# History of boxing in the Philippines

The history of boxing in the Philippines is the history of boxing and the evolution and progress of the sport in the Philippines. In the Philippines, boxing is one of its most popular sports, together with basketball, due to the many accolades it has brought to the country, having produced 46 major world champions (including those of Filipino heritage), one of the most in the world. Despite not having won a gold medal in boxing, the Philippines has had multiple Olympic standouts, with 10 out of its 18 total Olympic medals coming from boxing, along with some of the greatest fighters in the history of the sport. Filipino greats like Pancho Villa and Flash Elorde are members of the two highly respected boxing hall of fames – International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) and World Boxing Hall of Fame (WBHF) thus, giving the Philippines the most number of Boxing Hall of Famers outside the United States.

## Golden ages of Philippine boxing

Local folk narrative says that before the Spaniards and Americans came to the Philippines, Filipinos had their own kind of boxing known as suntukan,"bare-hand fighting" in Tagalog, (and similarly in other Philippine languages with the same meaning) generally believed to have evolved from a Filipino knife fighting technique called "kali". During the Spanish colonization martial arts and fight sports were banned, so it was driven underground where the lack of knives and rattan sticks lead to fist fighting. Despite this claim, centuries old documents still need to be uncovered and translated for verification on whether or not the Philippine natives had a codified system of unarmed combat before boxing since there are no surviving reports and records of any kind of unarmed fighting in Luzon and Visayas practicing a system of empty-hand combat, apart only from local wrestling, as fighting only becomes a martial art if trainings are systematic and orderly, thus, "codified".

### First golden age of Philippine boxing

The evolution of Philippine boxing began after when Spain ceded its colonial territories, namely Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the United States as agreed in the Treaty of Paris on 1898 which led to the Philippine–American War on 1899. Some reports state U.S. soldiers brought modern boxing to the Philippines, evidenced by a pair boxing gloves made by Sol Levinson of San Francisco. Another story tells of a renegade soldier brought some boxing gloves to Filipino prisoners and taught them how to use them. However, it was generally believed that three Americans were responsible for the evolution of boxing in the country namely: Frank Churchill and the Tait brothers (Eddie and Stewart) Eddie and Stewart Tait, also dubbed as "Barnums of Borneo", were amusement park entrepreneurs who established carnivals and horse racing tracks in Manila, who arrived in the country in 1902. Eddie, believed to be a boxing enthusiast, wanted to attract crowds by teaching Filipino locals some western boxing lessons for free to create American-style Filipino boxers.
In 1921, boxing was legalized in the Philippines and began to flourish. Frank Churchill joined by the Tait brothers, established the Olympic Boxing Club in Manila. During this time, the country saw the first batch of great Filipino fighters such as Dencio Cabanela, Speedy Dado, the Flores brothers (Francisco, Elino, Macario and Ireneo), Pete Sarmiento, Sylvino Jamito, Macario Villon and the legendary Pancho Villa. The first golden age of Philippine boxing emerge as Pancho Villa won the universal world flyweight championship from Welshman Jimmy Wilde to become the first ever Asian and Filipino world champion. Villa defended his title three times including a fight in the Philippines with fellow Filipino Clever Sencio where he won by fifteen-round decision, which at the time, nobody thought it would be the last victory of his young career. The glorious era was short-lived following the ring deaths of popular fighters Dencio Cabanela and Clever Sencio along with the death of Pancho Villa from Ludwig's angina and their influential promoter Frank Churchill.
There was also the Filipino-Spanish boxer, Luis Logan, who at one time or another held the title Oriental welterweight and heavyweight champion. Logan's boxing career spanned 1925–1940; and spent half his boxing career in Spain, Argentina, outside of the Philippines.
On October 2, 1939, a sudden uplift came when Ceferino Garcia won the NYSAC world middleweight championship from American Fred Apostoli at the Madison Square Garden, New York, United States. On December 23, 1939, Garcia successfully defended his title for the first time against American Glen Lee in front of his countrymen inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex which was the first world title bout ever recorded in the Philippine islands. Garcia also competed with some of the best boxers ever like Barney Ross and Henry Armstrong, to whom he denied his fourth title in four weight divisions through a draw. However, he then lost at the hands of Ken Overlin, unable to land his famous bolo punch and losing the title.

