Filipino Plania pulls-off huge upset over Joshua Greer

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The first Filipino boxer to fight amid the COVID-19 pandemic made sure that all his sacrifices paid off.

Mike Plania, who was determined as the clear underdog, knocked down top American boxer Joshua Greer Jr. twice in the early rounds to help him clinch an upset victory in their Bantamweight clash.

Greer, who was ranked as the no. 1 by the WBO, no. 2 by the IBF, and no. 8 by the WBC, took a beating to Filipino rising star Plania in their 10-round showdown.

Plania set the tone and took control of the early part of the match after sending Greer down to the canvass in the first round with a quick left hook.

However, Greer recovered and got back to his feet but the surging Plania was smoking hot and put out huge combination bombs that put him ahead of the scorecards immediately.

Greer tried to catch up in the scorecards and started to connect with his jabs and right hooks but the Filipino sensation unleashed another monster left hand that connected with Greer’s face which dropped him for the second time in the fight.

Scorecards were 94-94, 96-92, and 97-91, a majority decision victory for Plania who will climb the Bantamweight ranking ladder after the upset.