Canoy to go all out in Balamban

JASON Canoy goes all-out tomorrow as he settles his unfinished business with Jetly Purisima in the main event of Omega Pro Sports International (OPSI) and West Cebu Industrial Park’s “Rumble sa Balamban” boxing show at the Balamban Sports Complex.

Canoy is looking for nothing less than a knockout in his rematch with Purisima.

“Our target is a knockout,” Omega Boxing Gym head trainer Christopher “Ping-Ping” Tepora told Sun.Star Cebu.

“A win is very important so that he will move back up the rankings.”

The 26-year-old Canoy and Purisima fought in Dalaguete four years ago. There was no clear winner after the fight was prematurely stopped and declared a draw after Purisima suffered a huge gash following a clash of heads.

Canoy has had a better career after their first meeting, winning 10 of his 13 fights. Purisima, on the other hand, has been inconsistent and went 4-7-1.

Canoy is fresh from a unanimous decision win over Jestoni Autida, while Purisima lost his last fight in the hands of Genesis Libranza.

Canoy is 25-6-2 with 18 knockouts, while Purisima is 21-19-4 with six knockouts.

Fast-rising prospect Salatiel Amit (8-12, 6 KOs) faces off with battle-worn veteran Rodel Tejares (20-39-7, 5 KOs) in the main featured fight of the undercard.

Also slated in the show, unbeaten Rimon Rama (4-0-1, 3 KOs) locks horns with Jomar Diana (2-4, 2 KOs), undefeated Mark Vicelles (3-0, 2 KOs) is up against Rodel Kirk Pelenio (3-1, 2 KOs), Ponciano Rimandiman (3-4-1, 2 KOs) slugs it out with newcomer Andrei Navarro, Ar-Ar Borbon (2-1-1, 2 KOs) squares off with newbie Roman Getalada and Oliver Genecera (1-0, 1 KO) trades fists with debutant Wilbert Rota.

Balamban boxing fans will get a glimpse of two of OPSI’s most promising prospects - World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia-Pacific Youth super bantamweight champion Jhack Tepora and World Boxing Federation (WBF) AsiaPacific bantamweight king Kenny Demecillo - in three round sparring.

Tepora faces Ryan Quimbo in the threeround exhibition, while Demecillo takes on Junnie Salugaol in the sparring match.

Tepora, Demecillo, former Olympian Mark Anthony Barriga and Christian Araneta is featured in the third installment of OPSI’s boxing series “Who’s Next?”.