Philippines, 14 Jun 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Three for the road


PhilBoxing.com



L-R: Astrolabio, Taduran and Apolinario.

WBC minimumweight champion Melvin Jerusalem is the only Filipino reigning world boxing titlist at the moment but three countrymen are out to join him in the firmament with Vincent Astrolabio gunning for the WBC bantamweight throne in Tokyo on July 20, Pedro Taduran seeking to regain the IBF minimumweight crown in Shiga, east of Kyoto, on July 28 and Dave Apolinario hoping to snatch the vacant IBF flyweight strap in Mexico City on Aug. 9.

So far, the report card on Filipino boxers in world title fights this year shows one win and two losses with Jerusalem the only survivor, bagging the WBC 105-pound belt via a split 12-round decision over Yudai Shigeoka in Tokyo last March. The losers were Jerwin Ancajas who bowed to Takuma Inoue on a ninth round stoppage for the WBA bantamweight throne in Tokyo last February and Jake Amparo who was halted in two rounds by IBF minimumweight ruler Ginjiro Shigeoka in Tokyo last March.

Astrolabio, 27, has a puncher’s chance against defending WBC bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani but it won’t be easy bringing down the unbeaten Japanese who totes a 27-0 record, including 20 KOs. Nakatani, 26, has knocked out every Filipino he has faced----Joenil Borres, Joel Taduran, Dexter Alimento, Philip Cuerdo, Milan Melindo and Giemel Magramo. Astrolabio, the No. 1 contender, is coming off an 11th round disposal of Nawaphon Sor Rungvisai in Bangkok last August. Astrolabio’s biggest wins were a decision over Cuba’s Guillermo Rigondeaux in Dubai and a sixth round stoppage of Russia’s Nikolai Potapov in Las Vegas. His record is 19-4, with 14 KOs.

Taduran, 27, is up against Shigeoka in a battle of southpaws. Shigeoka, 24, has an 11-0 record, with nine KOs while Taduran checks in with a 16-4-1 slate, including 12 KOs. Taduran lost the IBF title to countryman Rene Mark Cuarto in his second defense in 2021 and has waited patiently for a chance to get back the strap. He outpointed Amparo in a 12-rounder last December to reestablish himself as the No. 1 contender.

Apolinario, 25, will go for broke against Angel Ayala, 24, in what is expected to be an all-out war. Apolinario has a 20-0 record with 14 KOs while Ayala is 17-0 with seven KOs. Zanfer Promotions of Mexico put in a bid of $250,500 to land the hosting rights and will pay Apolinario a purse of $125,250.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Oklahoma Forces 2-2 Finals Series Tie, Starves Indiana for Point in 111-104 Win
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025
  • PROSPECTS COLLIDE OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN RESULTS
    , Sat, 14 Jun 2025
  • Hitchins vs. Kambosos: Can George Be More Than A Faded Name?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025
  • Four Boxers Advance to Gold Medal Matches on Day Three of World Boxing Challenge Grand Prix Usti Nad Labem
    , Sat, 14 Jun 2025
  • WEIGHTS FROM NEW YORK: HITCHINS - 140 LBS., KAMBOSOS - 139.4 LBS.
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025
  • Gaviola to face Narukami in Gensan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025
  • Pacquiao Steps Up Training
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025
  • Balla stops Cabalquinto in 4th round
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025
  • Eight-year-old Marius Constante sweeps 5-round chess fest in Cebu
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 14 Jun 2025
  • Promoter Sampson Lewkowicz and Top Lightweight Contender Edwin De Los Santos Part Ways Amicably
    , Sat, 14 Jun 2025
  • Unification WBA & IBA Pro title fight Albert Batyrgaziev vs James Dickens to crown boxing show in Istanbul on 2 July
    , Fri, 13 Jun 2025
  • How the Ring's P4P Ranking Has Strayed from the Norms of Nat and Nigel
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 13 Jun 2025
  • FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES FROM HITCHINS VS. KAMBOSOS JR
    , Fri, 13 Jun 2025
  • MOST VALUABLE PROMOTIONS UNVEILS REMAINING PRELIMINARY CARD BOUTS FOR JAKE PAUL VS. JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ JR.
    , Fri, 13 Jun 2025
  • Jean Henri Lhuillier: Leading Philippine Softball’s Unstoppable Rise to International Dominance
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 13 Jun 2025
  • Team USA Sends Seven Boxers to the Medal Rounds Thursday at World Boxing Challenge Grand Prix Usti Nad Labem 2025
    , Fri, 13 Jun 2025
  • Jerusalem, Taduran 1-2 at Minimumweight; Llover Enters Bantam in Ring's Latest Ratings
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 13 Jun 2025
  • July 26: Rohan Polanco-Quinton Randall Welterweight Showdown Tops Xander Zayas-Jorge Garcia Undercard at The Theater at Madison Square Garden
    , Fri, 13 Jun 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: Weekend at the International Boxing Hall Of Fame
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Thu, 12 Jun 2025
  • Nonito Donaire to fight again, faces Campos on June 14
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 12 Jun 2025
  • Cabalquinto Set to Face Australian Balla on Maniatis Card
    , Thu, 12 Jun 2025
  • Rene Camacho, Jajaira Gonzalez Capture Wins on Day One of World Boxing Challenge Grand Prix Usti Nad Labem 2025
    , Thu, 12 Jun 2025
  • COLLISION COURSE IN THE COACHELLA VALLEY! FLORES VS. CHAVEZ TO HEADLINE JULY 24 EDITION OF GOLDEN BOY FIGHT NIGHT
    , Thu, 12 Jun 2025
  • Indiana Sets Pace Again in 116-107 Win over OKC; Takes 2-1 Series Lead at Home
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 12 Jun 2025
  • Cabalquinto to fight in Australia on June 13
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 12 Jun 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.