GOMERA VS. BOLIVAR FOR INTERIM OPBF FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE

Promoter Brico Santig (left) with WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman during last year’s WBC Asia Awards held in Bangkok, Thailand.

By LITO DELOS REYES
HARDPUNCHING Jelbirt Gomera of the Philippines will fight the undefeated Omrri “El Rayo” Bolivar of Venezuela for the interim OPBF featherweight title on November 10 at the Puerto Princesa City Coliseum in Palawan.
The Gomera-Bolivar title-fight is one of the four championships in the boxing card of the annual 55th Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) Convention slated on Nov. 9-12.
The 12-rounder championship is promoted by international promoter Brico Santig of Highland Boxing Promotion.
The 25-year old Gomera (12W-4L-0D, 6 KOs) has won his last fight at the Puerto Princesa City Coliseum via unanimous decision against Eduardo Mancito to capture the vacant Philippine Boxing Federation (PBF) featherweight title last December 3.
Gomera, however, lost his last three fights including his battle for the vacant OPBF super bantamweight crown by a unanimous decision against Hidenori Otake last March 17 at the Korakuen Hall in Japan.
Gomera also bowed to Korean Nam Joo Lee by a UD in Suncheon, South Korea last June 24 before he suffered another setback in his previous fight by a majority decision to Michael Escobia last September 2 in Tayug.
Bolivar is still unbeaten with five straight wins and three knockouts.
He won his last two fights both by technical knockouts last year. Bolivar first TKO’d Filipino Gerry Patenio in the first round only in Bacolod City then stopped Indonesian Ricky Manufoe also in the opening round at the Yong Chan Arena in Chong Qing, China.
“Bolivar is a dangerous fighter. But Gomera is a tough and more experienced boxer,” said Santig.