### Second golden age of Philippine boxing

On July 20, 1955, Filipino boxing fans saw the birth of Philippine boxing's second golden era as a Cebuano boxer named Gabriel "Flash" Elorde beat the then reigning world featherweight champion and later Hall of Famer Sandy Saddler in a non-title bout at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. Elorde went on to win the world super featherweight championship from Harold Gomes by a seventh-round knockout on March 16, 1960. Elorde kept his world title inside a division record of 7 years and 2 months with 10 successful defenses, including a one-round knockout of Gomes in a rematch. Flash Elorde, during his time, was one of the busiest fighters who traveled to fight very often. A great and fearless fighter, Elorde was one of the most beloved Filipino athletes since Pancho Villa. In this Elorde inspired period, twenty world champions were created spanning from Roberto Cruz to Gerry Peñalosa along with the formation of the "Big Four of Professional Boxing" or the major sanctioning bodies, namely the WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO. However, as time goes by, boxing was becoming less popular in the country because of many alternative sports including basketball until Manny Pacquiao came.

### Third golden age of Philippine boxing (present)

A Filipino boxer named Manny Pacquiao was an entertaining star in the local boxing television show called "Blow-by-Blow" by the famed Filipino manager and promoter Rod Nazario. Viewers became accustomed to Pacquiao's name not only because of his aggressive style but also due to his unique looks and catchy surname. Pacquiao's ascendancy heralded a new wave of Filipino boxers and marks the third great era of Philippine boxing.
On December 4, 1998, Pacquiao upset Thai Champion Chatchai Sasakul in Thailand to win the Lineal and WBC flyweight championship (his first world title). On his title defense, Pacquiao lost his title on the scale and was knocked out in the fight by Medgoen Singsurat of Thailand. Pacquiao lost his WBC title on the scales as he was unable to make the flyweight limit. Pacquiao gained weight and skipped the super flyweight and bantamweight divisions to fight at super bantamweight division. Pacquiao, for the second time in his career, was the heavy underdog against South African Lehlohonolo Ledwaba, the reigning IBF super bantamweight champion. On June 23, 2001, Pacquiao dethroned Ledwaba to win his second world title in two different weight divisions. In 2003, Pacquiao's career rose to its peak as he stopped the then reigning Lineal and The Ring featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera of Mexico via 11th-round technical knockout. Since that time, Pacquiao has acquired three lineal titles and four major (WBC & IBF) world titles along six different divisions—flyweight (112 lbs.), super bantamweight (122 lbs.), featherweight (126 lbs.), super featherweight (130 lbs.), lightweight (135 lbs.) and light welterweight (140 lbs.).
On November 14, 2009, Pacquiao surpassed Oscar De La Hoya's record of six-division titles by stopping WBO welterweight champion Miguel Angel Cotto to win his seventh title across seven divisions. One year later, he made history by being the first boxer ever to win eight world titles in eight weight divisions as he dominated Mexican slugger Antonio Margarito to win the vacant WBC light middleweight title in a catchweight bout. Since 2003, Pacquiao amassed a record of 21 wins, 3 defeats and 1 draw in his last 25 fights. The Filipino fighter defeated some of the best opposition available on the way to superstardom (earning the nickname "the Mexicutioner") including Mexicans Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Márquez and Antonio Margarito, British Ricky Hatton, Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto, and Americans Oscar De La Hoya, Shane Mosley, Timothy Bradley and Keith Thurman.
The "Pacquiao Wave" regenerated boxing in the Philippines, inspiring a new generation of boxers to aim ever higher. Nonito Donaire, one of the Pacquiao-wave fighters, became the second Asian to win four world titles in four weight divisions by defeating South African Simpiwe Vetyeka to claim the WBA featherweight title on May 31, 2014. In 2017, Donnie Nietes became the third Filipino boxer to win world titles in three different weight divisions when he defeated Thailand's Komgrich Nantapech in May 2017. In Dec. 31 2018, Donnie Nietes became the third Filipino boxer and third Asian to win world titles in Four different weight divisions when he defeated Japanese Kazuto Ioka via split decision on New Year's Eve, winning the vacant World Boxing Organization belt at the Wynn Palace in Macau. Another famous or rather infamous Filipino boxer John Riel Casimero became the fourth Filipino boxer to win world titles in three different weight divisions when he defeated Zolani Tete via TKO on November 30, 2019 in England. His boxing persona pave the way to building-up his fights, this makes him a rarity in amongst Filipino boxing fans in present times.

