Fight fans will finally get to see an Omega Boxing Gym versus ALA Boxing Gym showdown when the “Who’s Next? 5: Civil War” fight card gets underway tonight at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex.
Jared Jahleel “Iron Chin” Payao of the Omega Boxing Gym will be defending his PBF bantamweight title against ALA Boxing Gym homeboy Raul “Vulcan” Yu in the main event scheduled for 10 rounds.
Omega Pro Sports International (OPSI), the promoter of the fight card tonight, once initiated a talk to pit the newly crowned WBO intercontinental featherweight champion Jhack Tepora against ALA Boxing Gym’s knockout artist Jeo Santisima, but that fight never materialized.
But tonight, Cebuano fight fans who want to witness the brewing rivalry between the two famed boxing gyms will finally get a glimpse of an ALA versus OPSI bout featuring Yu and Payao.
Payao, who holds a record of 15 wins with nine knockouts and one defeat and is currently one of the best boxers Omega Boxing Gym can offer. A victory is crucial since OPSI is planning to pit him in bigger fights involving regional titles against foreign opponents.
With this, Payao knows he has to step up and show he is ready.
“I will do my best in this fight,” said Payao. “I am confident that I can win this fight. It’s a sure win.”
OPSI vice president Jerome Calatrava revealed that there’s more in store if the 24-year-old Payao will prevail over Yu.
“I’m more than a hundred percent sure that Jahleel (Payao) will win against Yu. If he wins, then we can give him regional titles and bigger fights,” said Calatrava.
Last chance
The 23-year-old Yu (9-2-2,8KOs) is aiming to bounce back from a tough loss to SanMan Boxing Gym’s Jade Bornea last February for the vacant IBF youth super flyweight title.
“I badly want to win this fight because this is my last chance,” he said. “I already failed twice so I have to do my best. I trained hard for this fight and sparred with quality boxers like Donnie Nietes, so I am confident that I will do better in this fight.”
Both Payao and Yu made weight at 118 pounds during yesterday’s official weigh-in event at Parkmall in Mandaue City.
Yu is actually a replacement of Payao’s initial opponent Renerio Arizala, who will now fight Jason Canoy Manigos in the co-main event.
Manigos faces Arizala in a 10-round non-title showdown in the bantamweight division. Manigos (26-7-2,19KOs) and Arizala (13-7-2,5KOs) both weighed in at 119 pounds yesterday.
Tickets are sold at P50 for general admission, P150 for ringside and P200 for VIP.