The boxers pose with the officials of #Kumbati 2 after the official weigh-in Thursday, April 4, at the Manggahan Restaurant. The main event will be the World Boxing Council (WBC) Asia Silver Featherweight championship. CDN Digital photo | Mars G. Alison
CEBU CITY, Philippines – The battle between Tomjone “Wardog” Mangubat of the Omega Boxing Gym and Arnel “Silencer” Baconaje of Pasay City just got more interesting.
Both vie for the World Boxing Council (WBC) Asia Silver Featherweight champion in the main event for #Kumbati 2 on Friday, April 5, 2019 at the Piazza Rotunda of the Parkmall.
The camp of Baconaje revealed that their ward trained in Thailand, where he was the sparring partner of World Boxing Council (WBC) Super Flyweight champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai of Thailand.
This was revealed by Baconaje’s coach, Warren Jaro, during the press conference that followed the weigh-in Thursday, April 4, 2019, at the Manggahan Restaurant.
“Si Arnel kasi doon nagtrain sa Thailand, five weeks siya doon, naging sparring partner siya ni Rungvisai,” said Jaro.
(Arnel trained in Thailand. He was there for five weeks as the sparring partner of Rungvisai.)
According to Jaro, being Rungvisai’s sparring partner was a big confidence booster for his ward, who sports a record of 10W-3L-0D-8KO.
“Malaking advantage yon kasi world champion na Thai boxer si Rungvisai, pag naka sparring mo ang isang world title holder, magkakaroon ka ng confidence sa sarili mo dahil nasubukan mo na kung paano makipag sparring sa mga world title boxers,” said Jaro.
(It is a big advantage because Rungvisai is a Thai world champion. You boost your self confidence when you spar with a world title holder because you’ve already experienced how to spar with a world title boxer.)
However, the camp of Mangubat is unfazed with Jaro’s revelation, claiming it is not that big an advantage for Friday’s fight.
“We didn’t know that nilarga sila ug nagsparring partner kang Rungvisai but for me it’s not a big advantage because si Rungvisai, he is a Super Fly, 115 pounds, we’ve been practicing, we have sparring partners like 130 pounds, 135 pounds and we also sparred with Jeo Santisima so I think, it’s not really a big advantage,” said Julius Erving Junco, the head coach of Omega Boxing Gym.
Santisima of the ALA Boxing Gym is the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental Super Bantamweight champion.
Mangubat, who sports a record of 10W-0L-1D-9KO, promised to give the bout a good fight.
“Maningkamot ko ani kay championship mani, para ni sa akong pamilya,” said the Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon native, who is gunning for his first regional title.
(I will give this my best because this is a championship and this is for my family.)
Mangubat tipped the scales at 125.7 pounds while Baconaje weighed in at 125.1.
The winner of this bout has a chance to get into the world rankings.
Mangubat’s stablemates, Ronnie Mark Vicelles and Ponciano Rimandiman, also made weight along with their opponents, sealing their fights tomorrow.
Vicelles of Lebak Sultan Kudarat tipped the scales at 107.05 pounds while his opponent, Robert “El Rapido” Onggocan of Biñan Laguna put in 108 pounds They will be slugging it out in the 10-rounder, 108-pound supporting bout Visproba Light Flyweight Championship.
Vicelles totes the record of 9W-0L-1D-5KO while Onggocan sports a record of 11W-4L-0D-7KO.
Leyte’s Rimandiman, for his part, made weight at 114.05 pounds for his 8-rounder 115-pound supporting bout Visproba Super Flyweight Championship against Rowel “Jaguar” Rosia of Mandaluyong Manila who tipped the scales at 114 pounds.
Rimadiman puts on the line his record of 9W-4L-1D-5KO while Rosia brings with him 14W-7L-1D-7KO.
Before the main event and two supporting bouts, there will be five amateur bouts to be contested in the undercard. /bmjo