OPSI moves event due to Araneta injury

Omega Pro Sports International (OPSI) is forced to push back Who’s Next? 5 to a later date after one of the show’s main protagonists suffered a severe injury in training.

Christian Araneta unfortunately tore a muscle in his right shoulder in a sparring session with Mark Vicelles last Mon- day. He will be undergoing a shoulder surgery this week and will be out of action for at least eight months.

“Araneta injured his right shoulder. It’s a muscle tear after throwing punch and missed in sparring. We can’t push through with the event. We will move it to a later date maybe in September or August. Araneta will not be the one in the headline,” said OPSI vice-president Jerome Calatrava.

The 22-year-old Araneta was supposed to defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental light flyweight belt against highly world rated Jessie Espinas in a rematch in the co-main event on July 7 at the Island City Mall car park in Tagbilaran City.

The show is headlined by Jhack Tepora defending his WBO Oriental super bantamweight strap against Mexican Emmanuel Dominguez.

With Araneta out, OPSI is forced to postpone its event because it promised its sponsors two regional title bouts.

Who’s Next? 5 won’t be in Bohol anymore but in Cebu.

Calatrava, however, said that a promoter has been talking to them and who would like to let his boxer, which he won’t disclose just yet, take Araneta’s slot as the co-main event.

Calatrava hinted that this boxer is also world-rated. /