Mike Plania becomes first Filipino to box amid COVID-19 pandemic

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Filipino bantamweight sensation Mike Plania will become the first Filipino to stage a fight amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

One of the fighters stuck in the US amid the ongoing pandemic, Plania was tapped by Top Rank Promotions to square-off against the number one-ranked bantamweight by the World Boxing Organization (WBO), Joshua Greer.

Greer, who holds an impressive 21-1-1 record with 12 wins coming by way of knockout, was rumored to be Johnriel Casimero’s opponent when Top Rank head honcho Bob Arum announced that Naoya Inoue won’t be available for the fight.

However, Manny Pacquiao (MP) Promotions president Sean Gibbons negated Arum’s statement and said that they already contacted Inoue’s camp and confirmed that the fight would push through.

With Greer already out of Casimero’s way, Top Rank immediately set the Plania-Greer bout to be staged on Tuesday, June 16 (June 17, Wednesday, PH time).

Plania, who’s famous with his heavy right knockout power, holds a win-loss record of 23-1 with 12 wins via way of stoppage.

“We’re confident because this is the big break Plania has been waiting for. Greer is good but nothing extraordinary,” said JC Manangquil, SanMan Promotions president who holds Plania.