TWO Filipino boxers gun for a shot at history as they each seek a world title on the same day under the same fight card.
Miel Fajardo and Zyvyr Medecillo take on two reigning champions from Japan on Nov. 26 at the Ebara Wave Arena in Tokyo in their respective bids to become a world title holder.
The 26-year-old Fajardo battles IBF flyweight champ Masamichi Yabuki, while Medecillo shoots for the WBA minimumweight crown of Takeshi Ishii.
Seeing double
The double title bouts were made possible by RCT Boxing Promotions of former fighter Lennon Tsoi, CEO of the promotional outfit handling the two Filipinos challengers.
Fajardo and Medecillo were both presented in a mini-presser on Monday at the New World Hotel, where they were joined by Tsoi, trainers Jericho Asilo (Fajardo) and Erixon Asilo (Medecillo), Games and Amusements Board chairman Atty. Francisco Rivera, and GAB chief of boxing Rodil Manaog.
While history beckons Fajardo and Medecillo as they try to become the first Filipino boxers to win world titles in the same fight card, both believe they have to go through the wringer to accomplish the feat.
For one, the cold Japanese weather is expected to welcome them in the capital of Tokyo.
“Mahirap dun kasi sa klima pa lang advantage na sila. Tapos kami mag-a-adapt pa, sila adapted na,” said Medecillo, who sports a perfect 9-0 record with 5 KOs.
Added Fajardo, “Una yung makapag-adjust kami sa klima doon kasi alam namin na malamig doon. Pero pagdating naman sa dayo-dayo, ako sanay na rin kaya ang gagawin lang namin yung ginagawa namin sa ensayo.”
Tsoi said the plan is to bring both fighters to Japan at least a week before fight night in order for them to get acclimatized to the weather.
Everything else equal, both Fajardo and Medecillo like their chances.
“Hindi ko iniisip knockout. Basta laban lang lalo pinaghandaan namin ito sa mahabang training. Technical strategies yung pinag-aralan namin so mas teknikal tayong lalaban,” said Fajardo (14-3-2, with 12 KOs), who became the mandatory challenger to Yabuki after his first-round stoppage of Argentine Tobias Jeremias Reyes last April.
The 34-year-old Yabuki (20-4, 18 KOs) is making the third defense of his IBF flyweight crown.
Fajardo also held training camp in Hong Kong where he had undefeated Hong Kong fighter Rex Cho as sparring partner.
Medecillo, 21, meanwhile, was handpicked by the camp of Ishii after having seen him spar in Japan several times.
“Pressure man pero kakayanin. Pangarap ko to, pangarap ng tatay ko, at pangarap ng coach ko so ibibigay ko po lahat ng makakaya ko para makuha yung belt,” said the fighter, who will be gunning to break the record of former world champion Malcolm Tunacao as the fastest Filipino fighter to win a world championship.
Tunacao had only fought 11 fights when he captured the WBC flyweight title.
Ishii, 26, sports a 12-1 record with 9 KOs.
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