BEN Ligas and Jules Victoriano are gunning for regional belts on July 30, 2022 at the Grand Ho Tram Strip in Vung Tau City, Vietnam.
Ligas challenges World Boxing Organization (WBO) No. 3 Olimjon Nazarov for the latter’s WBO Oriental flyweight strap.
Ligas could break into the WBO rankings if he scores a huge upset over Nazarov, who’s closing in on a world title shot.
Though coming in as an underdog, the 24-year-old Ligas is a very talented fighter. He beat the likes of Alphoe Dagayloan, Cristoval Furog and Roland Jay Biendima. He also settled for a draw with world ranked Miel Fajardo.
The 36-year-old Nazarov has been patiently waiting for his title shot but doesn’t have much time left and can’t afford to lose.
Since his loss to Dagoberto Aguero in 2017, Nazarov won his next 14 fights. Some of his victims in his run are Pinoy fighters Jerome Baloro, Michael Mendoza, Orlie Silvestre and Ivan Soriano.
Ligas is 14-2-2 with nine knockouts; Nazarov is 27-5 with 15 knockouts.
Victoriano, on the other hand, takes on hometown hero Hong Quan Dinh for his International Boxing Federation (IBF) Asia lightweight belt.
The 25-year-old Victoriano won his last two contests, beating Jetro Pabustan and Dave Barlas.
Dinh, in the meantime, won his last six straight fights.
The 24-year-old Dinh won the IBF Asia belt with a unanimous decision against Pinoy Delmar Pellio on April 23.
Victoriano is 11-4 with eight knockouts; Dinh is 8-1-1 with four knockouts.