Joey Canoy will battle defending International Boxing Organization (IBO) minimumweight champion Simphiwe Khonco of South Africa on Sunday at the Orient Theather in East London, South Africa.
Canoy, 25, said he wants to follow the footsteps of longest reigning Filipino world champion Donnie Nietes, who became a world champion at 25 after winning the World Boxing Organization minimumweight belt in 2007.
?It?s not too late for me to become a world champion. If Nietes can do it so can I,? Canoy told The Manila Times in Filipino.
?My opponent is a counter-puncher based on his Youtube videos that I watched.?
This is the second time that Canoy (14-3-1 win-loss-draw record with seven knockouts) will be attempting to snare a world title. He lost to South African Hekkie Budler via seventh round technical knockout for the IBO title in February 4, last year also in South Africa.
Canoy bounced back with back-to-back wins beating former Filipino world title contender Melvin Jerusalem via unanimous decision on July 8, and Rodel Tejares by way of technical knockout on January 21, last year to earn another world title shot.
Khonco, for his part, is holding a 19-5 record with seven knockouts.
