Cabalquinto to face Solmiano for WBO crown

After winning over Alejandro Anas last weekend at the Mandaluyong City Sports Complex, Jay Solmiano (13-2-1, 9 KOs) is now targeting a ring date with reigning Philippine lightwelterweight champ Adones Cabalquinto after becoming the official mandatory challenger for the latter’s title.

The hard hitting Cabalquinto won the PHL lightwelterweight crown against Dan Nazareno last March in Lapu-Lapu City via unanimous decision in a Fight of the Year candidate.

According to local boxing promoter and trainer Joven Jimenez, negotiations are expected to commence the soonest to make the bout official.

Cabalquinto said he is excited to defend his crown against Solmiano. The Talaingod, Davao del Norte boxer said he welcomes the possibility of trading leathers with the 140-pounder from San Andres, Catanduanes. But he challenged Solmiano to face him in a WBO Asia Pacific duel rather than just for his Philippine title.

“Wala ko nahadlok anang Jay Solmiano. Fight ko ana nya bisan kanus-a ug bisan asa. Pero kung mag-away mi, mas maayo tingali kung ang makadaug mahimong world-rated. Mao nga maayo pa WBO Asia Pacific belt na lang among awayan,”said the 24 year old Cabalquinto.

Cabalquinto is managed by Jimenez while Solmiano, 25, is handled by young boxing promoters Ryan Gabriel and June Camille Razon Baltazar. Both boxers stand at 5′ 8″ and are both southpaws.

After winning the Philippine title, Cabalquinto fought two more times this year against Jaypee Ignacio in non-title ten-rounders winning both fights via unanimous decision. Their first fight was last May 11 in Aparri, Cagayan while the second was held last Aug. 16 in Mandaluyong City.

Solmiano on the other hand, suffered two consecutive losses. Last Oct. 4, 2011 he lost to Japanese Nihito Arakawa via split decision in an OPBF lightweight championship in Japan while on March 4, 2012 he bowed to Rey Labao via 1st round TKO in a Philippine lightweight championship in Cebu.

Solmiano rebounded from those losses by beating Thai Singdet Sithsaithong via 4th round KO last June 30 in Makati City and knocking out Anas in the 2nd round last Aug. 18 in Mandaluyong City.