AI-generated image of former light flyweight champion Kyosuke Takami in a boxing gym

AI-generated image

Former world champion Kyosuke Takami returns in Cebu this weekend, giving Filipino underdog Mohaleden Kalibo a chance to make his name at Fuente Osmeña Circle. Abroad, the WBA has put two mandatory fights on the table, including one that complicates Ryan Garcia’s welterweight plans.

1. Takami gives Kalibo a bigger test than the record suggests

Edri Aznar of SunStar Cebu reports that Japan’s Kyosuke Takami will box Mohaleden Kalibo in an eight-round non-title bout on Saturday’s Fist of Fury XIII card. Takami, 10 wins and one loss with eight knockouts, has been out of the ring for nearly 11 months since losing his WBA light flyweight belt to Rene Santiago by unanimous decision. Kalibo is 6–5 but has won twice in a row, stopping Ryan Espuerta and edging Vengie Patac by majority decision. An eight-round fight gives Kalibo less time to recover if he concedes the early rounds. His best opportunity is to make the returning fighter work from the start. The Filipino championship bout still headlines the card: John Kevien Jimenez faces Carlo Diaz VII for the vacant Philippine minimumweight title.

2. The WBA gives Teofimo Lopez and Jack Catterall a new deadline

The WBA reaffirmed that its welterweight super champion Teofimo Lopez must face Jack Catterall, who holds the organization’s other world belt at 147 pounds. The committee gave the sides 10 calendar days from its November 11 resolution to agree on a date or submit an alternative. A purse bid can be requested if they cannot reach a deal. The WBA says no formal request for a unification exemption had been submitted as of its decision; BoxingScene reported that Chris Mannix had reviewed a copy of a request that Lopez’s team says it filed November 5 for a Ryan Garcia fight. That procedural dispute has yet to produce an exemption or a fight date. As yesterday’s edition noted, Garcia has also publicly named Floyd Mayweather as a possible opponent. Neither path is a confirmed booking.

3. Schofield’s first mandatory defense points to Valenzuela

The WBA has also directed lightweight champion Floyd Schofield Jr. to negotiate with José Valenzuela through December 11. The order follows the committee’s decision to uphold Schofield’s October win over Lucas Bahdi and deny Bahdi an immediate rematch. Valenzuela’s manager, Rick Mirigian, told BoxingScene on Thursday he expects a deal can be made. That is his assessment. Golden Boy promotes Schofield and Zuffa Boxing promotes Valenzuela, so the parties still have to agree on terms before a fight can be announced. Schofield is being asked to move straight from a disputed title win to a former champion who brings a southpaw look.

Powcast video: Where Garcia fits in the Pacquiao discussion

The published description of Pow Salud’s November 11 boxing upload puts five possible Manny Pacquiao opponents up for discussion. As our coverage of Sean Gibbons’ proposed return window explained, those names were possibilities for bigger fights after an initial outing. The new WBA decision concerns Lopez’s belt and Catterall’s claim to a mandatory defense. It does not establish Garcia’s availability for Pacquiao. A confirmed date and opponent for Pacquiao’s first fight back would tell fans more than any change in Garcia’s options.

Watchlist

  • Joey Canoy: The WBC announced Siyakholwa Kuse’s voluntary minimumweight defense against Canoy at its convention. Date and venue are still to be announced.
  • Cebu: Takami and Kalibo’s scheduled weigh-in is Friday at the Cebu City Sports Center. An official result was not available at press time.

Upcoming Boxing: Fights to Watch

  • November 14, Cebu City: John Kevien Jimenez vs. Carlo Diaz VII for the vacant Philippine minimumweight title, Fuente Osmeña Circle. Takami vs. Kalibo is on the announced undercard.
  • November 14 local, November 15 Philippine time: Diego Pacheco vs. Darius Fulghum, Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California. Confirmed for Pacheco’s WBC Silver and WBO International super middleweight titles. Anthony Olascuaga vs. Yuberjen Martínez for the WBO flyweight title is on the same card.
  • November 15, Dasmariñas: Kenneth Llover vs. Sagar Chouhan, Dasmariñas Arena, Cavite. Listed for 10 rounds at super bantamweight, with no title advertised or start time verified.
  • November 20 local, November 21 Philippine time: Lauren Price vs. Michaela Kotásková, Utilita Arena, Cardiff, Wales, confirmed unified welterweight title defense; Gabriela Fundora vs. Jasmina Zapotoczna, Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, confirmed undisputed flyweight title defense.

Filipino Fighters Abroad

  • November 21, Tokyo, Japan: Korakuen Hall, confirmed card, 5:45 p.m. local / 4:45 p.m. Philippine time. Arvin Jhon Paciones vs. Jukiya Iimura; Dan Dacles vs. Tsukuru Midorikawa; Kevin Aseniero vs. Aoi Yokoyama; Franz Carl Muyso vs. Toya Kunikawa. No titles advertised.
  • November 21, Hong Kong: Harbour Grand Hong Kong Grand Ballroom, confirmed card. Carlo Bacaro vs. Sairike Tuolewutayi for the WBO Oriental welterweight title; Jaervi Hernani vs. Yang Weilin in a non-title bout. Same Philippine date; start time unverified.
  • November 21, Illescas, Spain: Philippine-born Bernard Angelo Torres vs. José Gabriel Carfunjol, Plaza de Toros, confirmed card. Starts 5 p.m. local / midnight November 22 Philippine time. Espabox reports regional WBA lightweight stakes; the exact belt is unconfirmed.
  • November 26, Tokyo, Japan: EBARA WAVE Arena Ota, confirmed card, 3:30 p.m. local / 2:30 p.m. Philippine time. Miel Fajardo vs. Masamichi Yabuki for the IBF flyweight title; Zyvyr John Medecilo vs. Takeshi Ishii for the WBA minimumweight title; Ronnelick Ballesteros vs. Yuga Fujiki for the vacant WBC Youth lightweight title; Melchor Roda vs. Masanori Rikiishi and Vincent Lacar vs. Seiya Nakayama in non-title bouts.
  • November 28, Brisbane, Australia: Later confirmed assignment: Joseph Ambo vs. Dana Coolwell, The Fortitude Music Hall. No title advertised. The event is listed at 1:30 p.m. local / 11:30 a.m. Philippine time.

Listed times are for cards, not individual ring walks. Cebu gives Kalibo a chance to beat a former champion at home, while the November 26 Tokyo card gives two Filipino challengers a chance to become champions themselves.