Philippines, 27 Feb 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Sean Gibbons: Viva Filipino Boxing Fans! (video worth a round)


PhilBoxing.com





Hollywood, California:

What Mr. Gibbons probably meant to say was Mabuhay ang Philboxing!

Perhaps, the excitement got to him and everyone else at the Manny Pacquiao media day last Wednesday, July 10th at Freddie Roach?s Wild Card Gym.

The unofficially-retired light-heavyweight boxer Sean Gibbons (professional record of 14-7-3, 9KOs) has his claim to fame intact---a 4-round tussle with movie actor Mikey ?El Marielito? Rourke in a pro-boxing match.

The record books show that that Gibbons-Rourke was a split draw and, with a smile, Gibbons reminisced that it was a great fight.

Promoters in Oklahoma call him ?The Match Maker? for good reason.

Now the head matchmaker for MP Boxing Promotions, Sean Gibbons gives his take on the upcoming fights of three Filipino fighters he is affiliated to---John Riel Casimero, Marlon Tapales and the pugilistic Senator Emmanuel ?Manny? Pacquiao.

The following video clip sums up what fellow boxing fans can expect for the second half of 2019.



Firstly, there?s the matter of John Riel Casimero who recently captured the WBO ?Interim? bantamweight belt last April 20th in Carson City, California beating, via 12th round TKO, college student Ricardo ?Hindu? Espinoza (23-4-0,17 KOs) of Tijuana, Mexico.

The three-weight-division Waray boxing champion they call Quadro Alas (Four Aces in Tagalog) is fighting again on August 24th, 2019 in the Philippines to defend his WBO 118-pound interim belt against Cesar ?Perico? Ramirez of Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico. Should the 30-year old Casimero (27-4-0,18 KOs) come out victorious against the 31-year old Ramirez (18-3-0, 11 KOs), he would be looking into challenging WBO ?Regular? 118-pound champion 31-year old Zolani Tete (28-3-0, 21KOs) of Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Secondly, the comeback of #1 WBO super-bantamweight contender and Lanao del Norte?s own Marlon ?Maranding Nightmare? Tapales (33-2-0, 16 KOs) gets into full gear as PBC Boxing, Tom Brown?s TGB Promotions and MP Promotions will collaboratively guide him towards WBO 122-pound champion Emmanuel ?Vaquero? Navarrete of Mexico City. Tapales outgrew the 118-pound (bantamweight) division, and will now campaign in the 122-pound (super-bantamweight) division with the help of trainer Rodel ?Batang Mandaue? Mayol in Los Angeles.

Thirdly, Mr. Gibbons assessed the upcoming fight between Manny ?PacMan? Pacquiao and Keith ?One Time? Thurman for the latter?s WBA 147-pound Super Championship belt to be held July 20th, 2019 at the MGM Grand Arena in Last Vegas, Nevada.

?It?s a tremendous fight. The fighting Senator (at 40 years old) wanted to challenge himself by fighting the very best like Keith Thurman. I think the fans will be winning in this fight. And if Keith Thurman comes in to fight it will be a great fight. If he (Thurman) comes in to run and try to survive it would still be a good fight for the Senator, but Keith Thurman will receive a pretty good one-sided lyn_ _ _ _ g(?) and at the end of the day the Senator will probably stop him (Thurman) in the 10th round.?

?I just want to say thank you to all the fans out there (Philippines) and to Senator Pacquiao. I?m just glad to be in a position to be able to help Filipino boxers that, who in the past, had to travel to other countries and go in as big underdogs. Now we?re able to do more shows in the Philippines and that?s all because of the Senator and the Grace of God.?

?I just want to say that Philippine fans are the best, the most passionate. I?m going to keep making champions for the Philippines.?

?Viva, Filipino!?

Notes: This Philboxing.com man-on-the-street would like to thank Mr. Robert Lyons, Ms. Helena Buscema and the Rev. Carl Roberts for their kind assistance. Mr. de Mille and his close-up is not enough to highlight your generous smiles. Salamat, and I?ll see you in Lost Wages, Nevada on Saturday, July 20th.