## Philippines' contribution to boxing

The Philippines is one of the founding member nations of the World Boxing Council (WBC) and Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF). Filipino boxers also contributed to the history of boxing from rules and techniques to records and achievements. Pancho Villa is not only the first Asian and Filipino world champion but is also described as one of the cleanest boxers before the proper rules were established. Ceferino Garcia is credited as the inventor of the "bolo punch". However, according to Tahoma News-Tribune, a fellow Filipino boxer named Macario Flores was reportedly using it. Gabriel "Flash" Elorde still holds the record for longest reign in the super featherweight or junior lightweight (130 lbs.) division – 7 years, 2 months and 29 days with 10 title defenses. His success was due to his innovative footwork and maneuvers which he learned from training Balintawak Eskrima with his father "Tatang" Elorde who was the Eskrima champion of Cebu. Elorde's style from eskrima has been adopted by many boxers, including his friend Muhammad Ali, which influenced the out-boxer style of boxing.
While Donnie Nietes holds as the longest Filipino world champion in the light flyweight division. On November 13, 2010, Manny Pacquiao entered the Guinness Book of World Records for being the first ever boxer to win eight world titles in eight (8) different divisions (see also Octuple Champion) by defeating Mexican Antonio Margarito via 12-round unanimous decision to claim the vacant WBC light middleweight championship.

## Philippines' popular ring officials

The Philippines has produced respected ring officials. Referee Carlos "Sonny" Padilla officiated the famous "Thrilla in Manila" match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in 1975. He worked as third man in the ring in many big matches for over 25 years.
In 2012, the World Boxing Council awarded Rey Danseco the Judge of the Year. He received the accolade in a rite held during the 50th Annual WBC Convention at the Grand Oasis Hotel in Cancún, Mexico. To date, Danseco is the only Asian boxing ring official to win an award of such magnitude. He is also a multiple Judge of the Year awardee in the Philippines until he moved to the US in 2012.
Danseco judged the world championship fights of some big names in boxing of his generation, such as Canelo Alvarez, Errol Spence Jr., Danny García, Robert Guerrero, Julio César Chávez, Bernard Hopkins, Austin Trout, Gerry Penalosa, Pongsaklek Wonjongkam, Badou Jack, Jorge Arce, Jhonny González, Adonis Stevenson, Tony Bellew, Josh Taylor, Toshiaki Nishioka, Shawn Porter, Edgar Sosa, Miguel Berchelt, Leo Santa Cruz, Abner Mares, Amir Khan, Daniel Dubois, Jamel Herring, Jessica McCaskill, Regis Prograis, and Khalid Yafai.
Padilla refereed or judged the fights of notable world champions, including Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Alexis Argüello, Erbito Salavarria, Leon Spinks, Ken Norton, Larry Holmes, Sugar Ray Leonard, Lupe Pintor, Roberto Durán, Marvin Hagler, Roberto Durán, Bobby Chacon, Pipino Cuevas, Julio César Chávez, Michael Spinks, Mike Tyson, Michael Moorer, George Foreman, Azumah Nelson, Riddick Bowe, Terry Norris, Ray Mercer, Iran Barkley, Humberto González, Roger Mayweather, Kennedy McKinney, Johnny Tapia, Marco Antonio Barrera, Antonio Tarver, and Filipino greats Manny Pacquiao, Dodie Boy Peñalosa, Erbito Salavarria, Ben Villaflor, and Rolando Navarette in his career from 1967 until his retirement in year 2000.

