Fighting for More Than Scraps
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 04 May 2024
Vic Saludar (R) made short work of Yotboon (L) last Wendesday.
Since the start of the year, a slew of bouts for international boxing titles involving Filipino fighters were held in the country. A few more are likely to be held in the coming months.
These included Regie Suganob's successful defense of the WBO Global light flyweight title via sensational stoppage of his tough Japanese challenger Kai Ishizawa in Bohol and Vic Saludar's crushing first round knockout of Thai Sanchai Yotboon for the vacant WBO Oriental minimumweight title in Mandaue City. Suganob is a former world title challenger and Saludar is a former two-time world titlist. The wins may set them up for another crack at the world championships.
Up next is former WBA-IBF unified titlist Marlon Tapales in his first fight since losing to Naoya Inoue last December, tangling against Thai Nattapong Jankaew for the vacant WBC Asian Continental super bantamweight title this May 10 at the Midas Hotel and Casino in Pasay City.
Amidst these, it can not be said that we are limited to or contented with fighting for scraps with Japanese fighters holding most of the real belts.
In fact, the new year was barely a quarter old when two Filipino fighters immediately were given cracks at the world minimumweight titles in Japan with one, Melvin Jerusalem emerging victorious over Yudai Shigeoka. The other was supposed to be ArAr Andales but incurred injury in training and had to be replaced by another Pinoy Jake Amparo who did not last against another Shigeoka, Ginjiro.
As early as around that time, Christian Araneta is already known as the mandatory for the IBF light flyweight crown regained by Sivenathi Notsingha of South Africa last December.
However Puerto Rican WBO champion Jonathan Gonzales has reportedly issued a challenge to Notsingha for an immediate unification fight sending to limbo Araneta's own title challenge versus the South African champion until todate.
Last month, undefeated Dave Apolinario has been selected to fight for the vacant IBF flyweight crown against Mexican Angel Ayala Lardizabal, also unbeaten. The negotiations period given by the IBF has lapsed without any agreement, hence a purse bidding will be held. Apolinario is only waiting for the result of that purse bidding to be presided by the IBF.
Next month, Joey Canoy is leaving for Australia to fight Tony Winwood in a WBC eliminator for the belt held by Ginjiro Shigeoka.
Pedro Taduran is supposedly the mandatory for Ginjiro but the Australians may have flexed the resources and perhaps the connections to line up Winwood who is also eager to vie for the world crown despite his lean pro record of only 4-0. It is good that at least another Filipino Canoy has been chosen as his eliminator foe.
At bantamweight, two Filipinos, Vincent Astrolabio and Reymart Gaballo are also just waiting for the breaks to fight for the world championships.
Last May 2023, Astrolabio fought for the vacant WBO bantamweight belt but was outsmarted by Australia's Jason Moloney. Astrolabio wanted a rematch but it was obvious Moloney does not want any part of him again, wary of his knockout power.
Astrolabio displayed that knockout power when he got back to contention via 11th round TKO of Thai Nawapon Kankaiha in Bangkok three months later in a WBC title eliminator. The WBC crown is currently held by Japan's Junto Nakatani who is contemplating on moving up in quest of a fourth division world championship.
Gaballo on the other hand, collected the WBO Oriental bantamweight belt early this year by first round knockout of Thai Pai Pharob at the Midas Hotel. He is figuring in a stay busy fight versus Mexican Kenbun Torres at the same venue this May 10.
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
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