ABOUT PACQUIAO VS. THURMAN

Pacquiao vs. Thurman will pit boxing?s only eight-division world champion and Philippine Senator Manny ?Pac Man? Pacquiao against undefeated WBA Welterweight World Champion Keith ?One Time? Thurman in the main event of a Premier Boxing Champions on FOX Sports Pay-Per-View event Saturday, July 20 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The pay-per-view begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will also feature undefeated former world champion Omar ?El Panterita? Figueroa Jr. taking on Yordenis Ugбs in a WBC welterweight title eliminator, plus hard-hitting former world champion Sergey Lipinets goes toe-to-toe against rugged veteran John ?The Gladiator? Molina, Jr. and undefeated power-puncher Luis ?Pantera? Nery faces slick-boxing Juan Carlos Payano in a bantamweight bout.

Tickets for the event are on sale now and can be purchased online through AXS.com, charge by phone at 866-740-7711 or in person at any MGM Resorts International box office.

ABOUT PLANT VS. LEE
FOX PBC Fight Night on FOX and FOX Deportes is headlined by undefeated IBF Super Middleweight World Champion Caleb "Sweethands" Plant making the first defense of his title against unbeaten contender and University of Notre Dame graduate Mike Lee Saturday, July 20 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Televised coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT with rising unbeaten heavyweight sensation Efe Ajagba squaring off against undefeated 2016 Turkish Olympian Ali Eren Demirezen.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Emmanuel Rivera, RRT.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Four United States Women's Boxers Shine Bright on Day Four of Strandja 2026 Boxing Tournament
    , Fri, 27 Feb 2026
  • Matthew James Sugatan wins Flash-ADV 160 9-Ball Tournament at Pacman's Cue Club; pockets P30,000
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 27 Feb 2026
  • Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Vazquez vs. Machuca’ at College Park Center in the University of Texas
    , Fri, 27 Feb 2026
  • Ethan Matthew Gabriel tops Boscolympics 2026 Grade School chess meet
    , Fri, 27 Feb 2026
  • Boxing Legend & Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr. Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
    , Fri, 27 Feb 2026
  • IM Christian Gian Karlo Tade - Arca outwits GM Pa Iniyan in Round 6 of the Manny Pacquiao International Open chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 26 Feb 2026
  • San Francisco Boxing Leaders Bring It Back: FIGHT NIGHT AT ROCCAPULCO
    , Thu, 26 Feb 2026
  • Alyssa Mendoza, Salim Ellis-Bey and Kelvin Watts Secure Wins on Day Three of 2026 Strandja Boxing Tournament
    , Thu, 26 Feb 2026
  • Herlan Gomez faces Dekang Wang for WBA Asia Superbamtam Title Today in Kunming, China
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 26 Feb 2026
  • Queensberry Promotions to sue SELA and TKO?
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 26 Feb 2026
  • IBA President Umar Kremlev promises prize money for boxers at LA 2028 if the IOC doesn’t change their policy towards athletes’ rewards
    , Thu, 26 Feb 2026
  • Ruben Castillo, The uncrowned champion passes away
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 26 Feb 2026
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: The Return of Ryan Garcia
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Wed, 25 Feb 2026
  • “It’s moments a kid dreams off.” Sam Rennie returns for title challenge March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
    , Wed, 25 Feb 2026
  • ‘It’s going to be a great fight and most importantly looking forward to the 10 pints together after it’ Billy Quinncroft challenges for Cruiserweight title March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
    , Wed, 25 Feb 2026
  • Magdalena Contreras Municipality and WBC start "Boxing for Peace" in Mexico
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 25 Feb 2026
  • United States Captures Four More Wins on Day Two of Strandja 2026 Boxing Tournament
    , Wed, 25 Feb 2026
  • Date set for Manny-Money 2
    By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 25 Feb 2026
  • Knockout Artist Sugar Martinez (17-0, 17 KOs) Makes His US Debut Against Philly Veteran Daiyan Butt
    , Wed, 25 Feb 2026
  • IM Yap outwits GM Gareyev, shares lead; Maribao split the point with GM Quizon in Round 3 of the Manny Pacquiao International Open chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 25 Feb 2026
  • 2 Division World Champion José Luis Castillo Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
    , Wed, 25 Feb 2026
  • Doors open for Manny
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 24 Feb 2026
  • MEXICAN TITANS GO HEAD-TO-HEAD HIGHLIGHTING CINCO DE MAYO WEEKEND IN LAS VEGAS!
    , Tue, 24 Feb 2026
  • Alex Bray and Gabriela Tellez Capture WBA Titles, Dainier Pero Scores Impressive Stoppage at “Night of Champions XIV” in Orlando
    , Tue, 24 Feb 2026
  • Cebuana Lhuillier Gems Officially Join Inaugural Pickle Yard Conference League
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 24 Feb 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.