Elite sports nutritionist Jeaneth Aro and Pete Apolinar in Japan. | Photo from Jeaneth Aro’s Facebook page
CEBU CITY, Philippines—Renowned sports nutritionist Jeaneth Aro has been providing Omega Boxing Gym’s Pete “Thunder” Apolinar a program for the latter’s upcoming fight in Japan on August 26, 2022.
The 27-year-old Apolinar is scheduled to fight unbeaten Japanese rising prospect Yoshiki Takei to defend the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) super bantamweight title in Tokyo, Japan.
With that in mind, Omega Pro Sports International (OPSI) tapped Aro, the nutritionist of the first Filipino Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz and former World Boxing Council (WBC) world featherweight champion Mark Magsayo.
Aro is a renowned elite and Olympic nutrition coach who became more famous in her profession when she helped prepare Diaz in last year’s Tokyo Olympics, where the latter bagged a gold medal in the women’s 55-kilogram category for weightlifting.
This time, Aro manages Apolinar’s diet and nutrition since the former started his training camp last month for his fight against Takei.
For Apolinar, he is very thankful for the opportunity to work with Aro.
“Malaki po ang role ni Coach Jeaneth for my preparation for this fight po. Kasi kita naman po aside po sa katawan magaan po ang pakiramdam ko at hindi po ako mabilis mapagod,” Apolinar said.
“Handang-handa na po ako. We are close to the target weight na po. Four pounds over na lang po yung kailangan ko ibawas pero pinapakain pa rin ako ni coach Jeaneth, so malaking improvement po talaga.”
Apolinar also revealed that helping him in his training is strength and conditioning trainer Pio Solon, who also has experience in training top-caliber boxers before, particularly the ALA Boxing Gym champions.
Apolinar will defend the OPBF title against a well-known kick boxing champion in Takei.
The 25-year-old Japanese boxer may have a relatively young career in the sport, holding a 4-0 (win-loss) record, but his kick boxing career is another story.
Takei’s kickboxing record stands at 25-2, wherein 16 wins were by knockouts.
Apolinar is one of the top prospects of the Cebu-based Omega Boxing Gym. He has a record of 16 wins (10 by knockouts) and two defeats.
Apolinar wrested the OPBF title by knocking out fellow Filipino Jhunriel Ramonal last April in Manila.
/bmjo
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