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Philippines, 20 Nov 2025 |
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Three Pinoys to headline ESPN?s Friday Night Fights this summer in the US By Rich Mazon PhilBoxing.com Fri, 14 Jun 2013  Maraon, Francisco and Gesta. Besides HBO (Home Box Office) and Showtime, a third venue has been actively promoting boxing in the United States. The cable giant, ESPN (Entertainment and Sports Programming Network), has been featuring both known and up and coming players of the sport via its Friday Night Fight series. And this summer, three Filipino boxers will headline the show?s 13th season, a first for the country?s ring warriors. Undefeated bantamweight, Jundy Maraon (15-0-1, 12 KOs) of Sominot, Zamboanga del Sur, will face another unbeaten fighter in Juan Carlos Payano (13-0, 7 KOs) of the Dominican Republic in tonight?s installment of the show. Both fighters who made their respective weights yesterday will slug it out at the South Mountain Arena in South Orange, New Jersey. Maraon and his trainer, Nonito Donaire Sr., promised a good fight against Payano tonight in what is billed as a title eliminator. The next Filipino boxer that will headline the show is hard punching Drian Francisco (24-1-1, 19 KOs) of Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro. He will be facing a tough challenger in Chris Avalos (21-2, 16 KOs) of Lancaster, California in a 10 round war next month, July 12th, at the Texas Station Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Francisco is currently undergoing heavy training for this fight under the watchful eyes of former heavyweight contender turned trainer, Justin Fortune, in his gym in Los Angeles. Francisco informed Philboxing.com that his training is going well and that he is physically ready even if the fight is this week. Rounding up the trio will be lightweight (135 pound) campaigner, Mercito Gesta (26-1-1, 14 KOs) of Mandaue City, Cebu. Gesta will be facing Ajose Olusegun (31-1-0, 14 KOs), originally of Lagos, Nigeria but who now resides and trains in London, England. The fight according to Gesta?s manager, Vince Parra, is set for July 19th in a still undetermined venue. The city of San Diego, California, where Gesta resides, is in the running to host the fight according to Parra. Gesta will be moving up in weight in this fight, entering the talent-laden junior welterweight (140 pound) class for the first time in his young career. The three will attempt to rejuvenate the state of Philippine boxing, which has been beleaguered with major defeats lately. You can reach the author at rrmaze24@aol.com and on Twitter at Freemazon910. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .  |
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