Filipino title fighters wait in limbo for re-scheduling

The Coronavirus outbreak continues to have professional sports on hold, not just in the United States, but worldwide. And, for numerous fighters in the Philippines they are all waiting when their world title fights may be able to be staged.

The Philippine Star reported Thursday that several fighters, including IBF super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas, as well as WBO Bantamweight champion JohnRiel Casimero, are waiting to find out when their postponed bouts in the United States can take place:

Sports page of today’s @PhilippineStar issue Thurs Apr 9, 2020—stories include PBA options of 1 or 2 conferences, Ginebra’s titles during 2-conference seasons, NorthPort coach Pido’s thoughts on season, Filipino world title fights on hold—stories in https://t.co/bItc8kqDsk pic.twitter.com/AxJy13CtSo

— Quinito Henson (@TheDeanQuinito) April 9, 2020

Ancajas (above) was slated to fight Mexican Jonathan Rodriguez in Las Vegas this weekend but the fight was postponed when the COVID-19 pandemic took full effect in March. Ancajas has made eight successful title defenses, but is now on indefinite hold, while Las Vegas will remain on “Stay home” restriction through at least the middle of May or longer.

Also, the Nevada State Athletic Commission has announced that they won’t even be meeting, much less licensing fights, anytime before then.

According to the Star, Ancajas continues to train in the Philippines in isolation waiting for “the all-clear” to come to the United States sometime this summer, if and when, the fight is rescheduled.

As for Casimero , he was to have fought unbeaten Unified Bantamweight Champion Naoya “the Monster” Inoue also in a Las Vegas showdown on April 25th. Casimero has been in the United States since February training and is currently in Las Vegas waiting for the go-ahead to resume a full camp for the fight with Inoue.  Manny Pacquiao Promotions CEO, Sean Gibbons, told the Star that it’s believed the Casimero and Inoue battle will be in July.

We also wrote previously that eight-division world champion and Hall – of – Famer – to- be, Manny Pacquiao, has been in isolation due to possible exposure to Covid-19, but that he has tested negative. It is still unclear when Pacquiao will be able to fight this summer and against whom?

The belief is that Pacquiao will fight a welterweight battle perhaps against fellow PBC fighter and former WBC 147 lb. champ, Danny Garcia. Or, Pacquiao may be pitted against Matchroom Boxing’s newly signed former lightweight champion, Mikey Garcia.

Pacquiao could choose also to fight a mega-showdown boxing match with UFC top draw, Conor McGregor. Pacquiao signed on earlier this year with McGregor’s Los Angeles based, P.R. agency, which seemed to signal that the two of them could be fighting later this year or in early 2021.

Three other Filipino fighters waiting are:

Giemel Magramo scheduled to fight in Japan this month for the WBO Flyweight title, Marco John Rementizo scheduled to fight for the WBC “Minimum weight” title in California this month and WBC top Bantamweight contender Nonito Donaire Jr. (who lost to Inoue his last time out) slated to challenge WBC champion Nordine Oubaali of France, also in California in April.

For now, it’s a waiting game.