With my young career here with this prestigious boxing site, this is not the first time I have made an article about world-class Filipino boxers. Probably, this is the third time I am airing an article about them. I follow boxing a lot outside Asia, but I cannot help to get excited about the upcoming Filipino fighters who are inching in for that coveted world crown.
Just to give an update to those who follow Filipino boxers who are out to conquer the world, I actually have good news for you.
Davao based #5 WBC flyweight contender Diosdado “the prince” Gabi is out to face former champion and current WBC #2 contender Nicaraguan Rosendo Alvarez in Palawan Philippines. Manny Pinol, the handler of Gabi said the fight is set on June 17. The winner of the Gabi-Alvarez tussle will serve as an eliminator to fight the winner of the scheduled July 30 bout between current WBC flyweight champion Pongsaklek Wongjongkam of Thailand and Jorge Arce of Mexico.
Next in the calendar is IBF #6 ranked Super Flyweight and former champion Malcolm Tunacao who is reportedly set to fight current champion Luis Aldo Perez on July 23 at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Luis Aldo Perez who is also a Nicaraguan, is looking for his fourth title defense of his IBF crown he won in year 2003. On the other hand, the Filipino Tunacao is on a 7-fight winning streak and is looking for his second world title belt. In a recent interview with Tunacao, the fighter from Cebu said he was surprised to see a sudden fight with Perez because all he thought is that he was set to face another Japanese in Japan, Tunacao was very pleased with the surprising development.
Last on our calendar is current #1 WBA strawweight Filipino contender Yukka Gejon. Gejon’s handlers said that they are on a hot negotiation with the handlers of current champion Yutaka Niida of Japan and the bout would be set sometime last week of July or first week of August. Yutaka Niida just recently defended his crown last April against a Korean and a fight with Gejon would be his fourth defense that he won in 2004. Sources said there is a big chance for Gejon to finally meet Niida, as the Filipino is the mandatory challenger for the crown.
The chance of Gabi, Tunacao and Gejon are just part of the rising state of boxing in the Philippines. There are still many Filipino fighters waiting for their breaks to come. Let us just hope politics would not come in and the fights for these three Filipinos would push through as planned.
