight, he will be a problem for anybody.”

-Gilbert Espeña