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Philippines, 10 Feb 2026 |
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WORLD CHAMPIONS TO GRACE SMB--SAC AWARDS MAR 7 PhilBoxing.com Sat, 04 Mar 2017  It was a breakthrough year for boxing here in Cebu, aside from a busy boxing calendar, the boxing mecca of the Philippines got three new world champions in 2016. The trio of Johnriel Casimero, Marlon Tapales and Milan Melindo became world champions last year which earned them each a spot among the best athletes of Cebu for 2016. Casimero, Tapales and Melindo are major awardees for boxing in the 35th SAC-SMB Cebu Sports Awards on March 7 at the North Wing of SM City Cebu at 3 PM. Following a unanimous decision loss against Amnat Ruenroeng in his only fight in 2015, Casimero avenged his defeat against the veteran Thai with a fourth round knockout to win the International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight belt in March. He successfully defended his strap four months later with a 10th round stoppage of British prospect Charlie Edwards in London. He, however, vacated his belt before the end of 2016 to move up in weight in search for his third division crown. Tapales, in the meantime, weathered the early storm, after being knocked down twice in fifth round, to dethrone defending World Boxing Organization (WBO) super bantamweight champion Pungluang Sor Singyu in the 11th in Thailand last July. He defends his title for the first time on April 23 in a rematch with Shohei Omori in Japan. The third time was the charm for Melindo after becoming the interim IBF light flyweight titleholder with a unanimous decision victory over Fahlan Sakkreerin Jr. here at home last November. This was Melindo's third world title attempt after previously losing by unanimous decision to Juan Francisco Estrada for the WBO and World Boxing Association (WBA) flyweight belts in 2013 and by technical decision to Javier Mendoza in 2015. He is taking on Akira Yaegashi in April to determine who is the undisputed IBF light flyweight champion. Also given minor awards for their impressive performances in 2016 are WBO Oriental and WBO Asia Pacific Youth super bantamweight champion Jhack Tepora, World Boxing Federation (WBF) Asia-Pacific bantamweight titleholder Kenny Demecillo, WBO International featherweight king Mark Magsayo, Neil John Tabanao, Jason Pagara, Jimmy Paypa, Jessie Espinas, WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight champion Arthur Villanueva, IBF Inter-Continental super flyweight titleholder Jonas Sultan and amateur pug Eduardo Gimenez Jr.  |
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