Bornea next for Martinez?
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 14 Oct 2022
Jade Bornea.
LOS ANGELES. Unbeaten Jade Bornea of Cotabato del Norte is next in line to challenge IBF superflyweight champion Fernando Martinez and MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons said yesterday he hopes to make it happen. Martinez wrested the IBF crown from Jerwin Ancajas last February and in his first defense last weekend, turned back the former champion in a rematch.
“The IBF actually ordered Martinez to fight Jade in a mandatory defense after winning the title but we paid $20,000 as an exception fee for the rematch with Jerwin to take place ahead,” said Gibbons. “I’m expecting anytime this week, the IBF will re-order the mandatory defense. I think Jade’s ready and let’s see if he has what it takes to bring down a tough guy like Martinez.”
Gibbons said Ancajas asked to exercise the rematch clause in his contract with Martinez. “Jerwin wanted a second chance and trained hard for it,” he added. “If Jerwin won, he would’ve moved on to fight (Kazuto) Ioka in a unification showdown in Tokyo on Dec. 31 with Eumir (Marcial) in the undercard. Jerwin was supposed to fight Ioka last February but it was cancelled because of travel restrictions. We had a signed contract and were already given our plane tickets which are good for a year. But that’s not happening now.”
Bornea, 27, boasts a 17-0 record, with 11 KOs and is coming off a third round stoppage of Mohammed Obbadi in Monterrey, Mexico, last January. He has fought twice outside of the Philippines with the first in Washington in outpointing Ernest Delgadillo in January 2020. Bornea is ranked No. 1 by the IBF in the 115-pound division. As an amateur, Bornea split wins with Uzbekistan’s Murodjon Akhmadeliev, now the super WBA/IBF superbantamweight champion.
Martinez, 31, is a buzzsaw with a record of 15-0, including eight KOs. The Argentine Olympian was a choice challenger when he dethroned Ancajas and has established a reputation as a punching machine like his promoter Marcos Maidana. Bornea trains here with coaches Ernel Fontanilla and Sugar Ting Ariosa. His manager is JC Manangquil of General Santos City’s Sanman Promotions.
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