CEBU, Philippines — A surefire blockbuster show featuring three World Boxing Organization (WBO) regional championship bouts will take place tonight (Saturday, February 8) at the plush Nustar Resort and Casino Convention Center.
In the main event of the hotly anticipated “Binukbukay sa Sugbo” fight card bankrolled by OX KBDF Gaming of Dr. Winley de la Fuente, Korean brawler Jong Seon Kang (20-1, 11KOs) will put his WBO Global featherweight throne on the line against Japanese challenger Ryuto Owan (13-1, 8KOs).
Before Kang and Owan will lock horns, Cebuano boxer Rodex “The Tank” Piala (10-1, 1KO) of ARQ Stable will climb into the ring to challenge WBO Oriental super featherweight champion Yeerjialahasi Laayibieke (10-2, 7KOs) from Beijing, China but fighting out of PMI Bohol Stable.
Aside from seeking a bounce-back win from his previous defeat at the hands of the undefeated WBO Asia Pacific featherweight crown-holder Kenji Fujita in June 2024, Piala hopes to give himself a belated birthday gift having turned 30 years old on the eve of his second title shot.
“Mapasalamaton ko sa akoang manager nga si sir Jason Arquisola ug sa akoang promoter nga si mam Eva Marie Arquisola sa paghatag nila nako og opportunity nga maka-away balik og title fight sa lugar nako nga natawhan,” said the Talisay City-native Piala.
“Para ni sa akoang pamilya. Wala nako sila igkita sud sa duha na ka bulan kay nangandam ko pag-ayo sa akoang training sa gym,” Piala added. “Ako ipakita sa kadaghanan og unsa ko. Buhaton nako tanan sulod sa ring para tagaan ko sa Ginoo og nindot nga regalo.”
In the other titular showdown, two-time WBO regional titlist Genesis “Azucal” Servania (35-4, 16KOs), now based in Vietnam, will slug it out with Aketelieti Yelejian (9-4-1, 2KOs) of Shenzhen, China for the vacant WBO Oriental lightweight belt.
In the equally-exciting undercards, former world minimumweight titleholder Vic “Vicous” Saludar (25-6, 15KO) will trade blows with Roldan Sasan (8-6-1, 3KOs), while Alexander Fredriksson of Sweden will mix it up with Raymond Empic from Dalaguete, Cebu.
The rest of the slam-bang show features Jason Balajadja vs Vergil Deguma, Rafie Jamero vs Yulie Hindoy, and Tristan Jay Racho vs Aubrey Silot.
Tickets are priced at P2,900 (general admission), P5,700 (gold), P8,000 (VIP), and P11,300 (ringside).