Confident War Dog Tomjune Mangubat Sharpens Teeth for Charly Suarez March 5 in WBA Asia War

By Carlos Costa

Cebu’s Omega Gym star Tomjune Mangubat, a.k.a. “The War Dog,” keeps on sharpening his teeth, pressing forward with his preparation 6 weeks ahead of his hot rumble against former amateur standout Charly Suarez (9-0, 6 KO’s), for the vacant WBA Asia 130-Lbs Belt on Saturday, March 5, at the Elorde Sports Complex in Parañaque, Metro Manila; fans wondering which tough warrior will get the title win?

In today’s media video call with Cebu boxing journalists Edri Aznar of Sunstar, Glendale Rosal of Cebu Daily News and the Filipino Boxing Portal Philboxing.com, Tomjune expressed his confidence in emerging from the hot clash victorious.

“I am confident of winning,” shares the popular “War Dog” Tomjune Mangubat (15-2-1, 12 KO’s), one of the promising boxers at Cebu’s Omega Gym.

However, in a bit of a surprising news, the March 5 rumble for the vacant WBA Asia Super Featherweight Belt will be at a distance of 10 rounds, as requested by the Suarez Team, not at 12 rounds as Tomjune’s Team was hoping for.

“We’d prefer 12 rounds of action for the fans. Because it should be a duty to give it all, to shed every drop of sweat, and deliver the best effort for the fans. Especially in a championship fight,” commented Jerome Calatrava, an executive at Omega Gym.

“Absolutely yes, why not 12 rounds?” also wonders Tomjune’s coach Julius Erving Junco, who has been training Omega fighters in Cebu for 5 years.

“We feel much respect for our opponent and his team. But we should fight 12 rounds, to show fans what Charly and Tomjune can do in a tough 12-chapter title war,” added the Leyte-born Junco, a young coach with a passion for the sweet science.

Still, whether ten or twelve rounds, Tomjune Mangubat “The War Dog” versus Charly Suarez is at the moment the most thrilling fight among Filipinos at super featherweight.

Nine years younger than Charly Suarez, and a couple inches taller, Tomjune would love the fight to be an action one for the fans. That’s perhaps because 12 of Tomjune’s 15 pro victories have been won by way of knockout. The 5′ 8″ might feel confident of the power he packs in his punches.

“If he (Suarez) engages me toe-to-toe, then I think one of us might go down.

“And I need to make sure that it is him the one who would go down, not me.” thinks 24-year-old Tomjune, who also shares that all his daily efforts, his sweat, blood and tears are for his beloved family.

“I will try my best to give Charly Suarez a good match because everything is for family.

“Also, I want to reach my dream of becoming a world champion.

“So, I expect an exciting match on March 5,” added the shy Bukidnon-native, who was born in the beautiful Banuwa ta Manolo Fortich, even though for years Tomjune has lived and trained in the Queen City of the South.

Nevertheless, Tomjune respects his opponent’s skills and accomplishments as an amateur boxer representing the Philippines.

“Charly Suarez might be a difficult boxer to fight because he has been in the Olympics.”

Indeed, the 33-year-old Suarez competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics, losing in his first fight.

And while admiring Suarez long, successful amateur career – which include three South East Asian Games medals – Tomjune Mangubat does not feel intimidated nor pressured for it, and the “War Dog” does not mind being the underdog:

“I am not pressured because in reality we are both the same: boxers.

“Sure, my opponent is no patsy. It is an honor to fight Charly Suarez,” ended up saying Tomjune Mangubat, the gwapo and friendly boxer of Cebu’s Omega Gym.

The author Carlos Costa is a senior boxing columnist. Carlos can be reached via whatsapp at +639184538152 and email at carlos512@hotmail.com