## List of men's professional boxing world champions

The following is a list of Filipino boxing champions who have held titles from one or more of the "Big Four" organizations (WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO) and The Ring.
In December 2000, the WBA created an unprecedented situation of having a split championship in the same weight class by introducing a new title called Super world, commonly referred to simply as Super. The Super champion is highly regarded as the WBA's primary champion, while the World champion – commonly known as the Regular champion by boxing publications – is only considered the primary champion by the other three major sanctioning bodies (WBC, IBF, and WBO) if the Super title is vacant.
A Unified champion is a boxer that holds the Regular title and a world title from another major sanctioning body (WBC, IBF, WBO) simultaneously. An Undisputed champion as defined by the WBA, only needs to hold three of the four major titles but in some cases they may change a Super champion into an Undisputed champion after a failed title defense (e.g. Anselmo Moreno losing to Juan Payano and Chris John losing to Simpiwe Vetyeka). This is not to be confused by professional boxing's own definition of an undisputed champion, in which a boxer must hold all four major titles.
Other former international/national-world boxing commissions and organizations from the beginning of boxing are also included here:
* New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC)
* National Boxing Association (NBA) – changed its name to World Boxing Association (WBA) in 1962
| | Current world champion |
| | Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame |
| | World titles from world and The Ring |
| | WBA Regular champion |
| H | denotes boxer of Filipino heritage due to parent's nationality, residence or other circumstances |
| No. | Name | Titles | Date | Opponent | Result |
| 1 | Pancho Villa | NYSAC Flyweight (112) | Jun 16, 1923 | Jimmy Wilde | TKO 7/20 |
| 1 | Pancho Villa | NBA Flyweight (112) | Jun 16, 1923 | Jimmy Wilde | TKO 7/20 |
| 1 | Pancho Villa | The Ring Flyweight (112) | Jun 16, 1923 | Jimmy Wilde | TKO 7/20 |
| 2 | Small Montana | NYSAC Flyweight (112) | Nov 5, 1935 | Midget Wolgast | PTS 10/10 |
| 3 | Little Dado | NBA Flyweight (112) | Dec 11, 1939 | Awarded | Awarded |
| 4 | Ceferino Garcia | NYSAC Middleweight (160) | Oct 2, 1939 | Fred Apostoli | KO 7/15 |
| 5 | Dado Marino$^H$ | NBA Flyweight (112) | Jul 1, 1950 | Terry Allen | UD 15/15 |
| 6 | Flash Elorde | NBA Super featherweight (130), later changed to WBA. | Mar 16, 1960 | Harold Gomes | KO 7/15 |
| 6 | Flash Elorde | The Ring Super Featherweight (130) | 1962 | Awarded | Awarded |
| 6 | Flash Elorde | WBC Super featherweight (130) | Feb 16, 1963 | Johnny Bizzaro | UD 15/15 |
| 7 | Roberto Cruz | WBA Light welterweight (140) | Mar 21, 1963 | Battling Torres | KO 1/15 |
| 8 | Pedro Adigue | WBC Light welterweight (140) | Dec 14, 1968 | Adolph Pruitt | UD 15/15 |
| 9 | Rene Barrientos | WBC Super featherweight (130) | Feb 15, 1969 | Rubén Navarro | UD 15/15 |
| 10 | Bernabe Villacampo | WBA Flyweight (112) | Oct 19, 1969 | Hiroyuki Ebihara | KO 6/15 |
