Philippines, 22 Oct 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


PINOY BOXING 1: JOHN PAUL GABUNILAS BATTLES KANAMU SAKAMA IN THE INOUE-TAPALES UNDISPUTED FIGHT


PhilBoxing.com



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:

  • THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 21: THE RELATIONSHIP OF MUHAMMAD ALI AND JOE FRAZIER
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Wed, 22 Oct 2025
  • Sumabong is new WBO Asia Pacific minimumweight champ
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 22 Oct 2025
  • Happy Birthday Reymart Soledad!
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 22 Oct 2025
  • October 30: Mary Spencer-Mikaela Mayer Super Welterweight Title Showdown to Stream LIVE on Top Rank Classics FAST Channel
    , Wed, 22 Oct 2025
  • Pinoy chessers off to hot start in Italy World Senior Chess Championships
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 22 Oct 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: The Finalists for the WBC Grand Prix are Set
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Wed, 22 Oct 2025
  • Traya to fight again in Thailand on Oct. 25
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 22 Oct 2025
  • Texas super middleweight Darius Fulghum Preparing to get back in the title hunt
    , Wed, 22 Oct 2025
  • Aaron Pryor honored on his 70th birthday anniversary
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 22 Oct 2025
  • DUONG SUFFERS SHOCK EXIT AS GORST OPENS STRONG IN MANILA
    , Tue, 21 Oct 2025
  • Marlon "Marvelous Captain" Manalo makes a comeback in the Philippine Open
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 21 Oct 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 20 OCTOBER 2025: Danny Garcia KOs Daniel Gonzalez; Juarez Defeats Nery; Bormann Unifies Belt vs Kuroki
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 21 Oct 2025
  • "Round of the Year" Candidate Unfolds in Explosive Clash Between Undefeated Prospect Sebastian Juarez and Veteran Demarcus Layton
    , Tue, 21 Oct 2025
  • IIEE PSME Quezon City Simba's Tribe wins 4 straight in PCAP Tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 21 Oct 2025
  • GREEN TAM, RINGO LAM, HARPREET SINGH SCORE CRUSHING TKO WINS MONDAY IN THAILAND
    By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 21 Oct 2025
  • Irish middleweight Jim Donovan Registers sensational KO in his Pro debut at home in Ireland
    , Tue, 21 Oct 2025
  • Kell Brook to return in February
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 20 Oct 2025
  • EFREN REYES AND FRANCISCO BUSTAMANTE HEADLINE HISTORIC FIELD AS PHILIPPINES OPEN DRAW REVEALED
    , Mon, 20 Oct 2025
  • North Cotabato karatekas ready in BP 2025
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 20 Oct 2025
  • Fundora vs. Thurman Expected to Land on Manny Pacquiao's January Undercard
    By Dong Secuya, , Mon, 20 Oct 2025
  • Hong Kong’s “Tyson” Ng and Harpreet Singh of India Ready to Rock for WBC Asia Strap
    By Carlos Costa, , Mon, 20 Oct 2025
  • TEAM ASIA CONQUER THE WORLD TO COMPLETE HISTORIC REYES CUP TITLE DEFENCE
    , Mon, 20 Oct 2025
  • Jodiel Chloe Banawa: A 5-Year-Old Chess Prodigy Making Her Mark at the Provincial Meet
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 20 Oct 2025
  • GM Joey is aiming for a world title shot
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 19 Oct 2025
  • Patrick Bonifacio rules Directors Chess Cup
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 19 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.