Pete Apolinar flexes his muscles at the Omega Boxing Gym in Mandaue City. | Contributed Photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines—Pete “Thunder” Apolinar vows to leave no stone unturned in his preparation for the biggest fight of his young career in the main event of “Kumbati 10” slated on July 3, 2021 at the IPI Compound in Mandaue City.
The 26-year-old Apolinar of the Omega Boxing Gym said that he has been waiting for this fight, which he believes will be his stepping stone to get recognized in the international boxing scene.
The proud son of San Pablo, Laguna will fight for the Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) silver featherweight strap against his former stablemate Jess Rhey “Wanman Waminal” Waminal in the main event of the fight card put up by the Omega Pro Sports International and the Omega Boxing Gym.
“Pinaghahandaan ko po ng mabuti ang laban na ito kasi po matagal ko na rin po ito hinihintay at sigurado po ako na naghahanda din po si Waminal. Hindi ko po ugali na mag underestimate ng kalaban so, mas mabuti sa July 3 na lang magkakaalaman,” Apolinar told CDN Digital.
Apolinar is fresh from beating fellow Filipino Juanito Paredes via unanimous decision in their 10-rounder bout last Mary 27 in Kumbati 9’s main event. He has won night straight bouts and now has a record of 14 wins (8 KOs), and one defeat.
Waminal, who is Apolinar’s former stablemate at the ALA Boxing Gym, holds a similar record of 14-3-1 (win-loss-draw) with eight knockout wins.
“Stablemates po kami before sa ALA Boxing Gym. Pero matagal na rin kami di nag kasama so marami na pong mga pagbabago sa amin. Magaling po si Waminal at mas may experience siya kay sa akin. Naranasan na rin nyang maging champion at maraming beses na siya lumaban sa mga championships,” Apolinar described Waminal.
Waminal is indeed a dangerous foe. The 26-year old Impasug-ong, Bukidnon native is the reigning interim WBA Asia bantamweight champion. He snatched the title by scoring a ninth-round knockout versus Jin Wook Lim in his first fight abroad in Busan, South Korea in 2018.
Waminal has also fought in China in 2019 against Zhong Liu, where he lost by split decision. His most recent bout was against Indian Sunil Siwach, where he won by unanimous decision in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.
Apolinar has started his training camp at the Omega Boxing Gym under the tutelage of Julius Erving Junco. He said that his training is the same as his previous fights, but he wants to improve on many aspects with his boxing skills.
“Marami pa. Malayo pa ako sa katotohanan. Marami pa akong dapat na matutunan at pag-aralan sa ibabaw ng ring. Siguro makikita na lang sa laban yung mga pagbabago. Para sa akin, walang madali o mahirap na laban basta pag may binigay na laban sa akin, pinaghahandaan ko po ng mabuti sa abot ng aking makakaya,” he said.
Kumbati 10 features ten exciting bouts pitting Omega Boxing Gym’s top prospects against equally tough foes.
/bmjo
READ MORE: 10 bouts featured in Kumbati 10 fight card in July