| 11 | Erbito Salavarria | WBC Flyweight (112) | Dec 7, 1970 | Chartchai Chionoi | TKO 2/15 |
| 11 | Erbito Salavarria | The Ring Flyweight (112) | Dec 7, 1970 | Chartchai Chionoi | TKO 2/15 |
| 11 | Erbito Salavarria | WBA Flyweight (112) | Apr 1, 1975 | Susumu Hanagata | SD 15/15 |
| 12 | Ben Villaflor | WBA Super featherweight (130) | Apr 25, 1972 | Alfredo Marcano | UD 15/15 |
| 12 | Ben Villaflor | The Ring Super featherweight (130) | Apr 25, 1972 | Alfredo Marcano | UD 15/15 |
| 12 | Ben Villaflor | WBA Super featherweight (130) – (2) | Oct 17, 1973 | Kuniaki Shibata | KO 1/15 |
| 12 | Ben Villaflor | The Ring Super featherweight (130) – (2) | Oct 17, 1973 | Kuniaki Shibata | KO 1/15 |
| 13 | Rolando Navarrete | WBC Super featherweight (130) | Aug 29, 1981 | Cornelius Boza Edwards | KO 5/15 |
| 14 | Frank Cedeno | WBC Flyweight (112) | Aug 27, 1983 | Charlie Magri | KO 6/12 |
| 14 | Frank Cedeno | The Ring Flyweight (112) | Aug 27, 1983 | Charlie Magri | KO 6/12 |
| 15 | Bobby Berna | IBF Super bantamweight (122) | Dec 4, 1983 | Suh Sung-in | TKO 10/15 |
| 16 | Dodie Boy Peñalosa | IBF Light flyweight (108) | Dec 10, 1983 | Satoshi Shingaki | TKO 13/15 |
| 16 | Dodie Boy Peñalosa | IBF Flyweight (112) | Feb 22, 1987 | Shin Hi-sup | TKO 5/15 |
| 17 | Rolando Bohol | IBF Flyweight (112) | Jan 16, 1988 | Choi Chang-ho | KO 15/15 |
| 18 | Tacy Macalos | IBF Light flyweight (108) | Nov 4, 1988 | Choi Jum-hwan | KO 5/12 |
| 19 | Eric Chavez | IBF Mini flyweight (105) | Sep 21, 1989 | Nico Thomas | KO 5/12 |
| 20 | Luisito Espinosa | WBA Bantamweight (118) | Oct 18, 1989 | Khaokor Galaxy | KO 5/12 |
| 20 | Luisito Espinosa | WBC Featherweight (126) | Dec 11, 1995 | Manuel Medina | UD 12/12 |
| 21 | Jesus Salud$^H$ | WBA Super bantamweight (122) | Dec 11, 1989 | Juan Jose Estrada | UD 12/12 |
| 22 | Rolando Pascua | WBC Light flyweight (108) | Dec 19, 1990 | Humberto González | UD 12/12 |
| 23 | Manny Melchor | IBF Mini flyweight (105) | Sep 6, 1992 | Thongchai Utaida | SD 12/12 |
| 24 | Morris East | WBA Light welterweight (140) | Sep 9, 1992 | Akinobu Hiranaka | TKO 11/12 |
| 25 | Gerry Peñalosa | WBC Super flyweight (115) | Feb 20, 1997 | Hiroshi Kawashima | SD 12/12 |
| 25 | Gerry Peñalosa | WBO Bantamweight (118) | Aug 11, 2007 | Jhonny González | TKO 6/12 |
| 26 | Eric Jamili | WBO Mini flyweight (105) | Dec 19, 1997 | Mickey Cantwell | TKO 8/12 |
| 27 | Manny Pacquiao | WBC Flyweight (112) | Dec 4, 1998 | Chatchai Sasakul | KO 8/12 |
| 27 | Manny Pacquiao | IBF Super bantamweight (122) | Jun 23, 2001 | Lehlohonolo Ledwaba | TKO 6/12 |
| 27 | Manny Pacquiao | The Ring Featherweight (126) | Nov 15, 2003 | Marco Antonio Barrera | TKO 11/12 |
| 27 | Manny Pacquiao | WBC Super featherweight (130) | Mar 15, 2008 | Juan Manuel Márquez | SD 12/12 |
| 27 | Manny Pacquiao | The Ring Super featherweight (130) | Mar 15, 2008 | Juan Manuel Márquez | SD 12/12 |
| 27 | Manny Pacquiao | WBC Lightweight (135) | Jun 28, 2008 | David Díaz | TKO 9/12 |
| 27 | Manny Pacquiao | The Ring Light welterweight (140) | May 2, 2009 | Ricky Hatton | KO 2/12 |
| 27 | Manny Pacquiao | WBO Welterweight (147) | Nov 14, 2009 | Miguel Ángel Cotto | TKO 12/12 |
| 27 | Manny Pacquiao | WBC Light middleweight (154) | Nov 13, 2010 | Antonio Margarito | UD 12/12 |
