Albuquerque hoping for a chance to move up

BY MIKE HOUSER

Appeal Sports Writer

RENO - With the possible exception of undefeated WBO light flyweight champion Ivan Calderon, only the most fanatical boxing fan can pop off the names of the other three world titlists at 108 pounds.

For the record, they are Edgar Sosa (WBC), Brahim Asloum (WBA) and Ulises Solis (IBF). And herein lies the problem for Jose Albuquerque.

The 32-year-old Albuquerque may have represented his home country of Brazil in the 2000 Olympics, but as far as promoters and managers are concerned, the 5-footer may as well be invisible.

"The promoters are looking for young guys," said Albuquerque, who tonight will face Glenn "The Filipino Bomber" Donaire in the eight-round co-main event of "The Battle for the West," at the Grande Exposition Ballroom in the Silver Legacy Resort Casino. "Here (in the United States), they want Mexican guys and Filipinos. Brazilian guys have no promoters. They tell me that in my division there is no money."

So instead of building up his record and reputation, Albuquerque, 8-2-2 with 2 knockouts, who fights out of Los Angeles, has to fight whoever is put in front of him.

At least against Donaire, 16-3-1 (9), of San Leandro, Calif. via General Santos City, The Philippines, Albuquerque knows what he's up against.

The pair fought to a majority six-round draw March 3, 2006, in Santa Ynez, Calif.

"I have never had an easy fight," said Albuquerque, who had 133 amateur bouts and has boxed for the last 15 years. "Since I have no promoter, I take any fight at my weight. Anyone between 105 and 110 pounds, I'll fight. I don't care - 12 rounds, 10, eight, it doesn't matter."

As for the 5-foot-5 Donaire, he's just happy to be back in the ring after having had over a half-dozen fights fall through in the last year.

Donaire, who last fought in October 2006, when he was stopped in six rounds by then IBF flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan, literally pinched himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming during Wednesday's press conference in the Aura Ultra Lounge in the Silver Legacy.

"I can't believe I'm actually facing (Albuquerque)," said the 28-year-old Donaire, who suffered a broken jaw in the third round against the hard-punching Darchinyan. "I was the No. 2 flyweight, but nobody would fight me. I've always fought guys bigger than I am, so I'm really happy for this fight (at 108)."

In a division that has relatively few fighters, both Donaire and Albuquerque feel they have a shot at a world ranking in the 108-pound division with a win tonight.

The same could be said for headliners Jesse Brinkley and Otis Griffin, who meet in the 12-round main event and are hoping to get ranked in the top 10 of the WBC with a victory.

Yerington's Brinkley, 29-5 (20), and Sacramento's Griffin, 18-2-2 (7), will meet for the vacant WBC United States National Boxing Championship (USNBC) belt.

Until recently, Griffin was ranked No. 15 by the IBF at 175 pounds.

For everyone else on the six-fight card, it's a matter of working their way up through undercards in hopes of someday achieving a world ranking.

Emily Klinefelter, of Iowa City, Iowa, won 13 amateur titles - more than any other U.S. woman - but will take her first step in the pros tonight. The 22-year-old Klinefelter, who had 60 victories as an amateur, will meet Elizabeth Cervantes, 2-7 (1), of Durango, Mexico, in a four-round junior featherweight bout.

In other action, Carson City's Mike Peralta, 2-2 (1), and Oscar Marin, 3-4 (1), of Las Vegas, will collide in a four-round lightweight bout; Derek Hinkey, 4-0 (4), and Oakland's Tony Hirsch, 3-1 (1), meet in a four-round middleweight contest; and Tyler Hinkey, 1-0-1 (1), and Denver's Travis Biechler, 2-5 (2), will tangle in a four-round heavyweight tilt.

The Hinkey brothers hail from the McDermitt Indian Reservation and train in Las Vegas.

Tickets are $150, $75 and $30. They are available at the Silver Legacy box office, by calling (800) 687-8733 or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com.

Doors open at 6 p.m. The first bout begins at 7.