Mobile Home | Desktop Version




Magic Mike Plania Headlines in Tough Rumble Against Joshua Greer in Las Vegas

By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 14 Jun 2020



World-ranked Filipino 122-pounder Mike "Magic" Plania (23-1, 12 KO's), risks his IBF and WBA world ratings as he headlines this Tuesday (June 16), at the famed MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, against tough American Joshua Greer Jr., in a battle that propels the winner one step closer to a world title shot.

Born in the Tuna Capital of the Philippines, the fast and furious 23-year-old Mike Plania faces in Chicago's Joshua Greer (22-1-1, 12 KO's) the most difficult opponent in his 24-fight career.

In his last mission last December, the Filipino made good use of his good punching skills to outpoint Nicaraguan Giovanni Gutierrez (10-1, 6 KO's ) in Miami. Prior to that Plania stopped journeyman Julio Buitrago, decisioned Argentinian Matias Agustin Arriagada and defeated Mexican Juan Antonio Lopez in Los Angeles.

This will be Plania's 6th fight in the U.S.A.

Greer is next in line, and the well-trained Pinoy boxer can't wait to let his hands going.

Slightly shorter than Plania, the 26-year-old Joshua Greer Jr., is also a world-ranked fighter as well as the reigning NABO 118-pound champion.



Greer defeated Russian Nikolai Potapov (21-2-1, 11 KO's) for the WBO NABO bantamweight crown in 2017, and has defended against former world-title challenger Antonio Nieves last October in Reno, Nevada.

Three years ago, Greer's thrilling 6th round stoppage over James Gordon-Smith was one of the finalist for ESPN.com Knockout of the Year.

Good credentials for Greer. But they do not disturb the laser-focused Filipino "Magic Man" who has consciously sweated and trained for weeks and is ready for a fantastic door-opening win in Las Vegas.

Plania is currently IBF # 12 as well as WBA # 10 super bantamweight. Greer is WBO # 1 and WBC # 7 in bantamweights.

The winner gets ranked in all four major sanctioning bodies and inches closer to challenge for the world title in the super bantamweight division.

Will the Filipino Mike Plania rock and stop the Chicago native for an awesome televised winning performance in the boxing capital of the world?

Or will the difficult Joshua Greer be able to overcome Plania's magic? May the Best Man Win.

The exciting Tuesday evening rumble (Wednesday morning here in Asia), promoted by Bob Arum's Top Rank, will be aired LIVE in the U.S.A. on ESPN.

Normally, sites carrying ESPN live signal are usually available in internet.


The author Carlos Costa of Panama is a veteran fight reporter living in Cebu. Carlos can be reached at carlos512@hotmail.com, whatsapp 09184538152 and Twitter: @CarlosCostaBox.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.

Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • RAUL “EL CUGÁR” CURIEL CRUISES TO UNANIMOUS DECISION WIN OVER JORDAN “THE PATRIOT” PANTHEN
    Sat, 17 Jan 2026
  • Weights from Philadelphia
    Sat, 17 Jan 2026
  • Mexico Commemorates 12th Death Anniversary of Don Jose Sulaiman (Photos)
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sat, 17 Jan 2026
  • MOLLY McCANN EYES 'HUGE' STATEMENT START TO 2026 AS SHE JOINS BUMPER WOOD-WARINGTON CARD IN NOTTINGHAM ON FEBRUARY 21
    Sat, 17 Jan 2026
  • NEW MAIN EVENT ANNOUNCED! RAUL CURIEL SCHEDULED TO FACE JORDAN PANTHEN IN MIDDLEWEIGHT SCRAP
    Fri, 16 Jan 2026
  • SMALLS VS RAMOS TOPS STACKED UNDERCARD FOR NAVARRETE-NUNEZ BLOCKBUSTER IN GLENDALE
    Fri, 16 Jan 2026
  • Usyk Linked to Zuffa Boxing Deal as Questions Loom Over Title Defenses
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, Fri, 16 Jan 2026
  • Abass Baraou: "No One Has Been Able to Withstand My Pressure!"
    Fri, 16 Jan 2026
  • Wise Owl Boxing Signs Rising Female Star Chantel “Chicanita” Navarro
    Fri, 16 Jan 2026
  • Mauricio Sulaiman: WBC wants to protect fighters' dream of becoming a world champion
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, Thu, 15 Jan 2026
  • Xander Zayas: "It's Time to Make History!"
    Thu, 15 Jan 2026
  • Weights from Trenton, NJ
    Thu, 15 Jan 2026
  • Pro Boxer and Recent Grad Returns for Fight Night on the Farm — Celebrating Stanford’s Boxing Community
    Thu, 15 Jan 2026
  • Jamaine Ortiz Aims to Derail Keyshawn Davis’ Undefeated Streak at Madison Square Garden
    Wed, 14 Jan 2026
  • “No bad blood from me”- Good friends become better rivals – Clarke is ready for Cruiserweight title Clash March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
    Wed, 14 Jan 2026