Who will be the next Filipino champ?

Alta Sportsa month ago · 389 views

Who will be the next Filipino champ? image

By Shawn De Guzman

For a time, Philippine boxing struggled not only in finding the next talent to hold the mantle following the decline of greats Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire Jr., but more so in having a Filipino boxer to hold a belt in the early 2020s.

From a high of four simultaneous world champions in 2010, the country was left without a title-holder from July 2022 to January 2023 — a six-month dry spell that is very rare for a country that is a hotbed of boxing talent.

Philippine boxing somehow recovered and enjoyed a brief success when it briefly had three world champions altogether in Melvin Jerusalem, Marlon Tapales and Pedro Taduran in 2023.

It ended when Tapales surrendered his World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation (IBF) super bantamweight crowns to the class’ undisputed king Naoya Inoue later on that same year.

Since then two years ago, there have been only two champions — Jerusalem and Taduran — for the Philippines, the lowest it had since 2006 when it only had one with Brian Villoria.

With both Jerusalem and Taduran expected to defend their respective belts, it is up to the current Filipino title contenders to bring back the glory days of Philippine boxers.

Charly Suarez

Suarez could have been one of the current Filipino world champions if not for a controversial technical decision loss to World Boxing Organization (WBO) super featherweight champion Emmanuel Navarrete.

No thanks to the referee, who ruled the cut above Navarrete’s eyes as caused by a headbutt and not a punch, Suarez could have been one defending his title.

Photo: Charly Suarez/FB

Instead, he was left on a waiting line after the Mexican champion decided to take on Eduardo Sugar Nunez for the unified WBO and IBF crowns.

The decision came despite the order of the WBO for the two to arrange an immediate rematch. Suarez now will have to wait for the winner of the bout to get another shot at the title, probably later this year.

Kenneth Llover

One of the country’s most promising young talents, Llover has long wanted a title shot in the bantamweight division.

Llover was supposed to fight for a title-eliminator against Landile Ngxeke, but the bout did not push through as the Filipino fought for tuneup bouts instead to end 2025.

Photo: Gerrypens Promotions/FB

Currently rated No. 3 in the IBF rankings, Llover’s chance is to strike a deal against current champion Jose Salas Reyes and, according to his camp, there is a real possibility for IBF to order a mandatory fight between the two.

If not, a possible title-eliminator against former WBO champion Jason Moloney could also be in the offing.

Jerwin Ancajas, Marlon Tapales, and Carl Jammes Martin.

There is no doubt that the three are potent title contenders. The only problem is they are in a stacked division currently ruled by the Japanese monster Inoue.

Of the three, Tapales has the better ranking, No. 5 in IBF, No. 2 in WBC and No. 3 in WBO but his chances of taking one of his previous belts lie heavily on who is holding it.

Photo: Marlon Tapalas/FB

A potential rematch against Inoue isn’t likely to happen in the near future. But if Junto Nakatani managed to topple Inoue, a fight against the other Japanese star should be intriguing.

Photo: Carl Jammes Martin

Martin, on the other hand, is ranked No. 2 in the WBO. While he could be in line for a shot against Inoue, especially if he survives against Nakatani, many believed he needed one more high-profile fight to entice Inoue to a fight.

Photo: Jerwin Ancajas/FB

As for Ancajas, he needs some head-turning victories to earn the right to at least a title-eliminator.

Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire

And there, of course, are the age-defying legends of Philippine boxing.

Pacquiao just fell short of resetting his record as the oldest welterweight champion when he forced Mario Barrios to a draw last year. He was supposed to challenge Rolly Romero for the WBA crown, but plans fell through.

Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

The 47-year-old eight-division world champion, however, should be a curious spectator in the fight between Barrios and Garcia, with the winner potentially the next fight for the Filipino great.

Donaire, like Pacquiao, came tantalizingly close to becoming a champion at 43-years-old when he dropped a split decision against Seiya Tsusumi last year.

Photo: Nonito Donaire Jr./FB

His impressive performance, however, allowed him to stay as the top contender in the bantamweight division, eventually earning him a title-eliminator fight against Riku Masuda.

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