CABALQUINTO TO CHALLENGE OPBF SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMP RIVERA IN THEIR REMATCH NOV. 25

REMATCH. Philippine super lightweight champion Adones Cabalquinto (left) and his trainer-manager Raides “Nonoy” Neri

By LITO DELOS REYES

DAVAO CITY – Philippine super lightweight champion Adones “Ironman” Cabalquinto will have a rematch with his former tormentor Al “The Machine Gun” Rivera on November 25 at the Brusmick Commercial Center in Santa Rosa City, Laguna.

This time it will also be a 12-round championship fight for Rivera’s Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) super lightweight title.

Rivera, who was not yet the OPBF champion, knocked out Cabalquinto in the second round of their non-title fight held November 13, 2015 at the Philippine Navy Gym in Taguig City.

It was only Cabalquinto’s first setback after 21 straight wins.

After that fight, Rivera then went on to capture the vacant OPBF super lightweight crown by stopping Japanese Shinya Iwabuchi in 1:25 of the 7^th round by a technical knockout on February 11, 2016 at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.

The 23-year old native of Sta. Rosa, Laguna previously scored a 2^nd round TKO victory against Richard Olisa in a non-title fight held June 24 at the Jurado Hall of the Philippine Marine Corp in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.

Rivera now has a total of 16 wins with 14 knockouts against only two losses and no draw.

Cabalquinto of the MP Davao Gym now has 23 wins with 15 KOs against also two losses and no draw.

The native of Talaingod, Davao del Norte previously lost by a unanimous decision to Qudratillo Abduqaxorov in their battle for the vacant WBC Asian Boxing Council Silver welterweight title last July 23 at the Far East Square in Singapore.

But before that, Cabalquinto scored two straight victories against Nelson Gulpe (1^st round knockout) and Rodel Wenceslao (unanimous decision).

“Gusto kong makaganti kay Rivera kaya gagawin ko po ang lahat upang manalo sa rematch namin,” said Cabalquinto, who is a southpaw.

Cabalquinto has been sparring with his stablemate Jay-Ar Inson, who is also preparing for a championship fight in Japan next month.

Cabalquinto’s chief trainer Raides “Nonoy” Neri is now also back from the United States as part of the coaching staff of 8-division world champion Manny Pacquiao.

“He’s now 90 percent ready to fight,” said Neri in a text message.

Cabalquinto, a former WBC Asian Boxing Council super lightweight champion, has sparred more than 100 rounds already.

“We trained harder for this fight and made some changes on his stamina and punches,” said Neri.