OPSI gears up for busy March

It’s going to be a busy March for Omega Pro Sports International with two boxing promotions sandwiching an international regional title fight of one its boxers.

On March 8, OPSI will head to Masbate for the Rumble sa Masbate, the outfit’s first event for the year featuring the Philippine Boxing Federation bantamweight title fight between Jhaleel Payao and Jason Tinampay.

“There was a clamor in Masbate and we decided to stage the first Rumble event in Cawayan in partnership with Mayor Ramon Abinuman,” said OPSI president Pio Paulo Castillo.

After the Masbate sojourn, which will also see Jimboy Jaya (9-3-2, 7KOs) take on Ken Jordan (4-0, 4KOs), OPSI will turn its focus to Hong Kong for Kenny Demecillo’s fight against Mark Anthony Geraldo for the WBO Oriental bantamweight title.

Demecillo, who is 12-3-2 with 7 KOs in 17 fights, is in for a tough test as Geraldo is a veteran of 43 fights, going 33-7-3. He also has 15KOs and is looking to recover after losing to Jeson Umbal in their WBC Asian Boxing Council Continental super bantamweight title.

On the other hand, Demecillo hasn’t lost in close to two years and defended his World Boxing Federation Asia Pacific bantamweight title against Jestoni Autida in his last fight last December 2.

Exactly a week after Demecillo’s bout is OPSI biggest boxing promotions to date, Who’s Next? 4, featuring undefeated fighters Jhack Tepora and Christian Araneta against Indonesian fighters at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Tepora, one of the promising fighters in the Omega stable, is undefeated in 19 fights with 14 KOs and is the reigning WBO junior featherweight title. Now on the fast track to a world title fight, his title defense against Yon Armed is a stepping stone to world recognition.

“This is a really important fight for Jhack and he has to defend his title until he gets to the top,” OPSI president Pio Paulo Castillo said during the launching of the event. “We want to accomplish this mission as fast as possible.”

Araneta, 13-0 with 11KOs, is also fighting for a regional belt for the first time and will face Demsi Manufoe for the vacant WBO Oriental junior flyweight title.

Who’s Next? 4 will also be Omega Sports debut in big-time boxing as the Cebuano outfit is looking to promote more boxing events to give local boxers a chance to shine and be discovered.