Philippines, 23 Jan 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


DEFENDING CHAMPION VAN BOENING ELIMINATED | 2025 IFX PAYMENTS PREMIER LEAGUE POOL

PhilBoxing.com


Shane Van Boening’s title defence came to a crushing end as the American fell short in Stage Two, suffering defeats to Johann Chua, Robbie Capito, Aloysius Yapp, and Kledio Kaci, preventing him from advancing to the next stage of the 2025 IFX Payments Premier League Pool.

In partnership with the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Sarajevo Canton, the Premier League Pool is being hosted for the first time at Hills Hotel in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The tournament runs from March 20-27, bringing thrilling nine-ball action to the heart of the Balkans, live on WNT TV along with other major broadcasters.

PURCHASE SPECTATOR TICKETS HERE

Van Boening’s struggles continued on Day Seven as the defending champion failed to secure a single victory in his desperate bid to break into the Top Six. A crushing 5-1 defeat to Chua was followed by a 5-2 loss to Capito, leaving his qualification hopes hanging by a thread.

In a must-win showdown against Yapp, Van Boening started strong, building a two-rack lead. However, the match tightened into a hill-hill decider, where the Reyes Cup MVP rose to the occasion, delivering a flawless final rack to seal Van Boening’s fate. The American’s campaign officially came to an end before suffering one last defeat to Kaçi, dropping him to the bottom of the table and closing the chapter on his title defence.

Joining Van Boening on the way out was home favourite Sanjin Pehlivanovic, who needed four wins to break into the Top Six but fell short after losses to Duong Quoc Hoang and Francisco Sanchez Ruiz, finishing seventh. Meanwhile, Hoang and Kaçi—both also needing a strong final day to climb the standings—were unable to mount a comeback and exited alongside Van Boening and Pehlivanovic.

At the top of the table, Johann Chua reclaimed the No.1 spot with 18 match wins, edging out Capito by a single point on the leaderboard. The Hanoi Open champion reinforced his dominance in the evening session, battling past former frontrunner Capito in a tense hill-hill showdown. Despite a spirited fightback from Capito, who trailed 4-1 before forcing a decider, Chua held his nerve to close out the crucial win.

Chua won four of his five matches on Day Seven, only losing to Pehlivanovic, but overcoming Duong, Yapp, Capito, and the now-deposed champion Van Boening.

Francisco Sanchez Ruiz endured a shaky start with a surprise defeat to Moritz Neuhausen but bounced back with wins over Kaçi, Pehlivanovic, and Yapp to climb into third place with a total of 16 match wins.

Jayson Shaw, Neuhausen, and Yapp round out the Top Six, each securing their spot in Stage Three with 14 match wins. With the field now set, all eyes turn to the final day, where a new Premier League Pool champion will be crowned.

The 2025 IFX Premier League Pool returns on Thursday, 27 March from 12 CEST on WNT TV, along with Viaplay, Rigour, and Nova. Find where you can watch in your country here.

Don’t miss the chance to catch the action as the 2025 IFX Premier League Pool unfolds in Sarajevo – Spectator tickets available here!

You can track the action on all 183 matches at Premier League Pool via the WNT Live Scores website here.

For all the latest updates, follow Matchroom Pool on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and YouTube




Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Four Pinoys in line for title shots
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • After the meeting in Mexico City, the WBC is ready for 2026
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • Former world title challenger Jerry Belmontes Returns to ring at home after nearly a decade in Retirement on January 31 in Texas
    , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT RONNY ALVAREZ TRAINING CAMP NOTES
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • STRICKLAND STUNS REYES AS SOUQUET SEALS REDEMPTION | WNT LEGENDS
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • Knicks defeats Nets 120-66 to post largest margin of victory in franchise history
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • Mauricio Sulaiman: "We simply urge Zuffa Boxing to respect and protect boxing and the boxer"
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • January 31: Xander Zayas-Abass Baraou Junior Middleweight Title Unification Showdown to Stream LIVE on Top Rank Classics FAST Channel in the United States
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • Mike Tyson to Launch “Mike Tyson Invitational,” a Three-Day Amateur Boxing Showcase Aimed at Elevating the Future of American Boxing
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • KAIPO GALLEGOS TRAINING CAMP NOTES
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • REYES AND BUSTAMANTE DELIVER HOME-SOIL MASTERCLASS | WNT LEGENDS
    , Wed, 21 Jan 2026
  • Reigning World 10-ball Champion Filipino cue master Jonas Magpantay to see action in Indonesia pool tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 21 Jan 2026
  • OLYMPIC BOXING 7: 1936 OLYMPICS AT BERLIN, GERMANY
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Wed, 21 Jan 2026
  • Usyk and Zuffa Boxing Negotiations Update
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 21 Jan 2026
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: Twelve Years Later, Don José is Still With Us
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Tue, 20 Jan 2026
  • Get know “BIG BAD BAZLEY”as he retuns March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
    , Tue, 20 Jan 2026
  • “Jye Chin brings a fight to whoever, whenever and where ever”: Jye Chin ready for WBC title Clash March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
    , Tue, 20 Jan 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 18 JANUARY 2026: Nikita Tszyu-Michael Zerafa End in No Contest; Raul Curiel Outpoints Jordan Panthen
    By Eric Armit, , Mon, 19 Jan 2026
  • Ryan Daye ready for WBC title Clash March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
    , Mon, 19 Jan 2026
  • RAUL “EL CUGÁR” CURIEL CRUISES TO UNANIMOUS DECISION WIN OVER JORDAN “THE PATRIOT” PANTHEN
    , Sat, 17 Jan 2026
  • Weights from Philadelphia
    , Sat, 17 Jan 2026
  • Mexico Commemorates 12th Death Anniversary of Don Jose Sulaiman (Photos)
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 17 Jan 2026
  • MOLLY McCANN EYES 'HUGE' STATEMENT START TO 2026 AS SHE JOINS BUMPER WOOD-WARINGTON CARD IN NOTTINGHAM ON FEBRUARY 21
    , Sat, 17 Jan 2026
  • NEW MAIN EVENT ANNOUNCED! RAUL CURIEL SCHEDULED TO FACE JORDAN PANTHEN IN MIDDLEWEIGHT SCRAP
    , Fri, 16 Jan 2026
  • SMALLS VS RAMOS TOPS STACKED UNDERCARD FOR NAVARRETE-NUNEZ BLOCKBUSTER IN GLENDALE
    , Fri, 16 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.