Raquinel to get no. 5 rating

By LITO DELOS REYES

DAVAO CITY – Former Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) flyweight champion Jayr “The Dreamer” Raquinel will now be put back in the ratings next month in August.

This was disclosed by OPBF Chairman Frank Hadley.

In his letter to promoter-manager Brico Santig of Highland Promotions:

“The OPBF Ratings Committee have considered your request and have decided that, under the circumstances, Mr. Raquinel will be awarded the #5 spot in the Ratings.

We look forward to providing Mr. Raquinel with OPBF opportunities when he resumes boxing.”

Raquinel (12W-1L-1D, 9KOs) of Candoni, Negros Occidental was totally removed from the rankings for July of OPBF. But this move by OPBF had received a lot of controversies.

Santig questioned the OPBF’s move and that Raquinel was not able to make his title defense for the last two years. It was overdue for defense because of the pandemic.

“We were not allowed by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to promote contact sports,” said Santig.

Coach Alan Alegria, on the other hand, Raquinel should be put on the no. 1 contender since he is a former champion.

“Raquinel should be put on the no. 1 contender so that he will fight anyone who fights him,” said Alegria.

Alegria said that “OPBF has removed Racquinel so he should be put on no. 1.”

“We were never got loss and that we want to fight anybody,” said Alegria.

Boxing Promoters and Managers Association president Dante Almario said that “the OPBF should explain why Raquinel was removed from the ratings”.

Almario said that the two members of the OPBF Rating Committee who are Filipinos – Jerold Tomeldan and Arnie Najera – must also explain.

Efforts to get the side of Tomeldan and Najera proved futile as of press time.

Santig and team Raquinel express their Gratitude to OPBF chairman rating committee Frank Hadley for his kind consideration in putting back Raquinel in the Opbf ranking.

photo: Former OPBF flyweight champion Jayr “The DreamerRaquelel and Coach Alan Alegria