Three in line for title bids

MANILA, Philippines — Three Filipino No. 1 contenders are in line for world boxing mandatory title shots with five more creeping in at No. 2 as the year comes to a close. There are only two reigning Filipino world champions, WBC minimumweight ruler Melvin Jerusalem and IBF minimumweight titleholder Pedro Taduran. But the outlook is bright for more Filipino kings of the ring.

Ranked No. 1 are IBF superfeatherweight Charly Suarez, 36 (18-0, 10 KOs), WBO lightflyweight Regie Suganob, 27 (16-1, six KOs), and IBF lightflyweight Christian Araneta, 29 (25-2, 20 KOs). The No. 2 contenders are WBC superfeatherweight Mark Magsayo, 29 (27-2, 18 KOs), /WBC superbantamweight Marlon Tapales, 32 (39-3, 20 KOs), WBO superbantamweight Carl Jammes Martin, 25 (25-0, 20 KOs), WBA lightflyweight Arvin Paciones, 19 (9-0, five KOs) and WBO minimumweight Vic Saludar, 34 (25-6, 15 KOs).

The latest WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO top 10 ratings show 17 Filipino contenders.  In the superfeatherweight division are WBO No. 1/IBF No. 4 Suarez and WBC No. 2/WBO No. 3/WBA No. 4/IBF No. 5 Magsayo. The superbantamweights are WBC No. 2/IBF No. 3/WBA No. 5 Tapales, WBO No. 2/IBF No. 7 Martin, IBF No. 10 Jerwin Ancajas (also WBA No. 8 bantamweight) and WBO No. 7 JohnRiel Casimero. Superflyweight JayR Raquinel is ranked No. 4 by WBC and No. 9 by IBF.  Flyweights are IBF No. 6 Esneth Domingo, IBF No. 8 Vince Paras (also WBO No. 6 lightflyweight) and IBF No. 10 Dave Apolinario. The lightflyweights are IBF No. 1/WBA No. 7/WBA No. 8 Araneta, No. 3 IBF/WBO No. 4/WBC No. 9/WBA No. 10 Jayson Vayson, WBO No. 1/WBC No. 6/IBF No. 8 Suganob and WBA No. 2 Paciones. In the minimumweight class are WBO No. 2/WBA No. 7/IBF No. 7 Saludar, IBF No. 8 Jake Amparo and WBC No. 4/WBO No. 9/IBF No. 10 Joey Canoy.

Last year, Filipinos figured in eight world title bouts with Tapales and Jerusalem winning but both also lost with Garen Diagan, Jade Bornea, Nonito Donaire and Vincent Astrolabio. This year, there were only seven world title fights involving Filipinos with Jerusalem winning twice and Taduran once. Losers were Amparo, Apolinario, Astrolabio and Ancajas.