Fajardo, Medecillo gun for world titles in same Tokyo card
MANILA, Philippines — A rare double world title is up for grabs for the Philippines as as Miel “The Silent Assassin” Fajardo and Zyvyr “Blitz Kid” Medecillo slug it out against Japanese bets for the flyweight and minimumweight belts on November 26 at the Ebara Wave Arena in Tokyo.
Fajardo, from Agusan del Sur, as the mandatory challenger tries to snatch the IBF flyweight crown from Masamichi Yabuki. Meanwhile, Medecillo, from South Cotabato, challenges new WBA minimumweight champion Takeshi Ishii.
Fighting under the RCT Boxing Promotions led by also former boxer and CEO Lennon Tsoi, both assured their readiness to defy the odds against the two Japanese champions on their home turf to join Pedro Taduran (IBF minimumweight) as the only current Filipino world champion.
“Hindi ko po iisip ‘yung knockout basta laban lang lalo pinaghandaan namin ito sa mahabang training. Technical strategies l ‘yung pinag-aralan namin so mas teknikal tayong lalaban,” vowed the 26-year-old Fajardo (14-3-2, with 12 KOs) at the “Double World Title: A Shot At History“ media launch Monday at the New World Makati Hotel.
Fajardo, a left hook specialist hot on the trails of three straight wins — including a statement first-round TKO victory over home bet Tobias Jeremias Reyes in Argentina to become the No. 1 IBF flyweight fighter — will be up against the red-hot Yabuki (20-4-0). The Japanese is on a seven-fight win streak of his own and will enter his fifth title defense.
For his part, the 21-year-old Medecillo is unbeaten in nine matches with five KOs. He will test the mettle of Ishii, 26, with a 12-1-0 record after becoming the new WBA miminumweight king by dethroning Wilfredo Mendez of Puerto Rico last month via TKO in Round 1.
And there's a bigger prize for the young blood, who is out to become the fastest Filipino world champion in only his 10th professional fight. Malcolm Tuñacao holds the record as the WBC flyweight king in his 11th fight.
“Motivation ko po ito kasi history po talaga ito. Pressure man pero kakayanin. Pangarap ko ito, pangarap ng tatay ko at pangarap ng coach ko so ibibigay ko po lahat ng makakaya ko para makuha ‘yung belt,” promised Medecillo who just three years ago was slugging it out in Palarong Pambansa as the 46-48kg division king.
A win by Medecillo would also put him in line for a potential unification bout against compatriot Taduran, who’s serving as one of his sparring partners.
Both fighters have also been sparring with Rex Tso, the Hong Kong boxing star and co-founder of RCT Boxing Promotions with Tsoi, before flying to Tokyo on Nov. 20 to acclimatize with the cold Japanese weather now.
Before departing the country though, Fajardo and Medecillo got an all-time motivation and pep talk from Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao in a rare encounter that should serve handy as well to RCT’s dream of producing more Filipino world champions.
“That’s the main goal na mabigyan ng opportunity ang ating boxers na maging world champions. Ngayon nasa kanila na ‘yun pero as promoter and manager, ang goal namin ay mabigyan sila ng best opportunity,” beamed Tsoi.
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