Wednesday, 29 July 2026 · Philippines
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FARENAS FIGHTS ESCOBEDO ON PACQUIAO-MARQUEZ CARD

Michael Farenas, the Philippines No. 1 ranked featherweight, fights Mexican Eduardo Escobedo on the undercard of the rematch between Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and WBC super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on March 15.

WBO champion Gerry Penalosa who is in Los Angeles training for his mandatory title defense against former champion Ratanachai Sor Vorapin informed wife Goody that his prot?g? Farenas had been given the big break.

Escobedo is the current WBO North American Boxing Association champion having won the title with a sixth round TKO over Jose Francisco Mendoza last September 28. Mendoza had an impressive record of 21-1-1 with 17 knockouts.

The 24 year old Escobedo who fights out of Texas has a record of 20-3 with 14 knockouts and battled WBO super bantamweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon for twelve rounds before losing a unanimous decision last December 8.

Farenas (19-2-2, 17 KO?s) will be the third Filipino to see action on the fight card titled ?Unfinished Business.? Former IBF flyweight Diosdado Gabi (30-3-1, 21 KO?s) who lost by an eighth round stoppage to Australia?s Vic Darchinyan has moved up to bantamweight and will take on the fancied, undefeated Mexican Abner Mares (15-0, 9 KO?s) while Ernel Fontanilla (6-3-1, 5 KO?s) who is handled by Pacquiao?s Filipino trainer Buboy Fernandez will also see action in the Vegas blockbuster.

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