Philippines, 19 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


PINOY BOXING 1: JOHN PAUL GABUNILAS BATTLES KANAMU SAKAMA IN THE INOUE-TAPALES UNDISPUTED FIGHT


PhilBoxing.com



Gabunilas.

John Paul Gabunilas will face Kanamu Sakama of Japan in an eight-round bout as an undercard in the Naoya Inoue vs. Marlon Tapales world title unification on December 26, 2023. WBC/WBO champion Inoue and IBF/WBA champion Tapales will battle for the undisputed super bantamweight championship at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena.

According to Cebu Daily News Digital, the scheduled fight was officially announced by ARQ Boxing Stable’s strength and conditioning trainer Roger Justine Potot a few days after Inoue and Tapales finalized their much-sought undisputed match.

Gabunilas called “Angas ng Cebu” will be the underdog as he battles the World Boxing Association (WBA) number 14 contender Sakama in his home turf in Japan.

“John Paul Gabunilas will have him Comeback Fight in Japan as part of the Undercard bout of Inoue vs Tapales. This is announced official Instagram of Sir Ohashi Manager of Inoue. Let it be known, that it’s game time for John Paul (Gabunilas),” said Potot over CDN.

Potot said that they trained Gabunilas hard for months now, after his shocking first round technical knockout defeat to Miel Fajardo last August 15 in Lapu-Lapu City.

Fajardo scored a devastating first round TKO victory in what was believed to be an interesting encounter against a rising fighter in Gabunilas. Fajardo came out as the better fighter and won the vacant Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) light flyweight title .

Despite the loss, Gabunilas was able to sign a big comeback fight. The 23-year-old Cebuano prospect from Carcar City, south Cebu was on an eight-fight winning streak since 2019 before his loss to Fajardo.

Prior to the Fajardo loss he had wins over Wandi Priman Hulu by TKO, Jesse Espinas by MD, Ruben Dadivas by TKO, Ricardo Sueno by UD, Clyde Azarcon by TKO, Jonathan Almacen by KO, Maurino Agum by TKO and Garry Rojo by KO.

He owns a career record of 10 wins with seven knockout victories and two defeats, while Sakama is undefeated in eight bouts with seven knockouts.

The December assignment will be Gabunilas’ first fight in Japan and he will take on his first Japanese opponent. Same with Sakama, who is the reigning Japan Boxing Commission youth light flyweight champion, as he will be fighting his first Filipino foe. In his last fight he won by 8th round TKO over countryman Ryu Horikawa.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Usyk Registers Career-Heaviest Weight as Dubois Looks Ready for Undisputed Rematch at Wembley
    , Sat, 19 Jul 2025
  • Rodriguez vs. Cafu Unification Clash Set for Frisco, Texas; All Fighters Make Weight
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 19 Jul 2025
  • LOPEZ VS. VARGAS WEIGHTS FROM PECHANGA RESORT CASINO
    , Sat, 19 Jul 2025
  • “Bambol” Tolentino in Las Vegas: Supporting Filipino Athletes and Pacquiao
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Unstoppable: Team Philippines Storms Into Davis Cup Finals After Qatar Sweep
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Blu Girls Stumble Against Taipei, Look to Regroup vs. Hong Kong
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Fighting for clean sweep
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • WBA No. 2 Heavyweight Contender Michael Hunter Is Ready to Take on World Champion Kubrat Pulev; All Systems Go for Purse Bid Winner Don King
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Weights from Panama City; WBA Women's Interim Superfly Title at Stake
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated prospect Pryce Taylor Working hard to join Brooklyn’s Elite list of top heavyweight boxers
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Justin Goossen-Brown Set to Make DAZN Broadcasting Debut This Friday at Boxlab Promotions’ Night of Champions in Orlando
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Philippine Davis Cup Team Sweeps Kuwait to Stay Unbeaten in Group IV
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Pacquiao Promises Surprise Against Barrios
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • PACQUIAO VS. BARRIOS UNDERCARD MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
    , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Rosaupan rules Pasay rapid chess championship
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Blu Girls Fall to China in Nail-Biter, Slip to 5–2 in Asia Cup
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • The 19th Thousand Island Cup Philippine Xiangqi Open tournament on August 3
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 18 Jul 2025
  • Pacquiao’s Legacy in Motion: PacMan contra El Azteca
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Blu Girls Crush Singapore 13-0, Set Sights on China in Asia Cup Showdown
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Laylo, Dableo to play in Baguio Open
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Pacquiao Shines in Final Press Conference: Can The Pacman Defeat Father Time and Barrios? (Analysis & Prediction)
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • More lucrative fights await Manny Pacquiao
    By Leo Reyes, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Rumors about Pacquiao-Mayweather rematch
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • Tapales, Laurente to help Inoue against MJ
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 17 Jul 2025
  • AL BERNSTEIN, CHRISTY MARTIN AND ERIC BOTTJER TO SERVE AS ALL-STAR COMMENTARY TEAM FOR THIS FRIDAY’S ‘LOPEZ VS. VARGAS’ EVENT
    , Thu, 17 Jul 2025




  •  



     
    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
    © 2025 philboxing.com.