Philippines, 26 Oct 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Eight Pinoys lined up for title shots


PhilBoxing.com



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:

  • GM Antonio outwits Kazakh GM, shares lead
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 26 Oct 2025
  • Pedro Taduran Defends IBF 105 Belt Against Christian Balunan Sunday
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 25 Oct 2025
  • DAVID ALCAIDE CROWNED INAUGURAL PHILIPPINES OPEN CHAMPION
    , Sat, 25 Oct 2025
  • Bryce Mills vs. James Bernadin Venue Changed: Randolph House Hotel & Convention Center Will Host Pro/Am Card in Liverpool, New York
    , Sat, 25 Oct 2025
  • Parker vs. Wardley: Who Will Keep Winning Streak Alive?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 25 Oct 2025
  • Dante “The Inferno” Kirkman Stays Undefeated with Second-Round TKO in Southern California Debut
    , Sat, 25 Oct 2025
  • Elmo Traya, Reymond Yanong, Ivan Ognayon in Action in Brico Santig's Show Today in Thailand, LIVE on TrillerTV
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 25 Oct 2025
  • Alessio Bisutti Fights for WBF Heavyweight World Title in Highland Show October 25 in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 25 Oct 2025
  • WEIGHTS FROM NIGHT OF KNOCKOUTS XXXVI AT MOTORCITY CASINO HOTEL TONIGHT IN DOWNTOWN DETROIT
    , Sat, 25 Oct 2025
  • 30 people arrested in NBA gambling operation
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 25 Oct 2025
  • GM Joey beats CM Marc in Italy World Senior Standard chess tourney to climb at 2nd place
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 25 Oct 2025
  • RomyMac’s Ali memories
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 24 Oct 2025
  • NBA Daily: Warriors Survive Gordon’s 50 to Beat Nuggets in Overtime 137-131
    By Reylan Loberternos, , Fri, 24 Oct 2025
  • Grandmaster Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. wins world seniors blitz title in Italy
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 24 Oct 2025
  • Russian athlete, first winner of 8 medals in a single Olympic Games, dies
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 24 Oct 2025
  • DAY FOUR: SHAW DELIVERS GREATNESS TO JOIN ALCAIDE, CAPITO AND SEVASTYANOV IN STELLAR SEMI-FINAL LINEUP
    , Fri, 24 Oct 2025
  • Six is ‘Thrilla’s’ magic numbe
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 24 Oct 2025
  • CARLOS LLINAS PRESENTS TWO BOXING SHOWS IN JUST EIGHT DAYS AT SOUND BOARD IN MOTORCITY CASINO HOTEL STARTING FRINDAY OCT 24
    , Fri, 24 Oct 2025
  • Boxing Insider Returns to Tropicana Atlantic City with Local Talent and Regional Prospects on November 7
    , Fri, 24 Oct 2025
  • Lhuillier, Santos Capture Men’s A1 Title in UTP Level-Based Tennis Challenge at Hillsborough
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 24 Oct 2025
  • MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS ANNOUNCES FULL FIGHT CARD FOR THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED U.S. DEBUT EVENT ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, IN TEMECULA, CALIF.
    , Fri, 24 Oct 2025
  • Mike Tyson visits Kinshasa, Congo to remember "Rumble in the Jungle"
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 24 Oct 2025
  • Former World Champ Javier Fortuna Takes on Rashidi Ellis Nov 1
    , Fri, 24 Oct 2025
  • When to stop a fight
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 23 Oct 2025
  • AJ MANAS STUNS WORLD CHAMPION AS HOME HEROES DOMINATE LAST 16
    , Thu, 23 Oct 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.