OMEGA Sports Promotions will kick off 2021 with its third “bubble” boxing event on March 27, 2021 at the IPI Compound in Mandaue City.
It will be yet again a two-part boxing show that features nine fights. Kumbati 9 will be at 1 p.m. followed by Kumbati 10 at 7 p.m.
World-rated light flyweight Mark Vicelles faces off with veteran Arnold Garde in a 10-rounder, in what should be one of the main events.
The 25-year-old Vicelles is starting to become one of the best 108-pound fighters in the Philippines. In 2019, he proved his worth after wins over world-ranked Jesse Espinas and former International Boxing Federation (IBF) Youth flyweight champion Robert Onggocan.
Vicelles is currently rated No. 9 by both the World Boxing Council and the World Boxing Organization and No. 13 by the IBF.
The 30-year-old Garde is on a slump and has lost his last three contests. His latest defeat is in the hands of IBF No. 3 flyweight Jayson Mama by unanimous decision in 2020.
Garde should be a good activity fight for Vicelles. He has fought with the likes of Dave Apolinario, International Boxing Organization light flyweight champion Tibo Monabesa and former interim World Boxing Association (WBA) light flyweight titleholder Randy Petalcorin.
Vicelles is 12-0-1 with six knockouts, while Garde is 10-10-3 with four knockouts.
Meanwhile, Pete Apolinar (13-1, 8 KOs) takes on tough Juanito Paredes (8-6-1, 3 KOs) in a 10-round fight.
Apolinar is fresh from a unanimous decision over Danny Tampipi in Dec. 18, 2020.
Paredes, on the other hand, lost by unanimous decision to Gyung Mo Yuh in 2019 in South Korea. He was on a five-fight winning streak before the loss, which included a win over ex-WBA Asia bantamweight champion Jestoni Autida.
In the meantime, Tomjune Mangubat (12-2-1, 10 KOs) locks horns with Ryan Maano (5-10-2, 1 KO), Carlo Bacaro (7-0, 6 KOs) trades leathers with former teammate Allan Villanueva (11-0, 8 KOs), Franco Serafica (4-1, 2 KOs) takes on Mark Rotilles (2-6, 1 KO), Benny Cañete (1-0, 1 KO) is up against Reycar Auxilo, Regie Suganob (5-0, 1 KO) squares off with Paolo Sy (6-5-1, 3 KOs), Rodel Suganob (2-0) is fighting Luis Borje (5-1-2, 2 KOs) and three-time world title challenger Arthur Villanueva (32-4-1, 18 KOs) comes out of retirement to fight in a six-rounder against a yet-to-named opponent. (EKA)