WITH Cebu now under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), Omega Pro Sports International (Opsi) is just waiting on the final approval of the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) for its planned Sept. 30, 2020 boxing event to push through.
“We are still waiting for the approval of GAB,” Omega Boxing Gym head coach Jinggoy Junco told SunStar Cebu. “We already have a lineup, but it’s yet to be finalized because it’s hard to look for an opponent. Most of the boxers have not trained, while others are asking too much even though they aren’t rated.”
The Omega boxers that will be seeing action in Cebu’s first boxing event after the sports lull due to the Covid-19 pandemic are Mark Vicelles, Christian Araneta, Pete Apolinar and Carlo Bacaro.
Vicelles (11-0-1, 5 KOs), who’ll be the main event, is still in search of an opponent in a 10-rounder. The same goes for Apolinar (11-1, 8 KOs) who was supposed to be up against hard-hitting veteran Marco Demecillo.
“We already have opponents for two of our fighters. We are still looking for opponents for Apolinar and Vicelles,” said Junco.
Araneta, ranked No. 9 in the International Boxing Federation, is facing battle-scarred veteran Richard Rosales in a 10-round bout.
The 25-year-old Araneta hasn’t fought since his fourth round stoppage loss to Daniel Valladares in Mexico on Sept. 7, 2019. He re-injured his surgically repaired right shoulder.
Junco assured that Araneta’s shoulder is fine and that he’ll be ready to go if the event will be approved by the GAB.
Rosales should be a good opponent for Araneta, who hasn’t fought for a year.
Even though he has lost his last three fights, Rosales always comes to fight. He has been in a lot of regional title fights and fought the likes of former world title challengers Reiya Konishi, Fahlan Sakkreerin Jr. and Prasitsak Phaprom.
Araneta is 17-1 with 14 knockouts, while Rosales is 14-12-2 with eight knockouts.
Meanwhile, Bacaro (5-0, 4 KOs) slugs it out with Jeffrey Stella (4-9-3, 4 KOs) in a six-rounder. (EKA)
