Salogaol to defend PBF title

CEBU, Philippines - Cebuano boxer Junny Salogaol will put his Philippine Boxing Federation bantamweight title on the line against Mindanao brawler Nicong Calamba of Agusan del Sur in the main event of the "Binukbokay sa Minglanilla:War of the Fists" fightcard tonight at the Minglanilla Sports Complex.

It will be Salogaol's second defense of the PBF belt he snatched after a smashing third-round knockout of Julius Alcos on December 7 last year at the Guadalupe Sports Complex in Cebu City. In his first defense, the pride of Borbon, Cebu won by second round technical decision over Jilo Merlin last February at the Dalaguete Sports Center.

In his previous bout, the 21-year-old Salogaol stopped Armando Yee in the second round exactly two months ago at the Robinson’s Mall Atrium in  General Santos City.

"This boxing event is one of the grassroots sports development programs we are actively pushing in Minglanilla. This is also one way of encouraging our youth to engage themselves in sports," said Minglanilla Mayor Lani Peña in a press conference yesterday at Hotel Fortuna.

The slambang show is promoted by revered Cebuano sports patron Lorenzo 'Chao' Sy in partnership with the Barangay Councilors League of the Philippines (BCLP)-Minglanilla Chapter through its president Joerick Bargayo.

Three Omega Stable fighters under the watchful eyes of trainer Pingping Tepura will showcase their skills in the undercard of the slambang show.

They are featherweight Jerry Castroverde, flyweight RR Borbon and super bantamweight Jay Aliasot, who will slug it out with Ryan Quimbo of Compostela, and Boholano pugs Jomar Ceneta and Ritchneil Rosales, respectively.

Clyde Azarcon of Bid Yellow Stable, on the other hand, will lock up horns with Macmac Baribar of Bohol in a four-rounder, minimumweight duel.

Five amateur bouts will usher in the pro cardshow that is among the highlights of the town's annual fiesta celebration in honor of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. (FREEMAN)