PETE Apolinar guns for another regional belt as he takes on unbeaten hometown bet Jong Seon Kang for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental featherweight belt on Nov. 6, 2021 in South Korea.
“This will be an exciting fight considering that his opponent was also the opponent of Tomjune (Mangubat) before,” Omega Sports Promotions vice president Jerome Calatrava told SunStar Cebu.
Jong beat Mangubat, Apolinar’s stablemate, by split decision to win the WBO Youth Oriental featherweight strap in 2019 in Vietnam.
He then won the vacant WBO Oriental featherweight crown with a unanimous decision over compatriot Sam Jun Lee on Jan. 9. He followed it up with another unanimous decision over Filipino John Ray Logatiman on July 3.
“His opponent is good so we should not be complacent,” said Calatrava.
Apolinar recently won the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) featherweight belt with an impressive 12th round knockout win over Jess Rhey Waminal on July 3 in Mandaue City.
Since suffering his only career loss in 2015, a first round knockout in the hands of one-time world title challenger Jeo Santisima, the 26-year-old Apolinar is winner of 10 straight fights.
“I don’t like to say how confident we are, but I’d rather say that we are prepared enough for this fight,” said Calatrava.
Apolinar is 15-1 with nine knockouts, while the 20-year-old Jong is 13-0-2 with six knockouts.
Apolinar, along with Calatrava and Omega Gym head coach Jinggoy Junco, is leaving for South Korea on Nov. 2.