Six Pinoy pugs in line for title cracks
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 30 Dec 2019
The year 2019 is ending with four Filipino world boxing champions----super WBA welterweight titlist Sen. Manny Pacquiao, IBF superflyweight king Jerwin Ancajas, WBO bantamweight ruler Johnriel Casimero and IBF minimumweight beltholder Pedro Taduran. But the New Year is brimming with hope for more Filipinos to reign on the throne with six No. 1 contenders in the queue for mandatory title shots.
The latest ratings show Nonito Donaire, Jr. as WBC No. 1 bantamweight, Albert Pagara as WBO No. 1 superbantamweight, Michael Dasmarinas as IBF No. 1 bantamweight, Giemel Magramo as WBO No. 1 flyweight, Melvin Jerusalem as WBC No. 1 minimumweight and Robert Paradero as WBO No. 1 minimumweight.
Donaire, 37, was recently named to challenge WBC bantamweight champion Nordine Oubaali of France with a deadline of Jan. 3 to determine date, venue and purses. Last November, he pushed Japan’s unbeaten Naoya Inoue to the limit in the World Boxing Super Series final in Saitama to unify the WBA and IBF titles and lost on points in what Boxing News of London voted the Fight of the Year. Donaire’s record is 40-6, with 26 KOs.
Pagara, 25, is coming off a first round disposal of Thailand’s Ratchanon Sawangsoda in Ormoc City last August and boasts a 32-1 record, with 23 KOs. His only loss was to Mexico’s Cesar Juarez on an eighth round TKO in San Mateo, California, in 2016. Pagara’s hurdle is WBO 122-pound champion Emanuel Navarrete who halted Filipino challenger Mig Elorde in the fourth round in Las Vegas last September.
Dasmarinas, 27, is unbeaten in his last 12 fights and has a 30-2-1 record, with 20 KOs. Inoue holds the IBF crown in his division. Magramo, 25, has won his last seven outings and is fresh from a third round stoppage of Richard Claveras in Taguig last September. He’s the only Filipino ranked in the top 10 by five major governing bodies as No. 1 by WBO, No. 3 by IBF, No. 4 by IBO, No. 5 by WBC and No. 6 by WBA. The WBO titlist in Magramo’s way is Japan’s Kosei Tanaka.
Jerusalem, 25, has a 15-2 record, with 9 KOs. In 2017, he lost a close decision to WBC minimumweight titlist Wanheng Menayothin in Thailand and if not for a point deduction due to a low blow, it would’ve ended a majority draw. Wanheng, 34, holds the record for most wins in an unblemished record by a world champion, 54-0, better than Floyd Mayweather’s mark. Paradero, 23, is ranked No. 1 by WBO, No. 7 by IBF and No. 10 by IBO in the 105-pound division and should be next in line to challenge WBO titleholder Wilfredo Mendez of Puerto Rico. Paradero’s record is 18-0, with 12 KOs.
Filipinos who lost their world titles this year were Donaire (super WBA bantamweight), Vic Saludar (WBO minimumweight) and Donnie Nietes (voluntarily relinquished WBO superflyweight crown). Nietes, 37, has not fought since winning the vacant WBO 115-pound title on a split decision over Kazuto Ioka in December last year. He’s ranked No. 2 by IBO, No. 4 by IBF and No. 6 by WBC in the superflyweight division. His record is 42-1-5, with 23 KOs. If Nietes stays active, he could fight for another world title this coming year.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Canada High: Mikaela Mayer Wins Unified Super Welterweight Crown
Fri, 31 Oct 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: The Great Virtues of Champions
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Fri, 31 Oct 2025‘HAPPY’ HEAVYWEIGHT THOMPSON READY FOR PERO WAR
Fri, 31 Oct 2025Lakers Sale Approved: Mark Walter Takes Majority Stake, Ending Buss Family Era
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Fri, 31 Oct 2025SBA Season 2 Kicks Off November 10
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 31 Oct 2025History made twice over
By Joaquin Henson, Fri, 31 Oct 2025ORLANDO PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES AND VIDEO: EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID BETWEEN LENIER PERO, JORDAN THOMPSON AND UNDERCARD
Fri, 31 Oct 2025Biado, Magpantay enter last 32 round of Qatar World Cup 10-Ball
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 31 Oct 2025Shaw vs Woodward Return for the 2025 Mosconi Cup!
Fri, 31 Oct 2025Mavericks-Pistons ready for 34th NBA game in Mexico
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Fri, 31 Oct 2025Stars of the show
By Joaquin Henson, Thu, 30 Oct 2025CHAMPIONING MENTAL HEALTH 2: REMATCH SEASON SET FOR DECEMBER 13 IN LOS ANGELES
Thu, 30 Oct 2025Carcosia to fight Ogawa in Japan
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 30 Oct 2025ERISLANDY LARA VS. JANIBEK ALIMKHANULY MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP UNIFICATION HIGHLIGHTS STAR-STUDDED PITBULL VS. ROACH PPV UNDERCARD ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6
Thu, 30 Oct 2025Santiago City in Veraguas, Panama, hosts a historic WBA world championship night
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Thu, 30 Oct 2025