FORMER ALA Boy Jess Rhey Waminal is deep in training in Cagayan de Oro in preparation for one of the biggest fights of his career next month.
Waminal is fighting former teammate Pete Apolinar in an Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) Silver featherweight belt in Omega Sports Promotions’ “Kumbati 10” event on June 26, 2021 at the IPI Complex in Mandaue City.
“This will be a good fight because we are evenly matched,” Waminal told SunStar Cebu. “I’ll be ready for this fight. The fight is already a go. I think the contract is already with my manager (Wowie Lalanto).”
Waminal and Apolinar trained together and were sparring partners at the famed ALA Gym at one time.
“I won’t say that I know his style because it’s been a long time since we last sparred and a lot has changed,” said the 26-year-old Waminal.
Waminal is training at The Fight Studio by WLS along with the likes of Joe Tejones, Jaysever Abcede and Marco John Rementizo.
Waminal is coming off a long layoff and last saw action in 2019. He defeated Indian pug Sunil Siwach by unanimous decision in Tagum City.
Waminal is a former interim World Boxing Association (WBA) Asia bantamweight champion.
On the other hand, Apolinar is fresh from a unanimous decision win over Juanito Paredes and has already fought three times since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out in 2020.
Waminal is 14-3-1 with eight knockouts, while the 26-year-old Apolinar of the Omega Boxing Gym is 14-1 with eight knockouts.