RISING Filipino prospect Sem Jopet Enano makes his first international foray as he takes on Misaki Hirano in a scheduled eight-rounder at featherweight on December 7 in Fukuoka, Japan.
Enano carries a record of 7-1 including 3 KOs and will face an opponent with an 11-2 slate (4 KOs)
That he is fighting overseas for the first time gives the Binan, Laguna native a thrill in his young boxing career.
“First international fight ko, and ang feeling ko is regular fight lang din siya. Ang pinag-kaiba lang, sa abroad gagawin. Pero dahil na din sa abroad gagawin, talagang excited ako, mas pursigido ako sa training,” said Enano.
“Naniniwala naman ako sa sarili ko na kaya ko manalo, maganda kasi ang preparasyon, ang training. Gutom ako sa panalo, kaya - hindi naman sa minamaliit ko yung kalaban - tiwala ako sa sarili ko na kaya ko,” he added.
Fighting out of Sanman, the 26-year-old Filipino Enano is aiming for a win in the hope of establishing himself and eventually, earn a world title shot in the near future.
He idolizes eight-time world division champion and Hall of Famer Manny Pacquiao.
Enano considers his parents, Jose and Salvacion, and his 10 siblings as motivations every time he climbs the ring.
“Talagang pangarap ko na mabigyan sila ng magandang buhay. Ang parents ko kasama na din ang mga kapatid ko. Sila ang inspirasyon ko kaya talagang pinagbubuti ko sa ensayo at lalo sa mga laban ko,” he said.
Enano finished his junior high school via Alternative Learning Center or ALC at Binan’s national high school. He opted to skip college to focus on boxing, and in 2023, he opted to turn pro after a three-year amateur career, where he posted a record of 18 wins with two losses.
Though he started late at age 14 as an amateur boxer, he was able to develop his skills, which enabled him to jump to pro with ease. He won his first four pro fights, before losing to Bryan Cabrillos of Davao City in a majority decision last March 2024.
Enano bounced back with a TKO win against Rodelyn Perez July of the same year, and it was at that time when Sanman big wig JC Manangquil took notice of his potential.
“Lumapit ako kay boss JC after ko manalo na kung pwede niya ako matulungan," he said.
"Malaking tulong kasi may mga improvements talaga ako, and eto nga nabigyan ako agad ng pagkakataon na makalaban sa abroad,” said Enano who also considers American boxers Teofino Lopez and Jesse Rodriguez and former Ukranian fighter Vasiliy Lomachenko as his other favorites.
Enano’s last fight was a TKO win against Reycar Auxilio August 31 of this year at the Phela Grande Convention Center in General Santos City.
Since being with Sanman, he has been based in General Santos City, training with the coaches of Sanman Boxing Club, including his head coach JR Edurot.
Enano will be facing a dangerous opponent eyeing a bounce back win after Hirano suffered a majority decision loss to compatriot Toshiki Shimomachi last January 24 in Koto-Ko.
"Tignan na lang natin sa laban, parehas naman kami nagpre-prepara. Gutom siya na maka-balik uli sa panalo, pero gutom din naman ako sa panalo kasi alam kong magbibigay daan ito sa akin ng mas malalaking laban."
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