2 title bouts in boxing tonight

CEBU, Philippines - Cebuano fight fans, old and young alike, are in for a rare treat as today's boxing show featuring two championship bouts at the Cebu Coliseum is open to the public for free. The first match will start at 5:30 pm and for crowd control, those who would like to be at the ringside will just have to pay a minimal amount of P200.

SGG Sports Promotions big boss Sammy "Don King" Gello-ani put up the 'Thanksgiving' card as a way of expressing their gratitude to Cebuanos for all their prayers and support to IBF light flyweight champion Johnriel "Quadro Alas" Casimero and his team during their harrowing ordeal in Argentina three weeks ago.

In the main event, the Mandaue City-based Weng "Captain Barbel" Haya (14-5, 8KOs) will slug it out with former WBO Oriental lightweight title-holder Jose Ocampo (14-5, 9KOs) for the vacant WBO Asia-Pacific junior welterweight title.

Haya and Ocampo will surely go all-out for a win as they are both coming from defeats.

The 22-year-old Haya was stopped in the eighth round by reigning WBO featherweight champion Orlando Salido on December 17 last year at the Palenque de la Feria in Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico, while Ocampo lost by fifth round technical decision to compatriot Rey Labao on August 6, 2011 at the Island Cove Hotel and Leisure Park in Kawit, Cavite.

Interestingly, Labao (21-4-, 13KOs), who once held the WBO Asia-Pacific super featherweight belt, will challenge defending champion Jay Solmiano (11-1-1, 7KOs) of Manila for the Philippine lightweight crown in the supporting main event.

Solmiano snatched the Phl lightweight title after winning by disqualification over Cris Alag on May 31, 2010 at the Eastwood City Central Plaza in Quezon City. He defended his throne twice already- all via stoppage - the last was a fourth round TKO of Jovie Merca on May 21 last year at the CSC Covered Court in his hometown in Virac, Catanduanes.

In his previous ring appearance, Solmiano fought for the OPBF title but narrowly lost by split decision to Japanese Nihito Arakawa on October 4 last year at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.

Meanwhile, the rest of the bouts in the free-to-the-public extravaganza pit Ciso Morales vs. Joash Aparecio; Virgilio Silvano of Omega Gym vs. Roilo Golez; Jessie Cris Rosales vs. Elmer Pulbe of Pagadian City; Rennel Flechero vs. Marlo Pasigna; Jasper Buhat vs. Jovan Muñoz; and the debuting Jack Tepora vs. Walter Semblante of Mandaue City. (FREEMAN)