Rosales returns vs. Salogaol

JESSIE Cris Rosales makes his ring return in December following a long layoff due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 29-year-old Rosales will take on Cebuano journeyman Junny Salogaol in HBG Promotions’ “Suntok sa Pangarap 7” on Dec. 17, 2021 in Bohol.

“I’m doing okay right now. It’s been a long time. I haven’t fought for two years,” Rosales told SunStar Cebu. “My work as a kargador (freighter) of cement really helped me (during the pandemic).”

Rosales is now focused back on boxing, training as a full-time fighter with his new trainer Edcel Tuñacao at the EMT Boxing Gym. Rosales is currently sparring with US-based James Bacon.

“I’m now training full-time because I have a new management team—GFM Vegas. They are Filipinos that are from Las Vegas and here in Cebu,” he said.

Rosales is eager to bounce back from a three-fight slump in his campaign in the US in 2019. He lost to world champion Shakur Stevenson, Tyler McCreary and Xavier Martinez.

“I’m very excited and I’m doing double work in preparation because this is my comeback,” he said. “This is a very important fight for me because I want to recover from my losses.”

Like Rosales, Salogaol is also coming off a two-year layoff and also lost his last three contests. He lost to Jason Tinampay, Seiryu Toshikawa and Muhamad Ridhwan.

Salogaol is an experienced veteran that has faced the likes of Joe Noynay, Carlo Demecillo, Mike Tawatchai and Hiroaki Teshigawara.

“Right now, I want to be back in the rankings and be able to fight again abroad,” said Rosales, who made a name for himself after a second round knockout upset of former Olympian Ibrahim Balla in Australia in 2018.

Rosales is 22-4-1 with 10 knockouts, while Salogaol is 14-18-5 with 13 knockouts.