BOXING ALA’s Waminal eyes OPBF belt vs. Mananquil
Budding prospects Ben Mananquil and Jess Rhey Waminal are looking to move up to the next level as they tussle for the vacant Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) Silver bantamweight belt, along with a possible spot in the world rankings, tonight in the header of Sanman Promotions’ “Road to Stardom” show at the Polomolok Gym.
“I have trained really hard. This fight is very important for me because this is my way to get into the world rankings. I really want to win this,”said the 25-year-old Mananquil, the current World Boxing Federation (WBF) international bantamweight champion.
“This will be a great fight. I’m well prepared. An opportunity like this rarely comes,” said Waminal, who is trained by Michael Domingo at the ALA Gym in Cebu.
The winner could break into the world rankings of the World Boxing Council (WBC), to which the OPBF is connected.
The 22-year-old Waminal believes that he has a bit of an edge over Mananquil style-wise, but he’s aware that he has to work twice as hard as a visiting fighter.
“I have the reach and I have the power,” he said. “It’s better for me to dictate the pace of the fight because I’m the visitor.”
Mananquil, however, disagrees and believes that he has the advantage in style.
“I’m left-handed. He’ll have problems fighting a southpaw like me,” said Mananquil, who never had a formal amateur background in boxing. “But if he takes me for granted then he’ll surely go down.”
Mananquil is 14-1-2 with three knockouts, while Waminal is 11-1-1 with six knockouts.
Unbeaten Jade Bornea (8-0, 5 KOs) defends his International Boxing Federation (IBF) Youth super flyweight strap against last-minute replacement Samuthra Sitharan (4-1, 2 KOs).
Bornea was supposed to fight Jakkrawut Majoogoen but the Thai lost his passport and was unable to make the trip.
Keep busy
Former interim World Boxing Association (WBA) light flyweight king Randy Petalcorin (26-2-1, 19 KOs) squares off with journeyman Jetly Pursima (21-23-4, 6 KOs) in a keep-busy fight.
In the undercard, undefeated Jayson Mama (6-0, 2 KOs) locks horns with Bimbo Nacionales (14-14-1, 3 KOs), former world title challenger John Mark Apolinario (18-9-3, 4 KOs) slugs it out with Jestoni Makaputin (5-2-2, 3 KOs), Eden Sonsona (36-7-2, 13 KOs) is up against battle- scarred veteran Jaime Barcelona (39-611, 10 KOs), Rimar Metuda (11-2, 6 KOs) takes on Gabby Simpo (6-7-1, 2 KOs), Mark Antonio (20, 2 KOs) faces off with Michael Padayag (3-8-1), /