The country’s two remaining world boxing champions swing back into action with IBF minimumweight ruler Pedro Taduran first in line against Mexican challenger Gustavo Perez in Temecula, California, on April 3 then WBC minimumweight king Melvin Jerusalem next against Siyakholwa Kuse in a Johannesburg, South Africa, rematch on May 16.
In a loaded boxing schedule, several world-rated Filipinos are booked to take on tough opponents in the coming month. WBC No. 2, WBO No. 3 and IBF No. 4 superbantamweight Marlon Tapales stakes his lofty rankings against former IBF 122-pound champion Yukinori Oguni in Tokyo on April 3. Oguni, 37, is coming off a win over Thai Thachtana Luangphon in Tokyo last October. Tapales, 33, is on the verge of another title shot with four straight wins, three by KO. He’s a former WBO bantamweight and WBA/IBF superbantamweight champion with a 41-4 record, including 22 KOs. A loss to Oguni may obliterate Tapales’ hopes to secure a chance for one more world crown.
Mark Magsayo, now campaigning in the lightweight ranks, is scheduled to battle Irish southpaw Feargal (Fearless) McCrory in a tenner at the Meta Apex, Las Vegas, on April 5. McCrory, 33, raced to a 16-0 record before losing to Lamont Roach on an eighth round TKO in June 2024. He has since bounced back to halt Keenan Carbajal but that was a year ago. Magsayo, 30, was once the WBC featherweight king and is now ranked No. 5 by IBF and No. 11 by WBO in the 135-pound division. He was in the queue for a shot at the superfeatherweight title but has jumped the line to invade the lightweight class. Magsayo’s record is 28-2, with 18 KOs. Magnifico recently joined UFC head Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing stable.
Then, there’s the mercurial John Riel Casimero, a former three-division world champion. He’s now 37 but still going strong. Casimero is set to face former WBC bantamweight and superbantamweight titlist Luis Nery, a tough Mexican southpaw, in Kyrgyzstan on April 18. Nery is ranked No. 5 by WBA and WBC and No. 10 by IBF in the featherweight division and No. 4 by WBO in the superbantamweight class.
Two Filipinos are in negotiations for major outings. WBO No. 1 superfeatherweight Charly Suarez, now represented by promoter Sampson Lewkowicz, is awaiting conclusion of talks for a rematch with WBO champion Emanuel Navarrete. WBO has set a deadline of March 31 for both camps to come to terms. If no agreement is reached, a purse bid will be conducted at a starting level of $150,000. IBF No. 3, WBC No. 6 and WBA No. 10 bantamweight Kenneth Llover is also in negotiations for an IBF title eliminator against IBF No. 6, WBA No 8 and WBC No. 13 Michael Angeletti, a Texan with a 14-0 record, including eight KOs. Llover, 23, is likewise unbeaten with a 17-0 mark, including 12 KOs. Llover’s manager Gerry Peñalosa said the deadline to complete negotiations is March 31 and if no agreement is reached, a purse bid will be held on April 7.