One of boxing's best-kept secrets will be fighting in Hawai'i tonight.

Thailand's Ratanchai Sor Vorapin, the WBO world bantamweight champion, will take on Pedro Malco Jr. of the Philippines in the main event of a professional boxing card at the Blaisdell Center Arena.

Preliminary bouts are scheduled to begin around 7:30 p.m.

Vorapin is 64-8-0 with 42 knockouts, and has won 18 consecutive bouts dating to December 2002. However, all 18 of those victories took place in Thailand.

"I wanted to get a warm-up fight outside of Thailand because I will defend my title in two months in Las Vegas," Vorapin said through an interpreter. "And I really like Hawai'i. I like training here."

Vorapin is a well-known figure in his home country and to boxing experts, but he is not so famous outside of that because he rarely travels for fights.

"All my fights are scheduled for Thailand, so that's where I fight," he said. "But I will fight anywhere."

Vorapin normally fights at 118 pounds, but tonight's bout will be at 121 pounds, and his world championship will not be on the line.

Malco is 13-10-3, and a decided underdog for tonight's bout.

"This is a great honor," said Malco's manager, Samson Gelloani. "If (Malco) can beat the champion, maybe he will get another chance to fight for the championship."

Vorapin, 29, said he does not expect tonight's bout to jeopardize his October title defense.

"This is not a dangerous fight for me; I know I can win this one," he said. "I'm looking at it as a warm-up."

In the semi-main event, Mililani's Dustin Kim will take on Thailand's Kosol Sor Vorapin in a 129-pound bout. Kim is 19-6; Kosol Vorapin, who is Ratanchai's younger brother, is 8-9-1.

Kim, 31, is hoping to get a title shot of his own with a victory tonight.

"At my age, every fight is important," he said. "But supposedly I might get a shot at the WBC title if I can win this fight, so it's very important."

Kim trains mostly in Spokane, Wash., but has been working out at the Kalakaua Gym recently in preparation for tonight's bout.

"I'm determined to show everybody, including myself, that I still have a lot of fight in me," Kim said.

Kim lost a split decision in his last bout in Hawai'i in March.

"That last time, I thought I won the fight," he said. "I just want to be ready this time."

Kim said tonight's bout is the start of his "last chance" at boxing glory.

"I've been in the game long enough," he said. "I look at this as my last chance, so I'm going to give it my all."

NOTES

The other bouts on tonight's card will be Phom Sor Vorapin of Thailand vs. Michael Balasi of Honolulu; Travis Tandal of Honolulu vs. Arron Carvalho of Kona; Kaleo Kwan of Waimanalo vs. Edwin Navarro of Honolulu.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com.