ALA vs Omega: Iron Chin tests Vulcan’s resolve

JARED Jahleel “Iron Chin” Payao and Raul “Vulcan” Yu both only want one thing and that is to claim victory in the main event of Who’s Next? Pro Boxing Series 5: Civil War at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex tonight.

The main event will be a showdown of two distinguished boxing gyms as Payao of Omega Boxing Gym defends his Philippine Boxing Federation (PBF) bantamweight title against Yu of ALA Boxing Gym in a 10-rounder bout.

“I’ll give my best. Of course I’m going to win,” Payao (15-1, 9KOs) said in Cebuano when asked by sports scribes on how he likes his chances on this fight.

Jerome Calatrava, vice-president of Omega Pro Sports International (OPSI), the promoter of the bout, said that he’s confident that Payao will reign in this bout.

“If there’s a probability that is more than 100 percent, that would be it. If he wins then we can give him a fight for a regional title and we’re considering letting him face foreign opponents,” said Calatrava. “I have train for three months for this, I’m very ready,” said Payao, who tipped the scales at 118 pounds during yesterday’s official weigh-in at Parkmall in Mandaue City.

The Butuan City-native Yu is also in for a mustwin match after a tough loss against SanMan Boxing Gym’s Jade Bornea last February for the vacant IBF youth super flyweight title.

“This is a chance for me to bounce back. I badly need this one because it could be my last chance. I’m going to give my best. I’m going to win this fight,” said the 23-year-old Yu (9-2-2, 8KOs).

Yu, who also weighed in at 118 pounds, said he sparred with ALA’s top boxers like Donnie Nietes and Arthur Villanueva for this fight. “I’ve learned a lot from them (Nietes and Villanueva) on our sparring. It’s really a big help on my training,” he said.

In the co-main event, Jason Canoy “Dillinger” Manigos (26-7-2-19KOs) of Balamban, Cebu will slug it out with Renerio “Amazing” Arizala (13-7-25KOs) of Bacoor, Cavite in a 10-rounder fight. The former PBF bantamweight champion Manigos and former LuzProBA light flyweight champion Arizala both weighed in at 119 pounds. The boxing event, which will start at 6 p.m., will also feature nine under card bouts. The tickets are sold at P50 for general admission, P150 for ringside and P200 for VIP. Sun.Star Cebu