WORLD Boxing Council (WBC) No. 9 rated light flyweight Mark Vicelles won’t be seeing action this weekend after Omega Pro Sports International (OPSI) failed to find him a replacement opponent for “Kumbati 6” on Dec. 18 at the IPI Complex in Mandaue City.
“We came up with nothing. He’s been pulled out of the card,” OPSI vice president Jerome Calatrava told SunStar Cebu.
Vicelles was supposed to face Anthony Garde in the main event of “Kumbati 6,” but the latter backed out two weeks before the event due to health reasons.
OPSI was scrambling for a replacement but failed to find a suitable opponent that would get the nod of the Games and Amusements Board.
“He’ll just have to relax and fight in our next promotion, or if there is a better opportunity to fight abroad then we’ll take it,” said Calatrava.
OPSI plans on staging its next event either in February or March.
The 10-round fight between Tomjune Mangubat (11-2-1, 9 KOs) and Reymond Empic (7-5, 3 KOs) has been moved up to the main event.
In the undercard, Regie Suganob (4-0, 1KO) faces off with Robert Ates (4-7, 2 KOs), Carlo Bacaro (6-0, 5 KOs) trades leathers with Ryan Maano (5-9-2, 1 KO) and Benny Cañete makes his pro debut against fellow newcomer Roque Villagonzalo.
Later in the evening, OPSI hosts another event:
“Kumbati 7.”
The second show is headlined by a 10-rounder between Christian Araneta (18-1, 14 KOs) against Roland Jay Biendema (15-6-1, 8 KOs). Pete Apolinar (12-1, 8 KOs) squares off with Danny Tampipi (9-11-2, 5 KOs) in the co-main event.
In the undercard, Albert Pagara (32-1, 23 KOs) locks horns with Virgil Puton (18-14-2, 9 KOs), Carl Jammes Martin (15-0, 14 KOs) slugs it out with Richard Rosales (14-13-2, 8 KOs), and Franco Serafica (3-1, 1 KO) takes on Matthew Fondales (1-2).