1 week Ago By Edri K. Aznar
INTERNATIONAL Boxing Federation (IBF) No. 14 flyweight Mark Vicelles will make his Japan debut on May 18, 2025, when he takes on Chinese fighter Xiang Li in an eight-rounder at the Fujisan Messe in Fuji, Shizuoka. Vicelles was once one of the highly-rated Filipinos in the light-flyweight division.
He failed his opportunity at a world title shot after losing to Regie Suganob in an IBF light-flyweight title eliminator by technical decision in Bohol in 2023. After his loss to Suganob, the 29-year-old Vicelles moved up to the flyweight division and won both of his fights. He stopped Ronald Alapormina via third-round stoppage and outclassed previously-unbeaten Albert Francisco by unanimous decision.
The 26-year-old Li is a former regional champion and has held the World Boxing Council (WBC) Asian Continental and World Boxing Organization (WBO) Youth light-flyweight straps. Li is all too familiar with Filipinos as all his three losses were at the hands of Pinoys. His first loss was by unanimous decision against hard-hitting Miel Fajardo in 2018.
He then suffered a unanimous decision defeat to Jonathan Almacen that same year. His most recent defeat was against world-rated AJ Paciones, who beat him by a lopsided unanimous decision last year. Vicelles is 19-1-1 with 11 knockouts, while Li is 9-3-2 with four knockouts.
Meanwhile, Arnel Baconaje will also see action on the same card against Rentaro Kimura. Baconaje is in search of his first win in Japan after losing his first three bouts in the Land of the Rising Sun. He’s coming off a first-round technical knockout of Glenn Bismanos earlier this year.
Kimura, on the other hand, is fighting his third Filipino opponent. He previously defeated Jess Rhey Waminal and Jason Buenaobra. Kimura is fresh from a first-round knockout of Yuri Takemoto.
Baconaje is 18-9 with 13 knockouts, while Kimura is 9-1 with five knockouts. / EKA.
