Kumong Bol-Anon 25: Gentallan eyes statement win vs Chinese foe

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Nearly two years after suffering the lone defeat of his professional career against a Chinese opponent, Boholano boxer Shane “Sugar Shane” Gentallan gets an opportunity to close that lingering chapter when he squares off with China’s Xiaokang Song in Kumong Bol-Anon 25 on Saturday, July 11, in Tagbilaran City.

For Gentallan, the bout is more than just another fight. It is a chance to prove how far he has come since that painful setback and make a statement as he continues his climb toward world title contention against a familiar foe.

Gentallan takes on China’s Xiaokang Song in a scheduled 10-round non-title bout in the PMI Bohol Boxing Promotions-backed card at the Holy Name University (HNU) Barder’s Gym.

READ: Shane Gentallan is GAB “Boxer of the Month” for September

The matchup carries extra motivation for the rising Boholano.

The only defeat of Gentallan’s professional career came at the hands of a Chinese boxer, DianXing Zhu, in 2023. Zhu has since emerged as the mandatory challenger for Pedro Taduran’s IBF minimumweight world title.

READ: Gentallan captures PBF minimumweight title with TKO victory

That setback became a turning point for Gentallan. Since suffering his lone loss, the 24-year-old has strung together seven consecutive victories while capturing both the Philippine and IBF Asia light flyweight championships.

Now ranked No. 14 in the World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight division, Gentallan believes he is a much more complete fighter as he prepares to face another Chinese opponent.

“Dako kaayo kog nakat-unan sa akong unang away sa usa ka Chinese nga opponent. Nakita nako ang mga butang nga kinahanglan pa nakong i-improve, labi na sa timing, patience, ug pag-adjust sulod sa ring ug dapat naay saktong hangin ug kusog kay ang mga Chinese anad sila makig-harong ug mga isog sila. Mao nang gi-focusan namo sa training aron mas andam ko karon,” Gentallan told CDN Digital.

(I learned a lot from my first fight against a Chinese opponent. It showed me the areas I still need to improve, especially my timing, patience, and ability to adjust inside the ring. I also realized that I need to have the right conditioning and stamina because Chinese fighters are used to trading punches and are very aggressive. That’s what we’ve been focusing on in training so I’ll be much better prepared this time.)

A victory over Song could further boost Gentallan’s standing in the WBC rankings as he continues his climb toward world title contention.

The Boholano said he left no stone unturned in training, even with limited information available about his opponent.

“Nag-andam ko pag-ayo pinaagi sa disiplinado nga training ug maayo nga conditioning. Bisan wala kaayo mi videos nga ma-studyhan sa iyang style, giandam nako akong kaugalingong strategy aron maka-adjust bisan unsa pa ang iyang pamaagi sa ring,” he said.

(I prepared thoroughly through disciplined training and proper conditioning. Although we didn’t have many videos to study his fighting style, I developed my own strategy so I can adjust to whatever approach he brings into the ring.)

“Gusto nako ipakita nga dako na akong improvement sukad sa akong unang kapildihan. Gusto nako mapamatud-an nga nakat-on ko sa akong kapildihan ug andam ko mohatag sa akong pinakamaayong performance.”

(I want to show that I have improved a lot since my first defeat. I want to prove that I learned from that loss and that I am ready to give my best performance.)

Gentallan enters the fight with a 14-1 record, including seven victories by knockout.

Song, meanwhile, owns a 6-3 slate with one knockout. He is coming off a first-round technical knockout victory over Thailand’s Natthaphong Nuchaiyaphum earlier this year.

“Kumpyansa ko tungod sa among preparasyon ug sa trabaho nga among gibuhat sa training. Kabalo ko nga lisod ang kontra, pero mosulod ko sa ring nga andam ug ihatag ang akong 100%. Ang resulta, akong ipaubaya sa Ginoo human sa akong pinakamaayong performance,” Gentallan said.

(I am confident because of our preparation and the hard work we put into training. I know my opponent will be tough, but I will step into the ring fully prepared and give my 100 percent. As for the result, I will leave it in God’s hands after giving my best performance.)

Headlining Kumong Bol-Anon 25 is a minimumweight title unification bout between Joseph Sumabong and Taiwan’s Jheng Ciou.

Sumabong will defend his WBO Asia Pacific minimumweight title against Ciou, the reigning OPBF Silver minimumweight champion.

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