Virgel Vitor celebrates after winning the WBO Oriental super featherweight title on March 8, 2024. | Photo from the PMI Bohol Boxing Stable
CEBU CITY, Philippines — PMI Bohol Boxing Stable’s Virgel “Valiente” Vitor is expected to defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental super featherweight title in July in Bohol.
This was announced by PMI Bohol Boxing Promotions’ promoter and manager, Floriezyl Echavez Podot, during a post-fight interview of April 30’s ‘Kumong Bol-Anon 15’ in Tagbilaran City.
According to Podot, they decided to feature Vitor for the ‘Kumong Bol-Anon 16’ main event where he will defend his title, instead of accepting a major offer in the United States.
READ: Kumong Bol-Anon XIV: Vitor wins WBO Oriental title despite knockdown drama
Podot explained that they want to be patient on Vitor, giving him one more acid test before deciding if he’s ready for bigger fights in the United States or not.
READ: Vitor fights dynamite-fisted Thai for WBC Silver super feather crown May 25
US boxing scene
“Vitor will defend his WBO Oriental title before we will accept that offer in the United States. We decided to set aside that offer first because we want to give Vitor another acid test to see if he’s ripe enough for bigger bouts in the United States,” Podot said.
READ: Vitor, PMI eyes rematch against Japanese tormentor
“Somebody offered us in the US. Their boxer is ranked No. 10 in Boxrec. It was very tempting because Vitor’s win there would surely elevate his rankings in the world. But, we have to see it first because Vitor got hurt in his previous fight, we have to assess and take time to prevent that mistake from happening [again]. It was really his mistake, so we have to correct it, so we didn’t gamble in accepting the US fight,” he added.
In addition, PMI’s trusted international matchmaker Edito Villamor advised them not to force Vitor into fighting in the US. Patience would be key to Vitor’s perfect timing in debuting in the US boxing scene.
Second-round knockdown
Vitor won the vacant WBO Oriental super featherweight title in Tagbilaran City via a seventh-round knockout against Korean toughie, Tae Sun Kim.
The 26-year-old Vitor suffered a second-round knockdown that gave everyone a scare.
However, he was able to recover and went on to return the favor to his Korean foe and won via a knockout.
Vitor, a native of Tagbilaran City has a record of 22 wins with 15 knockouts, and three defeats. PMI is targeting the third or fourth week of July for Vitor’s title defense which likely happens in Bohol.