Pete Apolinar (left) and his trainer Julius Erving Junco (right). | Photo from Junco’s Facebook page.
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Omega Boxing Gym will visit hostile territory as they send Pete “Thunder” Apolinar to South Korea to face Jong Seon Kang on November 6, 2021 for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental featherweight title.
Omega Boxing Gym’s chief trainer, Julius Erving Junco, officially announced the upcoming bout on his Facebook account.
For Apolinar, it is more than just the title. It is also his chance to avenge his stablemate, Tomjune Mangubat who lost to Kang in 2019 for the WBO Oriental Youth featherweight title via split decision in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Kang, the 20-year old Korean prospect, is undefeated at 13 wins with six knockouts and two draws in his resume. He is also ranked No. 14 in WBO’s 126-pound division (featherweight).
He and Mangubat fought tooth and nail in their 2019 showdown but he prevailed after two judges saw him winning the bout and scored it 96-93.
One judge saw Mangubat winning the bout at 94-95. Mangubat scored a second round knockdown against Kang, but the latter’s aggressive style prevailed in the 10-rounder showdown that pitted the WBO youth title.
Mangubat recently won against Big Yellow Boxing Gym’s Allan Villanueva via a seventh round knockout in the co-main event of Kumbati 11 on Friday, Oct. 22, 2021 at the IPI compound in Mandaue City.
Meanwhile, it will be Apolinar’s first bout abroad. The 26-year-old pride of San Pablo, Laguna is the current Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) silver featherweight champion.
Apolinar clinched the title in July after knocking out Jess Rhey Waminal in Kumbati 10 of the Omega Pro Sports International fight card held in Cebu.
He is riding on a 10-fight winning streak since 2015. Kang’s most previous bout, on the other hand, was against another Filipino, John Ray Logatiman last July. Kang won by unanimous decision in their match.
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