All eyes on Mandaue as Omega set to host first boxing "bubble"

When the opening bell rings on October 7, it is a signal that professional boxing is back in the country.

It is what Omega Sports Promotion is hoping to achieve when they are slated to hold a quadruple-bill of bouts in their own turf in Mandaue, Cebu as it hopes that the combat sports are back in business after a long layoff that lasted more than six months due to the lockdown owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

For Jerome Calatrava, it will be an honor for them to host the much-awaited return, with the pandemic sparing no one in the province that was made famous for Gabriel "Flash" Elorde.

With the name synonymous with pain relief, Omega was famously known for its two graduates: WBO World Bantamweight king John Riel Casimero and title contender Jheck Tepora, with the former coming off the heels of his third-round stoppage of erstwhile unbeaten Duke Micah on the weekend at the Mohegan Sun.

“We are honored and privileged to be holding this historic boxing card in Cebu. It is a challenge but we are looking forward to it,” said Calatrava in Tuesday's Philippine Sportswriters' Association Forum.

Pro boxing were one of the worst hit by the pandemic and the subsequent shutdown of sport, with the fabled ALA Promotions became one of the most notable victims as it struggles to find its proper footing on how to fight healthy and safe.

Headlined by their own pugilists, the fight card has all but one bout scheduled for ten rounds, in which a pair of light-flyweight tussles that featured two of their prized prospects at the International Pharmaceuticals Inc. complex.

With that said, Ronnie Vecilles and Christian Araneta will have their hands full as they take on Baguio's Junel Lacar and Bohol's Richard Rosales respectively.

Rounding off the event will be a featherweight bout between Penitente Apolinar and Cagayan de Oro-based Jetro Pabustan, while the all-Cebuano tiff between Carlo Bacaro and Jeffrey Stella is the lone six-rounder in the light welterweight division.

However, Omega's schedule is not possible without the assistance of the Games and Amusements Board, who had guided them every step of the way to adhere to the guidelines.

Calatrava added that the fighters are already billeted in their compound, and will conduct tests two days before fight night. A positive result would men a cancellation of the scheduled bout, as they opted not to have standby boxers in their place.

“We will have about 50 people involved, including the boxers, crew, and the one referee we hired for the event that will be held in closed doors with GAB officials watching,” he added.

Apart from the GAB nod, it also helped that the IPI top brass headed by Pio Castillo, Jr. is an avid boxing enthusiast himself and gave the event a much-needed support amidst the threat of the virus.

“We in Omega Sports Promotions are passionate about the sport and would want to give our pro boxers a lift so we can hopefully produce world boxing champions and contenders once again in the future,” Calatrava said.

Photo: Omega Boxing Gym (FILE)