Two Filipino fighters are set for crucial battles on foreign soil this Saturday, December 6, 2025, as they aim to capture prestigious regional boxing championships in separate events across Asia and Australia.
Apolinar's Redemption Quest in Tokyo
Pete Apolinar returns to Japan for another high-stakes encounter, this time challenging the undefeated Kenji Fujita for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia-Pacific featherweight title. The bout will be held at the famous Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
The 30-year-old Apolinar carries a professional record of 18 wins, 6 losses, and 1 draw, with 11 of his victories coming by knockout. However, his history in Japan has been challenging, having lost all four of his previous fights on Japanese territory. Those defeats came against notable opponents: Yoshiki Takei, Hayato Tsutsumi, Matcha Nakagawa, and Kaishu Harada.
His opponent, champion Kenji Fujita, presents a formidable obstacle. Fujita boasts a perfect 9-0 record with 5 knockouts and has developed a reputation as a "Pinoy killer." Seven of his nine professional fights have been against Filipino boxers, and he has defeated all of them.
Fujita's list of Filipino victims includes:
- Former world title challenger Jeo Santisima
- Rodex Piala
- Daniel Nicolas
- Michael Casama
- Ronnie Campos
- Joseph Ambo
- Jestine Tesoro
He captured the WBO Asia-Pacific belt with a dominant unanimous decision win over Joseph Ambo and has since defended it successfully against Rodex Piala, Michael Casama, and South Korean contender Ha Nok Sim. An interesting note is that Apolinar once served as a sparring partner for Japanese superstar Naoya Inoue, which he hopes will give him an edge in this critical matchup.
Gomez Targets Former World Champ in Australia
Over 7,000 miles away from Tokyo, another Filipino warrior, Herlan Gomez, steps into the ring at the Gold Coast Convention Centre in Broadbeach, Australia. He will face former world champion Jason Moloney for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) Australasian bantamweight title.
Gomez, who holds a record of 14-2 with 10 knockouts, is determined to return to the win column. His last fight resulted in a unanimous decision loss to Kalolo Amiri in Tanzania on May 24, 2025. Before that setback, Gomez had been on an impressive nine-fight winning streak.
His Australian opponent, Jason Moloney, is equally motivated for a victory. The former world champion has lost his last two bouts, dropping decisions to Yoshiki Takei and Tenshin Nasukawa. Moloney's career highlight came in 2023 when he won the vacant WBO bantamweight world title via majority decision against another Filipino, Vincent Astrolabio, in the United States.
He defended that belt once, earning a majority decision over Saul Sanchez, before losing the title to Yoshiki Takei by unanimous decision in Japan last year. Moloney's professional record stands at 27 wins and 4 losses, with 19 knockouts.
High Stakes for Philippine Boxing
These simultaneous fights represent significant opportunities for Philippine boxing on the international stage. A victory for either Apolinar or Gomez would secure a regional championship and propel the winner into higher rankings and more lucrative future bouts.
For Apolinar, a win would be particularly sweet, breaking his losing streak in Japan and dethroning a champion known for defeating Filipino contenders. For Gomez, defeating a former world champion like Moloney on his home turf would be a career-defining achievement and a powerful comeback statement.
Filipino fight fans will be watching closely as their countrymen carry the nation's flag into battle on two different continents this Saturday, December 6, 2025.
