THE Philippines will see its first pro boxing tournament since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic early this year when Kumbati 5, organized by Omega Pro Sports International, unfolds at the International Pharmaceuticals Inc. plant in Mandaue City, Cebu on Wednesday.
Mark Vicelles of Omega Boxing stable will trade leathers against Junuel Lucar of General Santos City in the main event.
The unbeaten Vicelles (11-0-1, 5 knockouts) will clash with Lucar (8-5-3, 6KOs) in a 10-rounder light flyweight bout that will be aired live on Facebook.
In the other bouts, Naoya Inoue’s sparring partner Pete “Thunder” Apolinar (11-1, 8 KOs) will slug it out with Jetro Pabustan in the co-main event, International Boxing Federation No. 9 rated light flyweight Christian “The Bomb” Araneta (17-1-0) will face Richard Rosales, while Carlo Baro will battle Jeffrey Stella.
The head coach of the Omega Boxing stable Julius Irving Junco told The Manila Times in an interview that this fight is an opportunity for his wards to showcase their prowess amid the pandemic.
“I’m calling out international promoters if they want quality boxers, we have a lot here in Omega who are willing to fight even if it’s short notice,” he said.
Junco’s wards were able to train safely in the bubble inside the Omega Boxing stable.
“Our preparation has been great. We just maintain their condition and make sure they’re 100 percent free from injuries. I’m proud to say that my boxers are one of the most conditioned in the Philippines, because they did not stop training since January,” Junco said in Bisaya.
He said they stayed ready and waited for the moment when they could organize a boxing match again. That moment came when the whole of Cebu was eased to modified general community quarantine, the most relaxed form of quarantine based on government protocol.
Junco said all the boxers arrived on Wednesday and were tested for Covid-19 with the referee, coaches and other officials. There will be no spectators on fight night.
“We’re just waiting for the results to come out and we’re good to go,” he said.
