Jenel Lausa's WBA Asia Title Fight in Dubai Cancelled Due to Motorcycle Accident; Mark John Yap Late-Sub
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 08 Feb 2022
Unfortunately, the exciting, much-awaited WBA Asia South Super Featherweight title fight between unbeaten Filipino boxer/former UFC Fighter Jenel "Demolition Man" Lausa (10-0, 6 KO's) against skilled undefeated Cuban Jadier Herrera scheduled for February 26 in "The City of Gold" Dubai, United Arab Emirates, has been cancelled after the promising Pinoy warrior got injured in a road accident on January 21 in Manila caused by indeed a reckless staff of delivery company J&T Express.
Jenel Lausa was scheduled to travel to Dubai for his scheduled co-main event Asian title battle.
As originally planned, Lausa’s clash was about to bring a rewarding purse to the serious and committed Filipino boxer. It was also the shinning possibility to conquer an Asian belt from a prestigious sanctioning body, plus the chance to get included into the WBA's top 130-pound fighters.
The fantastic opportunity for the Iloilo-native is now in ashes.
"Such a sayang (wasted) opportunity oiii," laments Highland Boxing Team, the outfit that serves as the matchmaking company for the Dubai event.
"Motor accident, side sweep nah.
"The J&T Express vehicle suddenly opens the right-side door, then Jenel came... then bang!" Highland Boxing reveals.
According to the official statement from GAB's chief medical officer Dr. Radentor R. Viernes M.D., Jenel Lausa, 33, injured "his right fist due to blunt trauma causing pain, extending into the whole right extremity up to the shoulder.
"There was limitation of movement of the right upper extremity, particularly on rotation of the right shoulder," states the experienced physician who for years has served at the Games & Amusement Board.
In consequence, Dr. Viernes advises Jenel "rest and refrain from strenuous activity until symptoms free."
Therefore, Thanks God, after some time off, perhaps one month or two, Jenel Lausa will be 100% healed and perfectly fit to re-start boxing training.
However, is it really fair, moral, legal, and Christian for J&T Express to compensate Janel Lausa for depriving the Filipino of the wonderful opportunity to earn money to put food on his family's table?
Indeed, Jenel’s brilliant chance to travel to Dubai has been ruined by the unintended action of the J&T Express employee, who was reportedly crying at the accident scene, begging the injured, pained Jenel for forgiveness.
"What exactly happened was that the J&T Express delivery truck was parked. But the staff suddenly opened his side-door without checking for incoming traffic nor looking into his side-mirror," Highland Boxing affirms.
Janel Lausa was on his way home after his sparring session in Manila.
Nevertheless, since it was a truck of J&T Express the one who caused the accident to Jenel Lausa, some fans on social media wonder if J&T Express Manila Office should have the noble heart to compensate the wounded Pinoy boxer for what their employee in their truck did?
"Should J&T Express look into the matter?" wonders a concerned fan on a Facebook post, many dismayed by the unfair situation: the loss of an excellent golden opportunity in Dubai.
"Likely, J&T Express might not care at all about this, too busy caring about profits?" another (probably unfair) comment reads.
Many boxing fans wonder if the delivery company whose employee injured the boxer would ever look into the matter, having in mind that the horrible hassle and physical pain caused by their worker, as well as the high monetary cost for the Jenel and his family.
Importantly, about his sad situation Jenel Lausa himself says:
"Na kahit ganun po ang nangyari, hindi kami magpu-pursue ng kaso against the company nor the employee, kc pinili ko nalang patawarin dahil walang wala rin ang empleyado na naka sakit sakin..."
Translation: "Even if that happened, we will not pursue a case against the company nor the employee. I just chose to forgive because the employee who hurt me also has nothing...”
Putting things into perspective Highland Boxing Team shares its feelings, expressing that:
"Thanks God, our boxer Jenel will be fine. Forgiveness is good. Really thanks be to God that Jenel will be healed. Because it could have been worse. Because nobody knows what could have happened in those kind of motorbike accidents."
Final thought on Lausa's predicament: Fair is fair. What Jenel and Highland Boxing have just said about forgiveness is beautiful. But still should J&T Express still be interested in looking into the matter of the unintended harm done by one of their employees in one of their vehicles? What do you think is the moral good thing that should be done?
MARK JOHN YAP STEPS UP AS NEW OPPONENT FOR JADIER HERRERA IN DUBAI
To replace Lausa, the promoter Phucan An Nguyen had to quickly find an attractive super featherweight replacement for Jenel Lausa, as the unexpected situation brought hassle in his Dubai company as Lausa's WBA Asia title fight was the show's co-feature.
"We feel disappointed. We were expecting an action-packed match between unbeaten Filipino former UFC fighter Jene Lausa battling an undefeated talented Cuban Jadier Herrera here in Dubai," shares Nguyen.
"Sure, it was going to be a full of action war. Back and forth punches, blows flying... a knock out either way," thinks Phucan An Nguyen, the enthusiastic, Vietnam-born young promoter who organizes boxing in plush Dubai.
"Now, Herrera vs Lausa has been deleted for the moment. So, Mark John Yap steps up to the plate to battle Herrera in Dubai."
Filipino journeyman Mark John Yap (30-15-, 15 KO's) from the beloved City of Golden Friendship, Cagayan de Oro, will replace Lausa as Jadier Herrera's opponent, pending all official protocols and requirements for the boxer to travel to Dubai get successfully fulfilled.
Dubai is one of the world's most popular tourist destinations as well as a vibrant boxing-loving city, home of the planet's tallest building, The Burj Khalifa.
The main event is still all-systems-go for Guillermo Rigondeaux vs Vincent Astrolabio.
Best of luck to all boxers seeing action in Dubai. May the best men win!
The author Carlos Costa is a veteran boxing reporter as well as senior columnist at Philboxing. Carlos can be reached at carlos@philboxing.com and WhatsApp +639184538152.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.
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