Philippines, 31 Jan 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


World Title Fights for Pinoys May Come Early in 2023


PhilBoxing.com



Melvin Jerusalem.

If plans do not miscarry, we may see at least three Filipino boxers fighting for major world boxing titles by the first half of 2023 following breaks given especially by the leading World Boxing Council or WBC.

What is for certain is the bout of Melvin Jerusalem who will be opening up the Pinoy's campaign very early in the new year as he takes on and tries to bring back home the WBO world minimumweight crown from defending titlist Masataka Taniguchi in their title bout scheduled on January 6, 2023 in Osaka, Japan.

Jerusalem has previously challenged for the WBC diadem against then long reigning titlist Wanheng Menayothin in Thailand but was assessed loser by a close unanimous decision. Bucking another upset loss to fellow Pinoy Joey Canoy, Jerusalem has bounced back into title contention with consecutive impressive victories in his eight last fights.

Taniguchi, loser on points to then Pinoy WBO titleholder Vic Saludar in 2019, himself came back to finally bagged the same crown by defeating Saludar's conqueror Wilfredo Mendez last year.

Meanwhile,former three-time bantamweight champion and four division world titlist Nonito Donaire has been chosen to fight Australian Jason Moloney to fight for the WBC crown that current champion Naoya Inoue is expected to vacate, along with his other titles, once he succeeds in unifying all belts in his scheduled bout with WBO titlist Paul Butler also this December in Saitama, Japan.

Another Pinoy, ex-WBC interim champion Reymart Gaballo will fight Nawaphon Sor Rungvisai in a final eliminator to challenge the eventual winner between Donaire and Moloney.

On the other hand, former immediate featherweight titleholder Mark Magsayo has been named to face ex WBO super bantamweight titlist Isaac Dogboe of Ghana in a world title eliminator to determine the next challenger for the winner between current unified WBC-WBO junior featherweight titlist Stepen Fulton and ex super bantamweight titlist Brandon Figueroa who will be fighting for the WBC featherweight crown which could also be vacated by reigning champion Rey Vargas of Mexico who is fighting on the other hand against American Shaquille Foster for the vacant WBC super featherweight crown.

Finally, top ranking light flyweight Mark Vicelles has been ordered by the IBF to fight fellow Pinoy Regie Suganob in a final eliminator to determine the next mandatory challenger to new IBF world light flyweight titlist Sive Notshinga of South Africa. No final date has been announced yet but since this is an all Filipino affair, it could happen before the current year ends or at the most, first quarter of 2023.

Good luck and happy hunting to our Pinoy world title campaigners.

The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson: Styles Make Fights Fitting Cliche
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • Bryan Flores Wins Majority Decision Over Starling Castillo in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’ at Live! Casino Hotel Maryland
    , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • KinetixSports Legacy Run on March 1
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • THE RING 6: OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR TEOFIMO LOPEZ VS. SHAKUR STEVENSON
    , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • Legendary Soccer Player Sergio Ramos to make professional boxing debut
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • Weigh-In Results: Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou
    , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • Teofimo vs Shakur Fight Analysis
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • Rohan Polanco-Christian Gomez Welterweight Showdown Canceled
    , Sat, 31 Jan 2026
  • NEWCASTLE WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED AS MURTAZALIEV AND KELLY CLASH FOR WORLD TITLE
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Boxers Make Weight for Brico Santig’s Exciting 21-Bout Promotion in Thailand (PHOTOS)
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • “It’s time for TSABZ to shine” Get to know Tanaka Saburi as he retuns March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • ATLANTIC CITY BOXING HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES CLASS OF 2026
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Manny Pacquiao Chess Philippines: WCM Nika Juris Nicolas is Ready to Fight
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • PFDA Grass Nationals in Tagum on June 5-7
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Press Conference Notes: Puerto Rican Star Xander Zayas Ready for Saturday's Hometown Unification Battle against Abass Baraou
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • PFDA Grass Nationals in Tagum on June 5-7
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • ‘THE RING 6’ TEOFIMO LOPEZ VS. SHAKUR STEVENSON PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • NEWCASTLE PRESS CONFERENCE: WHAT WAS SAID AS JOSH KELLY AND BAKHRAM MURTAZALIEV ARE KEPT APART AFTER HEATED FACE-OFF
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Flores vs. Castillo’ at Live! Casino Hotel Maryland
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • WAPA Deportes Confirmed as Puerto Rican Broadcast Home for Saturday’s Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou Title Unification Showdown
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Legendary Panamanian Juan Carlos Tapia will be inducted into the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Manny Pacquiao Promotions Announces Additional Matchups for Saturday, February 28 Event at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • SWERVE TV STRIKES MULTI-YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS TO EXPAND PREMIUM BOXING CONTENT
    , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Leuenbergers to join IRONMAN® 70.3 Davao
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 30 Jan 2026
  • Open Workout: Xander Zayas and Abass Baraou Prepare For Saturday's Unification Showdown in Puerto Rico
    , Thu, 29 Jan 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.