Eight Pinoys lined up for title shots
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 04 Jan 2023
Melvin Jerusalem will have a first crack at a title on Friday in Japan.
The year 2022 ended with a whimper for Philippine pro boxing as no Filipino reigned as world champion of the four prestigious governing bodies WBC, WBA, WBO and IBF. Dave Apolinario was a bright spot for capturing the IBO flyweight crown in South Africa last July but the title is lightly-regarded.
However, there is hope for a future of redemption as eight Filipinos are in line for world championship cracks within the first half of the new year. WBO No. 2/WBC No. 2/IBF No. 4/WBA No. 5 minimumweight Melvin Jerusalem of Bukidnon takes the first shot in facing WBO titlist Masataka Taniguchi in Osaka on Jan. 6. Jerusalem, 28, lost in his initial bid for the crown when he dropped a unanimous decision to WBC 105-pound champion Wanheng Meenayothin in Thailand five years ago. He has now won eight in a row and battles the lefthanded titleholder who holds a 16-3 record, with 11 KOs compared to his 19-2, with 11 KOs.
Others in the queue are WBC No. 2/WBA No. 3 bantamweight Nonito Donaire, IBF No. 1 superbantamweight Marlon Tapales, IBF No. 1/WBO No. 8 superflyweight Jade Bornea, WBO No. 3/IBF No. 6/WBC No. 11 bantamweight Vincent Astrolabio, WBC No. 3/WBA No. 9 featherweight Mark Magsayo, WBO No. 4/WBC No. 5 bantamweight Reymart Gaballo and IBF No. 3/WBA No. 7/WBC No. 9 minimumweight Rene Mark Cuarto.
WBC/WBA/WBO/IBF bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue is expected to relinquish his four belts and move up to the 122-pound division. His abdication will create opportunities for Donaire, Astrolabio and Gaballo. Donaire, 40, will be tapped to battle No. 1 Jason Moloney of Australia for the WBC strap. Astrolabio, 25, knocked out Russia’s Nikolai Potapov in an IBF title eliminator in Las Vegas two weeks ago and will engage IBF No. 2/WBO No. 2 Emanuel Rodriguez of Puerto Rico for the IBF crown. That will leave Gaballo to meet WBO No. 5 Melvin Lopez of Nicaragua for the WBO title.
Tapales, 30, is IBF superbantamweight ruler Murodjon Akhmadaliev’s mandatory challenger. The Uzbek has delayed the fight thrice but the IBF won’t allow another postponement, ordering a final purse bid on Tuesday. Tapales’ stablemate Jade Bornea is also a mandatory challenger and will next take on IBF superflyweight champion Fernando Martinez who dethroned Jerwin Ancajas. Bornea, 27, has an 18-0 record, with 12 KOs. Magsayo, 27, yielded his WBC featherweight belt to Mexico’s Rey Vargas on a split decision in San Antonio, Texas, last July. With Vargas reportedly set to invade the superfeatherweight ranks, Magsayo will likely dispute the soon-to-be-vacant title against No. 1 Brandon Figueroa. Cuarto, 26, lost the IBF minimumweight crown to Mexico’s Daniel Valladares on a controversial split verdict in Monterrey last July. He will challenge the winner of Valladares’ first defense against Ginjiro Shigeoka in Osaka on Jan. 6.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Two Pacquiaos on same card?
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 02 Dec 2025OLYMPIC BOXING 4: 1924 OLYMPICS AT PARIS, FRANCE
By Maloney L. Samaco, Tue, 02 Dec 2025Cebuana Lhuillier-Backed UTP National Team Shines at 40th Penang Open, Captures Multiple Titles
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 02 Dec 2025WBC 63th Annual Convention Opens in Bangkok
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Tue, 02 Dec 2025Undefeated Brooklyn heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor closing out a strong 2026
Tue, 02 Dec 2025USA Boxing Announces Partnership with Xempower USA
Tue, 02 Dec 2025THE RING 6: TEOFIMO-SHAKUR SET FOR JANUARY SHOWDOWN IN NEW YORK
Tue, 02 Dec 2025Undefeated Middleweight Dante Kirkman Set to Return December 11 in Costa Mesa
Tue, 02 Dec 2025Dejon Farrell Francis Turning Things Around
Tue, 02 Dec 2025WBC Light Heavyweight Champion David 'The Mexican Monster' Benavidez Excited About History-Making Cinco De Mayo Showdown with Gilberto Ramirez
Tue, 02 Dec 2025PPV.COM RETURNS TO THE RING LIVE STREAMING ALL-ACTION TITLE TILT ISAAC "PITBULL" CRUZ vs. LAMONT ROACH, JR
Tue, 02 Dec 2025Llover Eyes Winner of Salas-Ngexeke IBF Title Duel in Mexico
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Mon, 01 Dec 2025Jimuel draws in pro debut
By Joaquin Henson, Mon, 01 Dec 2025Kevin Durant sets new NBA record
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Mon, 01 Dec 2025LAZARO LORENZANA CAPTURES WBC REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE OVER LUIS ARIAS
Sun, 30 Nov 2025