OMEGA Boxing Gym’s Kenny Demecillo will make his first title defense for the World Boxing Association (WBA) Oceania Bantamweight title in a rematch with Daryl Basadre slated Sept. 26 in General Santos City.
The 22-year-old Demecillo (9-3-1, 6KOs) snatched the vacant WBO Oceania Bantamweight title by knocking out Basadre (14-2-1, 10KOs) in the second round of their first encounter last June also in General Santos.
Jim Claude, Basadre’s promoter, sought for the rematch, believing that the first fight was prematurely stopped by the referee.
In that fight, referee Ramuel Ovalo stopped the fight at the 2:54 mark after seeing Basadre take a beating from Demecillo.
Demecillo’s trainer Christopher “Ping-ping” Tepora expressed confidence that his ward can duplicate his previous win.
He said Demecillo has been training since June.
“We have to knock him out again because if the fight goes the distance, we are very exposed to hometown decision,” said Tepora, adding that Demecillo has figured out Basadre’s style.