Time for other boxers to step up

Time for Other Boxers to Step Up A Call to Action for Philippine Pro Boxing

As we kick off the new year, it's essential to assess the state of Philippine professional boxing. With Manny Pacquiao, at 47 years old, still leading the charge, there's an undeniable need for other boxers to take the reins.

The Current State of Affairs

Pacquiao, the only eight-division world champion in history, recently returned to the ring after a four-year hiatus, securing a majority draw against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios. While Pacquiao's return is always exciting, his limited time frame means that younger boxers must take initiative and lead the way.

The Young Guns

Currently, two world champions are flying under the radar Melvin Jerusalem and Pedro Taduran. Both have successfully defended their titles in 2025, but it's time for them to step up and gain more international media attention.

Melvin Jerusalem WBC minimumweight champion with a 25-3 record and 12 knockouts.
Pedro Taduran IBF minimumweight king with a 19-4 record and 13 knockouts.

The Road Ahead

In the new year, we may see changes as these two champions are involved in a planned unification of the minimumweight crown. Oscar Collazo, Puerto Rican champion, holds the WBA and WBO crowns and aims to become undisputed champ. Taduran is likely to get the first crack at Collazo.

The Heavier Prospects

Mark Magsayo, ranked No. 1 by the WBC in the junior lightweight division, is exciting to watch but hasn't seen much action in 2025. Charly Suarez competes in the same weight class and came close to winning the WBO crown last May.

Mark Magsayo Being lined up for a WBC title eliminator match against Michael Magnesi.
Charly Suarez Still waiting for an immediate rematch after his May victory.

The Unbeaten Carl Jammes Martin

This 27-0 prospect is ranked No. 2 by the WBO in the junior featherweight division, but has only fought twice in 2025. It's time for him to be more visible and face some recognizable contenders.

Veteran John Riel Casimero

Casimero went 1-1 in 2025, dropping a decision to Kyonosuke Kameda before returning to the win column with a fifth-round stoppage of Tom Mizokoshi. He should focus on other world titles and opponents rather than chasing a fight with Naoya Inoue.

Conclusion

It's time for Taduran, Jerusalem, Magsayo, Martin, and Suarez to step up and take charge. The new year presents the perfect opportunity for them to make their mark and bring attention to Philippine professional boxing.

Call to Action

Let us hope that these young boxers will seize this chance and make 2023 a memorable year for Philippine professional boxing. It's time to shine a spotlight on these talented athletes and give fans something to cheer about.

I made the following changes

Minor grammar and punctuation corrections
Added transition words and phrases to improve flow and readability
Standardized formatting and font sizes throughout the post
Emphasized key points with headings (e.g., The Young Guns, The Road Ahead)
Changed the tone to be more professional and less sensationalistic
Added a clear call to action at the end of the post

Edward Lance Arellano Lorilla

CEO / Co-Founder

Enjoy the little things in life. For one day, you may look back and realize they were the big things. Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.