Philippines, 18 Mar 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


CARLO MAGALI EARNS WORLD TITLE SHOT AGAINST MIGUEL BERCHELT


PhilBoxing.com



Carlo Magali.

Cebu ? Unheralded Carlo Magali of Bohol has earned a title shot against one of the biggest names in the super featherweight division, the WBC world champion Miguel Berchelt of Mexico who plucked the Filipino out of nowhere when Berchelt's original opponent, the veteran former world champion Cristian Mijares, withdrew from the bout scheduled for Feb. 10 at Berchelt's hometown in Cancun.

Magali became the seventh Filipino who will fight for a world title early this year. See related story.

The power punching Berchelt (32-1-0, 28KOs) is being considered by experts as the second best super featherweight on the planet, next only to pound for pound fighter Vasyl Lomachenko, after Berchelt defeated ring warriors Francisco Vargas and Takashi Miura in his last two fights.

Mijares's handlers were uncomfortable fighting at Berchelt's backyard so when the fight fell off, Berchelt's handlers, Zanfer Promotions and Max Boxing, considered three names as replacement: Jose Matias Romero and Jonathan Barros, both from Argentina and Jonathan Oquendo of Puerto Rico. But finally they opted for Magali who had just won last Jan. 13 the OPBF super featherweight title in Japan.

If it looks like Magali is being feed to the lion at the lion's den in front of shrieking hometown crowd, don't tell it to the stocky Boholano who made a living by going to to his opponent's backyard.

Magali (23-9-3, 12KOs) started fighting in small cards in remote venues in Bohol and Cebu, primarily as a fodder against rising prospects. He lost some but he also won many of these matchups. Fighting on the B-side his entire career, he went to places where fate led him which brought him to Japan, Russia, Australia, South Africa and Malaysia. All in all, he fought eight times in foreign lands amassing a score of five wins and three losses the last one was a win over Masatoshi Kotani of Japan that netted him the OPBF title.

Magali's unforgettable fight though was when he fought Australia's Davey Browne Jnr on Sep. 11, 2015 in Ingleburn, near Sydney, Australia for the vacant IBF Pan Pacific super featherweight title. Magali knocked out Browne unconscious 30 seconds before the final bell of their 12-round fight. Browne regained consciousness but later collapsed and was rushed to the hospital. Browne died three days later because brain injury.

Berchelt will be Magali's toughest opponent and the biggest fight his entire career. Fighting as an underdog his whole life, and in spite of the odds against him he has come this far, it is probably wise never to write off the fighting Filipino.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 17 MARCH 2026: Collazo Stops Haro; Fundora KO Ruiz; Barboza Outpoints Sims; Cacace UD Dickens
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 18 Mar 2026
  • Tapales Near Peak Form Ahead of April 3 Tokyo Showdown with Oguni
    , Wed, 18 Mar 2026
  • MILLER AND PERO CLASH IN HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN IN LAS VEGAS ON APRIL 25
    , Wed, 18 Mar 2026
  • Middleweight Championship Battle Between (C) Khamzat Chimaev and (#3) Sean Strickland Headlines UFC® 328 at Prudential Center Live on Paramount+
    , Wed, 18 Mar 2026
  • Sampson Lewkowicz & TM Boxing Sign Undefeated Mexican Prospect José Ángel Guerrero to Co-Promotional Deal
    , Wed, 18 Mar 2026
  • 12-Time World Champion & Hall of Famer James Toney Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
    , Wed, 18 Mar 2026
  • Five stitches for Donaire’s cut
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • Roberto Gomez Training Camp Notes
    , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • Esneth Domingo Trains at the Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles Ahead of His US Debut
    , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • Tatay Digong Birthday Run on March 28
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • 12-0 prospect Marco Romero to headline This Friday in Independence, Missouri
    , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • 700 athletes on March 21-22 at UM
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • United States Earns Four Gold Medals on Final Day of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Mon, 16 Mar 2026
  • Mexico wins 2 bronze medals at World Boxing Futures Cup in Bangkok
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 16 Mar 2026
  • Arnold Barboza Jr. Shines in Welterweight Debut, Defeats Kenneth Sims Jr. to Claim Wbo Global Welterweight Title
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • WBC top contender Canoy returns to Davao with Unanimous Decision Victory
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • John Randall Peralta: The Future of the Philippine Chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Alvin “Felemon” Dologuin Claims Win in Brico Santig’s Show in Thailand (PHOTOS)
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Donaire's Yokohama Showdown: Can our Filipino Flash Outshine the Rising Sun? (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Wins Five of Eight Bouts on Day Six
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander surpasses Chamberlain's record of 127 consecutive NBA games with 20 points or more
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • World-Ranked Light Heavyweight Najee Lopez Stops Mexican Terminator Manuel Gallego in Eight Classic Rounds in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Weigh-in from Highland Boxing in Bangkok, Thailand; Dologuin in Action (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Oval rules 35th CityHeights slugfest
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Sims vs. Barboza and Dickens vs. Cacace Headline Doubleheader on DAZN
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026




  •  



     
    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
    © 2026 philboxing.com.