Nod sought for boxing’s return

WITH major cities in Cebu now under general community quarantine (GCQ), Omega Pro Sports International (OPSI) is just waiting for the green light by the Games and Amusments Board (GAB) on their first boxing show since the prohibition of sporting events due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We are just waiting for GAB, if they will approve our promotion,” Omega Boxing Gym head coach Jinggoy Junco told SunStar Cebu. “Our boxers are ready. We are ready.”

As early as June, OPSI has already informed GAB of its intentions of staging an event

in Cebu.

The event will follow strict protocols and will be staged behind closed doors without an audience, and with only five bouts.

OPSI is planning to hold the event at the International Pharmaeuticals Inc. (IPI) compound in Tingub, Mandaue City.

7 fighters

“We are targeting September. But we can’t plan a date because we have to wait for GAB’s approval,” said Junco. “We have seven fighters that are ready. We’ll choose from them.”

The fighters that will most likely see action in the event are Naoya Inoue’s sparring partner Pete Apolinar (11-1, 8 KOs), International Boxing Federation (IBF) No. 9 rated light flyweight Christian Araneta (17-1, 14 KOs), Tomjune Mangubat (11-2-1, 9 KOs), Ponciano Remandiman (10-5-1, 5 KOs), unbeaten Carlo Bacaro (5-0, 4 KOs) and Mark Magsayo’s 18-year-old cousin Benny Magsayo Cañete.

“Almost all will be 10 rounds. Only one will be six rounds,” said Junco, who said that they’ll pick just five of the seven fighters.

It has already been six months since the last boxing show in Cebu, which is considered the “mecca” of boxing in the Philippines.

The last boxing event in Cebu was a small show in Apas that was headlined by a six-rounder between former amateur standout Chriztian Pitt Laurente and veteran Boyce Sultan.(EKA)

Trending

No stories found.

Just in

No stories found.

Branded Content

No stories found.
SunStar Publishing Inc.
www.sunstar.com.ph