It’s fight day for the Wonder Boy from Ifugao tomorrow, February 20, in what could be his toughest fight yet, a boxing expert say.
Carl Jammes Martin will face Joe Tejones in the co-main event of the Elorde International Productions offering at the Binan Football Stadium in Binan, Laguna.
Martin eyes his 17th win in a career that has not seen a fighter like Tejones, who despite carrying a 13-7 win-loss card is a dangerous foe, admits Highland Boxing Promotion owner Brico Santig.
Santig said that the 21 year old who came in at 122 pounds may still come out the winner against the 124 pound Tejones if it goes the distance.
“Martin in points,” said Santig, named the boxing promoter that last two years by Fightnews Asia.
“Ito na ang pinakamabigat na kalaban ni Wonder Boy, 50/50 siya (This will be the toughest fight yet for the Wonder Boy. It will be 50/50 [chance of victory]),” Santig told this writer.
Santig said that the fighter from Lagawe, Ifugao will be having his first acid test as he tries to continue on his journey as a serious contender for the super bantamweight title and prove that he is the “next Pacquiao” referring to the people’s champ and eight division titlist Manny Pacquiao.
Santig is actually wary of the Valencia City, Bukidon native who won via split decision over his ward KJ Natuplag in June 15, 2019. In September also that year, however, Tejones was knocked out by Tsuyoshi Tameda.
The super bantamweight fight is actually the main undercard in the Robert Paradero and Victorio Saludar slug fest for the World Boxing Association minimum weight belt.
The title fight between the unbeaten Paradero (18-0) and Saludar (20-4) was postponed three times due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). It was first slated in September, then moved to December 5 and last January 30. It was finally moved to Saturday with the Mindanao based Saludar needing to be quarantined for 14 days to be able to fight.
Santig was also asked to have it here in Baguio this month or early March but then the city as well as the whole Cordillera region was declared under general community quarantine.
The 24-year old pride of Valencia City, Bukidnon last fought on April 5 2019 where he knocked out Jonathan Almacen.
He won the World Boxing Organization Asia Pacific Youth minimum title in April 4, 2018 by scoring a unanimous decision over Royder Lloyd Brobon.
Saludar, 30, meanwhile, is a former World Boxing Organization minimum champion who won the belt when he scored a unanimous decision on Ryuya Yamanaka in July 13, 2018.
