EVEN though on short notice, veteran Marjohn Yap steps up to the plate to face three-time world title challenger Miguel Marriaga in a 10-rounder on July 17, 2020 (RP time) in another Top Rank show inside The Bubble of the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Yap, a 13-year veteran, didn’t hesitate and agreed to fight Marriaga despite being offered the bout just less than two weeks before the show.
“I just grabbed the opportunity because it was a huge offer,” Yap told SunStar Cebu. “Times are hard now. A lot of people don’t have income.”
Yap is currently living in California, working as a caregiver. He took a leave of absence from work just to fight Marriaga and get some extra cash.
Yap admitted that he’s not in top fighting shape, but he’s kept himself busy by training at home.
“I was offered just last July 3 or 4, I think. It’s a late notice, and I lack the training, especially getting the weight. Hopefully, I’ll get the weight and be able to fight,” said the 31-year-old Yap.
Yap lost his last two fights in the US. He dropped a unanimous decision to Angelo Lee last June 28, 2019 and lost a closer unanimous decision to Angel Alejandro last November 23.
The 33-year-old Marriaga, in the meantime, has won his last four contests. He stopped Derlinson Buriel, Jose Estrella, Ruben Cervera and Alfredo Mejia Vargas. He has fought three times for a world title and lost to Nicholas Walters, Oscar Valdez and Vasiliy Lomachenko.
Yap is 30-15 with 15 knockouts, while Marriaga is 29-3 with 25 knockouts. Even though the odds are up against Yap, he still believes he has a puncher’s chance of winning.
“I know that I can’t keep up with him the whole fight because I lacked practice,” he said. “I might get lucky and catch him. Nothing’s impossible.” (EKA)