
Dasmariñas coming on strong
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 08 Nov 2024

Dasmariñas.
Michael Dasmariñas made his mark in boxing history as one of Naoya Inoue’s victims and it’s a stain that drives him to keep fighting for redemption. It was in 2021 when Dasmarinas ventured to Las Vegas and challenged the Japanese “Monster” with the super WBA and IBF bantamweight belts at stake. Inoue dropped Dasmariñas thrice with body shots and registered a third round KO win, leaving the Filipino writhing in pain on the canvas.
Since the debacle, Dasmariñas has gone unbeaten in seven bouts, five by KO. Last weekend, he decked Belize fighter Eduardo (El Mecanico) Esquivel twice in the first round before the bout was called off in the Cayman Islands. Dasmariñas’ record is now 36-3-2, with 25 KOs and his only losses were to Inoue, Lwandile Sityatha on a split decision in South Africa in 2014 and Marbon Bodiongan on a second round KO in Zambales in 2012.
Dasmariñas, 32, turned pro in 2012, scaling 107 pounds and through the years, went up several weight divisions. The southpaw beat Esquivel for the World Boxing Foundation International featherweight crown. With Dasmariñas in his corner were former Philippine Olympic coach Ting Ariosa, Las Vegas coach Jason Vincent and cutman Daryl Oporto.
Dasmariñas worked out with former IBF lightflyweight king Tacy Macalos at the Hardstone gym in Bangar, La Union, then flew to Los Angeles last month. “Michael was 140 pounds when he arrived,” said the LA-based Ariosa. “We trained at the Wild Card Gym in LA and had four high-level sparring sessions over 24 rounds with up-and-coming 17-year-old sensation Brady Ochoa. From LA, we went to the Cayman Islands. At the weigh-in the day before the fight, Michael was 124.4 pounds and Esquivel, 125.6. With good food, maximum hydration intake and plenty of rest, Michael recovered back to 140.2 pounds when he left the hotel for the fight venue.”
Ariosa said his instructions were simple. “Stick to the gameplan of outboxing Esquivel from the first round until it’s over,” he said. “Our goal now is to go for an eliminator and a championship. Boss Sean (Gibbons) is our only hope of getting the opportunities we are dreaming of.” Dasmariñas is managed by Vilma Verbo of Hardstone Monis Promotions in cooperation with Gibbons, Vincent and Brendan Gibbons.
Dasmariñas returns home today to reunite with his newly-wed Ilokana bride in Bangar. He has a four-year-old daughter from a previous relationship and she lives with her mother in Davao. Art Monis of Hardstone said Dasmariñas has found his perfect fighting weight. “Tiniis lang ang 118 dahil mandatory siya ni Inoue,” he said. “Sa 122, walang lakas pero sa 126, komportable siya. Tama lang ang 126 kasi pag walang training, mag timbang siya ng 160 plus. Baka kaya pa niya mag world champion at disiplinado. Bago lang kasal kaya inspirado.” Dasmariñas was once the International Boxing Organization bantamweight champion, winning the crown on a fourth round KO over Frenchman Karim Guerfi in Singapore in 2018 but the strap wasn’t widely recognized. He’s hoping for another chance to shoot for a legit world title.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford: Size Matters
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 13 Sep 2025BOOTS TALKS SPARRING WITH CANELO IN ‘DAY IN THE LIFE’
Sat, 13 Sep 2025WEIGHTS FROM LAS VEGAS: CANELO - 167.5 LBS., CRAWFORD - 167.5 LBS.
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 13 Sep 2025BELFAST: WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER
Sat, 13 Sep 2025Canoy cancels title fight due to child’s death
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 13 Sep 2025Vietnam’s Pool Revolution: Hanoi Open Pool Championship
Sat, 13 Sep 2025SUNDAY: Naoya Inoue vs. Murodjon Akhmadaliev Undisputed Super Bantamweight Showdown to Stream Exclusively on Top Rank’s Facebook Channel in the U.S. & UK
Fri, 12 Sep 2025National Shelter Month Run on October 25 in DGT
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 12 Sep 2025Canelo-Crawford: Betting Odds Reveal a Battle of Money vs. Public Opinion
By Dong Secuya, Fri, 12 Sep 2025BELFAST PRESS CONFERENCE: EVERYTHING LEWIS CROCKER AND PADDY DONOVAN SAID AHEAD OF HISTORIC WORLD TITLE SHOWDOWN
Fri, 12 Sep 2025GABRIELA “SWEET POISON” FUNDORA TO DEFEND UNDISPUTED CROWN AGAINST HIGHLY RANKED NEW FOE ALEXAS “IRON LADY” KUBICKI
Fri, 12 Sep 2025Chino Sy Tancontian is Sports Hero of the Year 2025
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 12 Sep 2025Two (or Three) Lefts Make a Right: Francisco Guilledo to Luisito Espinosa
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Thu, 11 Sep 2025Yoseline Perez Advances to 2025 World Boxing Championships Semifinals
Thu, 11 Sep 2025UNIFIED WORLD CHAMPION OSCAR COLLAZO HOSTS MEDIA WORKOUT
Thu, 11 Sep 2025