Columns · PhilBoxing.com

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Vargas eyes at least two boxing golds

By Joaquin Henson, PhilBoxing.com Wed, 24 Jul 2024

OSAKA. PBA chairman Ricky Vargas was here to preside in the league’s annual planning meeting but during a break, wore a different hat the other day when as ABAP president, he spoke about his expectati…

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Astrolabio ready to rumble

By Joaquin Henson, PhilBoxing.com Fri, 19 Jul 2024

Filipino challenger Vincent Astrolabio won’t leave anything to chance in a bold bid to dethrone undefeated WBC bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani in a scheduled 12-round bout at the Ryogoku Kokugika…

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Boots Ennis Returns With Philadelphia On His Back

By Chris Carlson, PhilBoxing.com Sat, 13 Jul 2024

This Saturday night Jaron Ennis returns to the ring in a homecoming bout live from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia streaming on DAZN. Recently Boots faced outside the ring issues in court perta…

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Pacquiao verdict in question?

By Joaquin Henson, PhilBoxing.com Sat, 13 Jul 2024

Paradigm Sports Management lawyers opposing the California superior court judgment that dismissed the breach of contract case against former eight-division world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao are giv…

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Three for the road

By Joaquin Henson, PhilBoxing.com Thu, 11 Jul 2024

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 fi…

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Ioka vs. Martinez, Stevenson, Zepeda, & Under The Radar Bouts

By Chris Carlson, PhilBoxing.com Sat, 06 Jul 2024

On paper it appears that 2 of the 3 main events this weekend feature long odds in favor of the ‘A’ side. The one standout as a headliner is a unification bout between Kazuto Ioka and Fernando Martinez…

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Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Bam Rodriguez: Youth Must Be Served

By Chris Carlson, PhilBoxing.com Sat, 29 Jun 2024

Streaming live on DAZN from the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona, Bam Rodriguez challenges lineal champion Juan Francisco Estrada. This being a highly anticipated matchup for more than one reason,…

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Jerusalem due for title defense

By Joaquin Henson, PhilBoxing.com Wed, 26 Jun 2024

The country’s only reigning world boxing champion Melvin Jerusalem is mandated to stake his WBC minimumweight crown against No. 1 contender Luis Castillo of Mexico and MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons …

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Pacquiao mulls fighting for WBC title

By Joaquin Henson, PhilBoxing.com Tue, 25 Jun 2024

Former eight-division world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao insists his three-round engagement with Japanese kickboxer Chihiro Suzuki in Saitama on July 28 is a “serious fight, not an exhibition” but i…

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Night of fireworks

By Joaquin Henson, PhilBoxing.com Tue, 25 Jun 2024

There were 10 fights in the bill and only two went the distance as over a thousand fans witnessed the action on sandy ground in “Bakbakan Sa Masbate 2,” the first-ever boxing show to be staged on the …

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Magsayo closer to title shot

By Joaquin Henson, PhilBoxing.com Mon, 17 Jun 2024

Mark Magsayo (L) with trainer Marvin Somodio. Tagbilaran fighter Mark (Magnifico) Magsayo took a major step closer to another world title shot by scoring a unanimous 10-round decision over Mexican sou…

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Davis vs. Martin: Tank Versus Frank

By Chris Carlson, PhilBoxing.com Sat, 15 Jun 2024

This Saturday night live from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, Gervonta Davis makes his long awaited return to the ring. His opponent is undefeated lightweight contender Frank Martin. With…

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Boxing coaches named for Paris

By Joaquin Henson, PhilBoxing.com Sat, 08 Jun 2024

Don Abnett. Australian coach Don Abnett will lead the cast of mentors and tacticians working with the Philippines’ five-strong boxing team at the Paris Olympics. Abnett, 63, has been involved in boxin…

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The fighting five

By Joaquin Henson, PhilBoxing.com Fri, 07 Jun 2024

You can’t say enough about the fighting heart of the five Philippine boxers who qualified for the Paris Olympics. Lightheavyweight Eumir Marcial was first to book a ticket by making it to the final of…

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Vargas brings luck to boxers

By Joaquin Henson, PhilBoxing.com Thu, 06 Jun 2024

From when ABAP chairman Ricky Vargas arrived in Bangkok last Thursday to witness the final four days of competition at the World Olympic Boxing Qualifiers, Carlo Paalam and Hergie Bacyadan went undefe…

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Wilder vs. Zhang: Winner Moves On, Loser Goes Home

By Chris Carlson, PhilBoxing.com Sat, 01 Jun 2024

This Saturday’s DAZN PPV main event between Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang is truly a winner moves on, loser goes home scenario. Both fighters are clearly on a downslide in their respected careers. B…

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Tough road ahead for Paalam

By Joaquin Henson, PhilBoxing.com Thu, 30 May 2024

Carlo Paalam (R) in action against Turkmenistan’s Sukur Ovezov in Thailand. Featherweight contender Carlo Paalam has three more wins to go before clinching a ticket to Paris but it won’t be an easy pa…

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Paalam seeks revenge on foe

By Joaquin Henson, PhilBoxing.com Tue, 28 May 2024

Carlo Paalam. With 32 of 63 featherweight (57kg) fighters still standing in the race for three Paris tickets, Carlo Paalam hopes to avenge a previous loss to Turkmenistan’s Shukur Ovezov when they fac…

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Taylor vs. Catterall 2: End of the Road for Josh Taylor?

By Chris Carlson, PhilBoxing.com Sat, 25 May 2024

How much gasoline does Josh Taylor have left in his tank as we approach Saturday’s long due rematch? Add to the fact Josh is coming off his only pro loss of his career to Teofimo Lopez. Adding another…