Fredriksson-Yap bout spices up ‘Binukbukay sa Sugbo’ undercard

Alexander Fredriksson (left) and Mark John Yap (right). | Facebook photos

CEBU CITY, Philippines— The upcoming “Binukbukay sa Sugbo” boxing extravaganza added another exciting undercard bout featuring a seasoned veteran and a rising amateur standout that guarantees a show stealer on February 8 at the plush NUSTAR Resort and Casino.

Filipino-Swedish former amateur standout Alexander Fredriksson, the newest addition to Omega Boxing Gym, faces his toughest challenge yet, the battle-tested Mark John Yap.

Fredriksson, who made an impressive pro debut last December by stopping Jubmark Pan via a first-round technical knockout, is eager to prove he belongs on the big stage.

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While his professional record is still in its infancy, his extensive amateur background speaks volumes, boasting a stellar 36-10 (win-loss) record with nine knockouts in Europe’s elite tournaments.

LEGACY IN JAPAN

On the other side, stands the 36-year-old Yap, a seasoned warrior with a 34-19 (win-loss) record, including 17 knockouts. Yap carved his legacy in Japan, where he fought 17 times between 2012 and 2018, capturing the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) bantamweight title.

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However, he enters this fight looking to bounce back from an eighth-round stoppage loss to Jerald Into last August in a bid for the WBC Asian lightweight title.

Aside from the Fredriksson-Yap matchup, the undercard features several thrilling bouts. Former world champion Vic Saludar (25-6, 15 KOs) returns to face Roldan Sasan (8-6-1, 3 KOs) in a must-watch encounter. Jason Balajadja (5-1, 4 KOs) collides with Vergil Deguma (9-9, 4 KOs), while Raffie Jamero (2-2, 1 KO) squares off against Yuli Hindoy (4-2, 3 KOs). Tristan Jay Racho also takes on Aubrey Silot in what promises to be an action-packed affair.

The event’s main card features a triple-header of WBO regional title fights. South Korea’s Jong Seon Kang (20-1-2, 11 KOs) will defend his WBO Global featherweight crown against Japan’s Ryuto Owan (13-2, 8 KOs) in the headliner. ARQ Boxing Stable’s Rodex Piala (10-1, 1 KO) will also challenge reigning WBO Oriental super featherweight champion Yeerjialahasi Laayibieke (10-2, 7 KOs) of China. Meanwhile, former world title challenger Genesis Servania (35-4, 16 KOs) takes on China’s Aketelieti Yelejian (9-4-1, 2 KOs) for the vacant WBO Oriental lightweight title.