Jenel Lausa's Title Fight in Dubai Cancelled Due to Motorbike Accident Caused by J&T Express Staff

By Carlos Costa

Unfortunately, the exciting, much-awaited WBA Asia South Super Featherweight title fight between unbeaten Filipino boxer/former UFC Fighter Jenel “Demolition Man” Lausa (10-0, 6 KO”s) against skilled undefeated Cuban Jadier Herrera scheduled for February 26 in “The City of Gold” Dubai, United Arab Emirates, has been cancelled after the promising Pinoy warrior got injured in a road accident in Manila on January 21, caused by indeed a reckless staff of delivery company J&T Express.

Jenel Lausa was scheduled to travel to Dubai for his scheduled Supporting main event title.

Lausa’s clash was going to bring a rewarding purse to the serious and committed Filipino boxer, as well as the possibility to conquer an Asian belt from a prestigious sanctioning body, plus the chance to get included into the WBA’s top 130-pound fighters.

The fantastic opportunity for the Iloilo-native is now in ashes.

“Sucha a sayang (wasted) opportunity,” laments Highland Boxing Team, which served as the matchmaking company for the Dubai event.

“Motor accident side sweep,” its revealed.

“The J&T Express vehicle suddenly opens the right-side door, then Jenel came… then bang!” Highland adds.

According to the official statement from GAB’s chief medical officer Dr. Radentor R. Viernes M.D., Jenel Lausa, 33, injured “his right fist due to blunt trauma causing pain, extending into the whole right extremity up to the shoulder.

“There was limitation of movement of the right upper extremity, particularly on rotation of the right shoulder” states the experienced physician who for years has served at the Games & Amusement Board.

In consequence, Dr. Viernes advises Jenel “rest and refrain from strenuous activity until symptoms free.”

Thanks God, after some time off – perhaps a month or two – Jenel Lausa will be 100% healed and perfectly fit to re-start his boxing training.

However, is it fair, moral, legal, and Christian for J&T Express to compensate Janel Lausa for depriving the Filipino of his chance to earn his living in his chosen boxing profession… the God-given opportunity to get money to put food on his family’s table?

Because Jenel’s brilliant chance to travel to Dubai has been ruined by the actions of the J&T Express employee, who was reportedly crying at the accident scene, begging the injured, pained Jenel for forgiveness.

“What exactly happened was that the J&T Express delivery truck was parked. But the staff suddenly opened his side-door without checking for incoming traffic nor looking into his side-mirror.” reports affirm.

Janel Lausa was on his way home after his sparring session in Manila.

Now, the promoter Phucan An Nguyen needs to quickly find an attractive super featherweight replacement for Jenel and deal with the aftermath of the unexpected situation, which brings hassle his Dubai company because Jenel Lausa’s WBA Asia title fight was the show’s Supporting main event.

“We feel disappointed because we were expecting an action-packed match here in Dubai between unbeaten Filipino former UFC fighter Jene Lausa battling an undefeated talented Cuban Jadier Herrera,” shares Nguyen.

“Sure, it was going to be a full of action war. Back and forth punches, blows flying… a knock out either way,” thinks Phucan An Nguyen, the enthusiastic, Vietnam-born young promoter who organizes boxing in plush Dubai.

Why Dubai? “Because Dubai is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations as well as a vibrant boxing-loving oil city, home of the planet’s tallest building, The Burj Khalifa.”

Nevertheless, since it was a truck of J&T Express the one who caused the accident to Jenel Lausa, some fans on social media wonder if J&T Express Manila Office will be compensating the wounded Pinoy boxer for what their employee in their truck did?

“Should J&T Express look into the matter? Are just tears enough?” wonder a concerned fans on a Facebook post, many dismayed by the unfair situation: the loss of an excellent opportunity in Dubai.

“Most likely J&T will not care about this? J&T Express might only care about profit?” another comment reads.

According to many fans, most likely the delivery company whose employee injured the boxer will not look into the matter in disregard not only for the horrible hassle and physical pain, but also for the high monetary cost for the Jenel and his family.

About his sad situation Jenel Lausa himself says:

“Na kahit ganun po ang nangyari, hindi kami magpu-purse ng kaso against the company nor the employee, kc pinili ko nalang patawarin dahil walang wala rim ang empleayado na naka sakit sakin…”

Translation: “Even if that happened, we will not pursue a case against the company nor the employee. I just chose to forgive because the employee who hurt me also has nothing…”

Putting things into perspective Highland Boxing Team shares its feelings, expressing that:

“Thanks God, our boxer Jenel will be fine. Forgiveness is good. Really Thanks be to God that Jenel will be healed. Because it could have been worse. Because nobody knows what could happen in those kinds of motorbike accidents.”

Final thought: Fair is fair. Even what Jenel and Highland Boxing have just said about forgiveness, will J&T Express still be interested in looking into the matter of the unintended harm done by one of their employees in one of their vehicles? What do you think is the moral good thing that should be done?

The author Carlos Costa is a veteran boxing reporter as well as senior columnist at Philboxing. Carlos can be reached at carlos@philboxing.com and WhatsApp 09184538152