| 27 | Manny Pacquiao | WBO Welterweight (147) – (2) | Apr 12, 2014 | Timothy Bradley | UD 12/12 |
| 27 | Manny Pacquiao | WBO Welterweight (147) – (3) | Nov 5, 2016 | Jessie Vargas | UD 12/12 |
| 27 | Manny Pacquiao | WBA (Super) Welterweight (147) | Jul 20, 2019 | Keith Thurman | SD 12/12 |
| 28 | Malcolm Tuñacao | WBC Flyweight (112) | May 19, 2000 | Medgoen Singsurat | TKO 7/12 |
| 29 | Joma Gamboa | WBA Mini flyweight (105) | Aug 20, 2000 | Atsushi Sai | UD 12/12 |
| 30 | Brian Viloria$^H$ | WBC Light flyweight (108) | Sep 10, 2005 | Eric Ortiz | KO 1/12 |
| 30 | Brian Viloria$^H$ | IBF Light flyweight (108) | April 19, 2009 | Ulises Solís | UD 12/12 |
| 30 | Brian Viloria$^H$ | WBO Flyweight (112) | Jul 16, 2011 | Julio César Miranda | UD 12/12 |
| 30 | Brian Viloria$^H$ | WBA (Unified) Flyweight (112) | Nov 17, 2012 | Hernán Márquez | TKO 10/12 |
| 31 | Florante Condes | IBF Mini flyweight (105) | Jul 7, 2007 | Muhammad Rachman | SD 12/12 |
| 32 | Nonito Donaire | IBF Flyweight (112) | Jul 7, 2007 | Vic Darchinyan | TKO 5/12 |
| 32 | Nonito Donaire | WBC Bantamweight (118) | Feb 19, 2011 | Fernando Montiel | KO 2/12 |
| 32 | Nonito Donaire | WBO Bantamweight (118) | Feb 19, 2011 | Fernando Montiel | KO 2/12 |
| 32 | Nonito Donaire | WBO Super bantamweight (122) | Feb 4, 2012 | Wilfredo Vázquez Jr. | SD 12/12 |
| 32 | Nonito Donaire | IBF Super bantamweight (122) | Jul 7, 2012 | Jeffrey Mathebula | UD 12/12 |
| 32 | Nonito Donaire | The Ring Super bantamweight (122) | Dec 13, 2012 | Toshiaki Nishioka | TKO 9/12 |
| 32 | Nonito Donaire | WBA (Undisputed) Featherweight (126) | May 31, 2014 | Simpiwe Vetyeka | TD 5/12 |
| 32 | Nonito Donaire | WBO Super bantamweight (122) – (2) | Dec 11, 2015 | Cesar Juarez | UD 12/12 |
| 32 | Nonito Donaire | WBA (Super) Bantamweight (118) | Nov 3, 2018 | Ryan Burnett | RTD 4/12 |
| 32 | Nonito Donaire | WBC Bantamweight (118) – (2) | May 29, 2021 | Nordine Oubaali | KO 4/12 |
| 33 | Donnie Nietes | WBO Mini flyweight (105) | Sep 7, 2007 | Pornsawan Porpramook | UD 12/12 |
| 33 | Donnie Nietes | WBO Light flyweight (108) | Oct 8, 2011 | Ramón García Hirales | UD 12/12 |
| 33 | Donnie Nietes | The Ring Light flyweight (108) | May 10, 2014 | Moisés Fuentes | TKO 9/12 |
| 33 | Donnie Nietes | IBF Flyweight (112) | Apr 29, 2017 | Komgrich Nantapech | UD 12/12 |
| 33 | Donnie Nietes | WBO Super flyweight (115) | Dec 31, 2018 | Kazuto Ioka | SD 12/12 |
| 34 | Marvin Sonsona | WBO Super flyweight (115) | Sep 4, 2009 | José López | UD 12/12 |
| 35 | Rodel Mayol | WBC Light flyweight (108) | Nov 21, 2009 | Edgar Sosa | TKO 2/12 |
| 36 | Sonny Boy Jaro | WBC Flyweight (112) | Mar 2, 2012 | Pongsaklek Wonjongkam | TKO 6/12 |
| 36 | Sonny Boy Jaro | The Ring Flyweight (112) | Mar 2, 2012 | Pongsaklek Wonjongkam | TKO 6/12 |
| 37 | John Riel Casimero | IBF Light flyweight (108) | Jul 20, 2012 | Interim promoted | Interim promoted |
| 37 | John Riel Casimero | IBF Flyweight (112) | May 25, 2016 | Amnat Ruenroeng | KO 4/12 |
| 37 | John Riel Casimero | WBO Bantamweight (118) | Nov 30, 2019 | Zolani Tete | TKO 3/12 |
| 38 | Merlito Sabillo | WBO Mini flyweight (105) | Jul 13, 2013 | Jorle Estrada | TKO 9/12 |
| 39 | