First the WBC Crown, then the Criminology License: Igorot boxer Renden Oppas’ double victory

FEATURE

SADANGA, Mountain Province — For Igorot boxer Renden Gongran “Take Over” Oppas, the past week was not just about winning a championship—it was about seeing years of sacrifice finally rewarded in two very different arenas.

Two days after stopping unbeaten Thai fighter Jirakrit Jarurattanachai by fourth-round technical knockout (TKO) in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, Oppas received another victory of a different kind: he passed the August 2026 Criminology Licensure Examination (CLE).

At 25, the boxer from Saclit, Sadanga, Mountain Province, now holds both a WBC Australasia Minimumweight Gold Title and a professional license as a Registered Criminologist—two achievements reached through the same qualities that have defined his journey: discipline, sacrifice and determination.

One week, two dreams

On August 29, Oppas entered the ring at the Mercure Exhibition Centre in Ballarat to fight for the vacant WBC Australasia Minimumweight Gold Title.

He delivered a commanding performance against Jarurattanachai, handing the previously unbeaten Thai his first professional defeat. The fight was stopped in the fourth round after Oppas sustained his attack, giving him the title and improving his professional record to 6-1.

But while the boxing victory was still fresh, another result was waiting.

On September 1, the Professional Regulation Commission released the results of the August 2026 CLE. Of the 29,452 examinees, 16,952 passed, for a national passing rate of 57.56 percent.

Among those who made the list was Oppas.

Just days apart, he had achieved two goals that required years of preparation.

Learning to fight for time

Oppas’ journey to the championship and professional license was never easy.

A graduate of Bachelor of Science in Criminology from the University of Baguio, he began boxing during his high school years, competing in district and provincial meets in Mountain Province.

His passion for boxing grew when he moved to La Trinidad, Benguet for senior high school, where he met Coach Nathan Bolcio, who helped develop his skills further.

From there, Oppas had to learn another kind of discipline—how to divide his limited time between school and the gym.

There were classes to attend, examinations to prepare for, training sessions to complete, fights to prepare for and recovery periods to observe.

While reviewing for the licensure examination, he continued training as a professional boxer.

“During my school days I sacrificed most of my time attend school and training in the gym. During the preparation for board exam I tried to manage my time in training and studying even if it is tiring and stressful,” Oppas recalled.

The struggle was not only about time.

There were also periods when financial difficulties forced him to work while studying and training.

“...the challenging part is the time when I lack money and I need to work study and train and doing both to survive,” he said.

More than a belt

The boxing title and professional license may look like separate accomplishments, but for Oppas, both were products of the same journey.

Boxing taught him to withstand pressure, remain disciplined and keep moving despite fatigue. His academic pursuit demanded the same persistence.

His recent achievements show that athletic ambition and academic aspirations do not necessarily have to compete with each other.

They can coexist—provided one is willing to sacrifice, manage time and keep going.

The bigger fight ahead

Oppas, however, is not stopping at either milestone.

With the WBC Australasia title now around his waist, he plans to return to training and prepare for future bouts and possible title defenses.

His ultimate boxing goal is to enter the WBC world rankings and eventually earn a chance to fight for a world championship.

“Hopefully, if I would be in the WBC world rankings, this would create an opportunity for me to fight for world title and attract more possible fight in the future. For now, I will be waiting to defend my title and just wait for any possible fight,” he said.

For now, Oppas carries two hard-earned titles: champion inside the ring and licensed criminologist outside it.

His story is a reminder that success is not always about choosing between two dreams.

Sometimes, it is about having the courage to pursue both—and the discipline to fight for them every day.

For the young Igorot boxer from Sadanga, the bell may have stopped ringing after his championship victory, but the bigger fight continues. The belt needs defending, the criminology profession awaits, and somewhere ahead lies the world title he continues to dream of.