WBC champ ventures out
of comfort zone

A world champion has the luxury of never leaving home, but Ratanachai Sor Vorapin isn't quite the world champion he wants to be yet.

Sor Vorapin, the World Boxing Organization's bantamweight champ, will take on Pedro Malco of the Philippines in a non-title bout tonight at Blaisdell Arena. Although his new belt, which he won earlier this month in his hometown of Phuket, Thailand, is not on the line, it will be very shortly.

Immediately after becoming one of the four bantamweight world-title holders, Sor Vorapin (63-8, 42 KOs) made his intentions very clear.

"My plan is to unify the division," Sor Vorapin said through an interpreter. "Being in Hawaii is the first step toward that, it will get me used to a different environment, a completely different atmosphere."

Sor Vorapin has not fought outside of Thailand since 2002 and hasn't fought in the United States since 2001. He knows that if he wants to get all of the gold, he is going to have to go after it because it is not going to come to him no matter how popular he is in his native land.

International Boxing Federation champion Rafael Marquez will put his title on the line against International Boxing Organization champ Silence Mabuza on Oct. 1, and Sor Vorapin expects to meet the winner of that bout. Then it would be on to Japan to try to take the World Boxing Council belt away from Hozumi Hasegawa.

Sor Vorapin knows as little about those ahead of him as he does of those behind him. Planning to just "fight his style" against the journeyman Malco, Sor Vorapin would do the same should he meet Marquez. Marquez is regarded as the best bantamweight in the world.

"I have actually never seen him, I have only read about him in magazines," Sor Vorapin said. "But I am very excited about meeting him."

Malco (10-6-1, 3 KOs) intends to play the spoiler in Sor Vorapin's quest for global domination, having his own plot that begins with the champion.

"I have a plan to win by decision," Malco said. "My manager said that after that I can go straight into a championship fight."

Dustin Kim (19-6) of Mililani will take on Kosol Sor Vorapin (8-9-1, 6 KOs) of Thailand in the co-main event after Hawaii's future in the fight game takes the stage.

Michael Balasi (3-0) of Honolulu takes on Phom Sor Vorapin (2-7) of Thailand; local products Travis Tandal (0-1) and Walter Cavalleo mix it up; and Kaleo Kwon of Waimanalo and Edwin Navarro of Honolulu make their professional debuts against each other.

The first fight is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.