AFTER a four-year layoff, former World Boxing Council (WBC) Youth super flyweight champion Jhaleel Payao makes his ring comeback.
Payao is taking on veteran Jason Tinampay in a rematch on Dec. 17, 2021 in Bohol.
“He’s doing okay (despite the long layoff). He’s been maintaining his weight and he’s very disciplined,” Payao’s trainer Jingjing Tepora told SunStar Cebu.
Payao has not fought since beating Raul Yu by unanimous decision in a Philippine Boxing Federation bantamweight title defense on Oct. 27, 2017 in Mandaue City. He was on a five-fight winning streak since losing his WBC Youth super flyweight belt to former world title challenger Michael Dasmarinas in 2015.
Before his long hiatus, Payao was training under the Tepora brothers at the Omega Boxing Gym.
Payao is training at the newly opened Tepora Boxing Gym in Liloan and has been sparring with the likes of Allan Villanueva, Rimon Rama and Richie Cacanog, a young fighter that will be making his pro debut also in the Bohol show.
“This will be a good fight. If he (Tinampay) takes Payao lightly, then there’s a huge chance that he’ll get knocked out. I feel Payao is getting stronger,” said Tepora.
Payao and Tinampay fought each other on March 8, 2017. Payao stopped Tinampay in the fifth to win the PBF bantamweight belt.
Tinampay went on a rare three-fight winning streak in 2019, beating veterans Junny Salogaol, Rogen Flores and Renan Portes. He fought for the WBC Asian Boxing Council Silver super flyweight strap against Jackson Jon England in Australia but lost via a second round technical knockout in 2020.
Tinampay has also fought the likes of former world champion Jhack Tepora, Romero Duno and Carlo Demecillo.
Payao is 16-1 with nine knockouts, while Tinampay is 11-14-1 with nine knockouts. (EKA)