By REY DANSECO

REIGNING WBC International super flyweight champion Sylvester “Silver” Lopez took a break in his training recently for his scheduled non-title fight on February 27 in Manila by going to a beach and joined a group of environmentalist of setting baby turtles free to the sea.

The WBC No. 9 contender basked in the sunshine and soaked for two hours in the a membership-only beach resort Pico de Loro in Nasugbu town in the province of Batangas, 102 kilometers south of Manila.

When Lopez saw a group of environmentalist, he asked them to let him free a baby turtle.

“It was a nice experience. This is a simple way of showing that we help to save the environment, the natural resources and let the endangered tortoise live in their habitat,” said Lopez, who was accompanied to a relaxing trip by his manager Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr. and his family.

Lopez (12-2-1, 8 KOs) is preparing for first ring appearance this year, on Feb. 27 in Manila. Elorde said, Lopez might face Juan Carlos “Pitbull” Medellin of Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico in 8-round bantamweight bout.

Elorde mentioned that he is also negotiating for three more bouts between his Filipino prospects and Mexicans.

 The eldest son of the great Gabriel “Flash” Elorde Sr, mentioned unbeaten Dado Cabintoy might face Jose “Potro” Estrada as well as BJ Dolorosa to take on Andres “Black Power” Balderas in six-round bantamweight contests and Dandy Declaro against Pinki Alejo in six-round super flyweight match.

Lopez, 22, is coming off in defending his title for the first time last November in Manila via fifth round TKO win over Japanese Katsumi Makiyama, a two-time WBC Asian Boxing Council super flyweight title challenger.

“I’m proud to have this WBC International belt that’s why I work very hard in the gym. I believe I’ll become a WBC world champion soon,” said Lopez, who took the vacant title with TKO win in round 8 over Korean national champ Jong-Nam Park in April last year.