MANILA, Philippines — Filipino fighters Miel Fajardo and Zyvyr Medecilo are out to make history in bidding to become world boxing champions on the same card at the Ebara Wave Arena Ota in Tokyo on Nov. 26. Odds are stacked against the challengers as they face hometown favorites but are determined to leave it all in the ring, knowing it’s an opportunity of a lifetime.
Fajardo, 26, takes on IBF flyweight champion Masamichi Yabuki while the undefeated Medecilo engages WBA minimumweight titlist Takeshi Ishii, both in scheduled 12-rounders. It’s not often that Filipinos are in world title fights on the same show. In 2007, Gerry Peñalosa knocked out Jhonny Gonzalez to win the WBO bantamweight crown and Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista lost to Daniel Ponce de Leon in a WBO superbantamweight championship bout at the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, California. If Fajardo and Medecilo ascend the throne, they’ll be the first Filipinos to do it on the same night. Another historic moment could happen as a win by Medecilo will make him the fastest Filipino fighter to become a world champion in his 10th outing.
Fajardo zoomed to No. 1 in the IBF rankings after stopping Tobias Jeremias Reyes at 1:05 of the first round in Sante Fe, Galvez, Santa Paula, Argentina last April. The Filipino slugger, known as the Silent Assassin, decked Reyes with his first punch, a left hook to the jaw. The Argentinian got up but fell thrice more before referee Mario Gonzalez ended the carnage. It was Fajardo’s sixth road victory after three wins in China and one each in Dubai and Bangkok. Fajardo’s record is 14-2-2 with 12 KOs, seven in the first round.
Fajardo trained for a month in Hong Kong where his manager Lennon Tsoi is based. Tsoi and Hong Kong fighter Rex Tso are partners in RCT Hong Kong Boxing Promotions. Medecilo, 21, was in Japan on a sparring contract when he received an offer to take on Ishii. Matchmaker Anthony Arrieta said it’s a big break for Fajardo and Medecilo, crediting Las Vegas boxing honcho Sean Gibbons for negotiating the twin bids with Ohashi Promotions.