JOURNEYMAN Marjohn Yap isn’t done yet and hopes to mount a career resurgence with an impressive win over Papuan prospect Junior Raka in one of VSP Promotions’ biggest shows in the country, “Battlefield UKC Tiger 2022,” on Oct. 23 at the Elorde Sports Center in Parañaque City.
“I’m on a losing streak so this fight is very important for me. I’ll do my best to win so that I’ll return to my winning ways. This is a tune up fight for me and I’ll do my best to win it,” Yap told SunStar Cebu.
Yap, a former ALA Boy, lost his last four fights and is coming off a unanimous decision defeat to former Olympian Charly Suarez, who’s headlining “Battlefield UKC Tiger 2022.”
Even though he lost to Suarez by a lopsided unanimous decision, Yap put on a gallant stand that got the attention of the promoters and gave him another chance at reviving his career.
The 33-year-old Yap’s best days in boxing was when he was based in Japan. He became an Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation, went on a 10-fight winning streak and won against former world champion Juan Jose Landaeta.
“If I’ll have the opportunity to knock him out, then I’ll knock him out,” said Yap. “If he’s tough, then I’ll try to do my best and dominate him.”
Raka has only three fights under his belt and made his pro debut in 2019, wherein he stopped Filipino Allan Vallespin, a more experienced fighter, in seven rounds in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
Raka suffered a unanimous decision loss to Pinoy pug Roldan Aldea in their World Boxing Association (WBA) Asia super featherweight title fight last year.
Yap, who hopes to get a bigger fight after this, is 30-17 with 15 knockouts, while Raka is 2-1 with two knockouts.
In the main event, Suarez defends his WBA super featherweight belt against battle-scarred veteran Carlo Magali.
Suarez, who’s looking for a run at a world title, is 12-0 with seven knockouts, while Magali is 25-15-3 with 13 knockouts.
Also featured in the two-part boxing show is undefeated middleweight prospect Weljohn Mindoro (8-0, 8 KOs), who’s taking on Junjesie Ibgos (13-6, 11 KOs) in a 10-rounder.