PINOY BOXING 1: JOHN PAUL GABUNILAS BATTLES KANAMU SAKAMA IN THE INOUE-TAPALES UNDISPUTED FIGHT
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 01 Nov 2023
Gabunilas.
John Paul Gabunilas will face Kanamu Sakama of Japan in an eight-round bout as an undercard in the Naoya Inoue vs. Marlon Tapales world title unification on December 26, 2023. WBC/WBO champion Inoue and IBF/WBA champion Tapales will battle for the undisputed super bantamweight championship at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena.
According to Cebu Daily News Digital, the scheduled fight was officially announced by ARQ Boxing Stable’s strength and conditioning trainer Roger Justine Potot a few days after Inoue and Tapales finalized their much-sought undisputed match.
Gabunilas called “Angas ng Cebu” will be the underdog as he battles the World Boxing Association (WBA) number 14 contender Sakama in his home turf in Japan.
“John Paul Gabunilas will have him Comeback Fight in Japan as part of the Undercard bout of Inoue vs Tapales. This is announced official Instagram of Sir Ohashi Manager of Inoue. Let it be known, that it’s game time for John Paul (Gabunilas),” said Potot over CDN.
Potot said that they trained Gabunilas hard for months now, after his shocking first round technical knockout defeat to Miel Fajardo last August 15 in Lapu-Lapu City.
Fajardo scored a devastating first round TKO victory in what was believed to be an interesting encounter against a rising fighter in Gabunilas. Fajardo came out as the better fighter and won the vacant Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) light flyweight title .
Despite the loss, Gabunilas was able to sign a big comeback fight. The 23-year-old Cebuano prospect from Carcar City, south Cebu was on an eight-fight winning streak since 2019 before his loss to Fajardo.
Prior to the Fajardo loss he had wins over Wandi Priman Hulu by TKO, Jesse Espinas by MD, Ruben Dadivas by TKO, Ricardo Sueno by UD, Clyde Azarcon by TKO, Jonathan Almacen by KO, Maurino Agum by TKO and Garry Rojo by KO.
He owns a career record of 10 wins with seven knockout victories and two defeats, while Sakama is undefeated in eight bouts with seven knockouts.
The December assignment will be Gabunilas’ first fight in Japan and he will take on his first Japanese opponent. Same with Sakama, who is the reigning Japan Boxing Commission youth light flyweight champion, as he will be fighting his first Filipino foe. In his last fight he won by 8th round TKO over countryman Ryu Horikawa.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
More lucrative fights await Manny Pacquiao
By Leo Reyes, Thu, 17 Jul 2025Rumors about Pacquiao-Mayweather rematch
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Thu, 17 Jul 2025Tapales, Laurente to help Inoue against MJ
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 17 Jul 2025AL BERNSTEIN, CHRISTY MARTIN AND ERIC BOTTJER TO SERVE AS ALL-STAR COMMENTARY TEAM FOR THIS FRIDAY’S ‘LOPEZ VS. VARGAS’ EVENT
Thu, 17 Jul 2025SALITA PROMOTIONS CONGRATULATES SUBRIEL MATIAS ON BECOMING THE WBC SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION
Thu, 17 Jul 2025Gaisano Grand Cup Season 20 opens August 3
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 17 Jul 20253 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Shane Mosley Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
Thu, 17 Jul 2025HALL OF FAMER MANNY PACQUIAO SET TO CHASE HISTORY YET AGAIN THIS SATURDAY NIGHT IN WORLD TITLE FIGHT AGAINST MARIO BARRIOS
Wed, 16 Jul 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: New York, a Special Place for Boxing
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Wed, 16 Jul 2025Jake Paul-Anthony Joshua talking for a possible fight?
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 16 Jul 2025Philippines Rolls Past Pacific Oceania in Davis Cup Group IV Opener as Cebuana Lhuillier Ambassadors Set the Pace
Wed, 16 Jul 2025QUOTES FROM TONY HARRISON’S OPEN MEDIA WORKOUT TODAY IN DETROIT
Wed, 16 Jul 20253-Time World Champion Miyo Yoshida is tired of playing Boxing’s dreaded waiting game
Wed, 16 Jul 2025RP Blu Girls Dominate India to Strengthen Asia Cup Campaign
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 16 Jul 2025Pacquiao-Barrios Betting Odds in Las Vegas: Where Are Bettors Placing Their Money?
By Carlos Costa, Wed, 16 Jul 2025