ARQ Boxing launches back-to-back cards
Lines up two regional title fights in Masbate and Mandaue
Busy days loom ahead of ARQ Boxing with back-to-back regional championship bouts lined up starting off with an out-of-town show next week.
In a press conference yesterday at the Comedor of Golden Prince Hotel, ARQ press relations officer and conditioning coach Roger Justine Potot said they will be kicking off their 2024 campaign with “Engkwentro 12” on March 8 at the Cawayan Sports Complex in Masbate.
Billed as “Binombahay sa Cawayan”, the resurgent welterweight contender Rodel “The Hulk” Wenceslao will headline the slambang spectacle backed up by Cawayan LGU under the leadership of mayor Edgar S. Condor.
Wenceslao, who holds a 2019-2 record with 9KOs but is unbeaten in six fights since he joined ARQ Stable in July 2022, will exchange blows with fellow veteran Ernie Sanchez (21-9-2, 12KOs) of General Santos City in a scheduled 10-round rumble for the World Boxing Foundation (WBF) Australasian 147-pound belt.
“Excited kaayo ko sa umaabot nakong title fight. Dako ko og pasalamat sa ARQ labi na ni boss Jason Arquisola sa opportunity nga ilang gihatag nako,” said the 30-year-old Wenceslao, who hails from Kananga, Leyte but is now residing in Mandaue City.
“Akong ikapasalig nga dagon gyud ni nako kay sakto ko sa training,” he added.
Wenceslao’s ARQ stablemates Bryx “The King” Piala (8-1, 3KOs), Berland “The Triggerman” Robles (10-0, 4KOs) and Yerroge Gura will tackle dangerous foes.
Piala will slug it out with GenSan’s Ken Jordan, Robles will lock horns with former world title challenger Robert “Inggo” Paradero, while Gura will go up against Kier Clenton Espere of Siargao Island.
On the other hand, Angelus Pilapil will take on Masbate’s homegrown talent Mark Sabang in a four-rounder curtain raiser.
After Masbate, Potot said they will go back to work right away for their next promotion on May 1 at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex.
Supported by the city government of Mandaue headed by mayor Jonas Cortes, ARQ’s unbeaten flyweight prospect Ramil “The Sharp” Macado (8-0, 4KOs) will vie for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental 112-pound crown against a TBA (to be announced) opponent.
In the equally exciting undercards, former two-time world minimumweight champion Vic “Vicious” Saludar (24-6, 14KOs) and ex-OPBF Youth light flyweight titlist John Paul “Angas ng Cebu” Gabunilas (10-3, 7KOs) will see action against separate rivals.
“We have a lot of plans for this year. Hopefully, it will culminate with a major card at Nustar in December which is highly possible if we can partner with other boxing stakeholders. Who knows? We can work with anyone,” Potot said.