Double WBO Oriental Championships: Villanueva In Top Shape, Bangoyan Fails to Make Weight; Jabel-Diale Bout A Slambang Match

M'lang, North Cotabato - What was earlier expected to be an interesting match up between World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental Featherweight Champion Lorenzo "Thunderbolt" Villanueva and former World Boxing Council (WBC) International jr. featherweight champion Balweg "Davao Hitman" Bangoyan lost some of its luster when the challenger failed to make the 1`26-pound weight limit for the 12-round championship bout.

While defending champion Villanueva, 23, weighed at 125 lbs., one pound lower than the weight limit, challenger Bangoyan tipped the scale at 130 lbs.

WBO Asia Pacific Vice President Leon Panoncillo who witnessed the weigh in said that under WBO rules the Villanueva-Bangoyan fight will still be staged as a championship bout. In the event Bangoyan wins, the title will be declared vacant. 

Bangoyan, under the WBO rules, will be required to wear a bigger pair of gloves weighing 10 ounces compared to the regular 8 ounces for the lower weight category fights.

This development prompted Panoncillo to declare that the WBO Oriental Flyweight championship between Jermie "The Worm" Jabel of North Cotabato and Manila's Arden Diale would now be elevated to be the main event. Jabel weighed 111.5 lbs. while Diale scaled 110 lbs., both well within the limit of 112 lbs. for the flyweight category.

Jabel, undefeated in 16 fights with 15 wins, 8 KOs and 1 draw, will be fighting for a regional title for the first time against the tough Diale, who earlier in his career fought two boxers who would later become world champions - Rodel Mayol and Johnriel Casimiro.

The WBO championship bouts will be held at the M'lang Municipal Gymnasium and is sponsored by M'lang Mayor Joselito Pinol and Magpet town Mayor Efren Pinol, both younger brothers of Braveheart Boxing Club owner Manny Pinol.

Other Braveheart boxers who will be seeing action Sunday are jr. featherweight Rolando Magbanua, bantamweight Glenn "The Rock" Porras, jr. featherweight Rey "The Bull" Juntilla, junior flyweight Gary "Chinito" Lumacad and Francis "The Panther" Abanilla.

The fights, staged in connection with the foundation anniversary of M'lang municipality.(pr)