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MANILA, Philippines – The International Boxing Federation (IBF) has ordered Filipino boxer Michael Farenas to square off with Mexican-American pugilist Diego Magdaleno to determine the next challenger for the organization’s super featherweight championship.
Farenas, the 30-year-old protégé of two-division world champion Gerry Peñalosa, was supposed to vie for Rances Barthelemy’s IBF belt after an eighth-round stoppage of previously unbeaten Mark Davis last month at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.
However, the title-sanctioning body claimed that Farenas’ triumph over Davis did not guarantee him a championship opportunity and ruled that he should meet No.3-IBF ranked boxer Fernando Saucedo to earn a mandatory shot.
In another change in plans, Saucedo is now slated to face Barthelemy, an undefeated Cuban who has an impressive record of 20-0 with 12 knockouts.
Due to the IBF’s decision to permit the Barthelemy-Saucedo title tilt, Farenas has no other choice but to accept the offer to battle the mandated opponent in Magdaleno on a date and at a location to be announced soon.
Farenas, a 5-foot-5 native of Gubat, Sorsogon, says he is willing to face anyone inside the ring as long as it will lead him into a crack at the world title.
“I’m open to a variety of possibilities in boxing. As long as it will guarantee me to fight for the belt, I’m going after it,” he said in an interview with Rappler last July 26 at Peñalosa’s boxing event in Mandaluyong City.
Since his disappointing setback to Yuriorkis Gamboa in December 2012, Farenas (39-4-4, 31 KOs) piled up five-straight knockout wins, thumping the likes of Gerardo Zayas, Kosol Sor Vorapin, Jesus Rios, Hector Velazquez and Davis.
The 27-year-old Magdaleno (26-1, 10 KOs) has won three fights in a row since his unsuccessful title campaign versus then-WBO super featherweight champion Roman Martinez in April 2013.
Farenas currently holds the No. 2 spot in the IBF rankings, while his fellow southpaw Magdaleno occupies the No. 6 seat. – Rappler.com
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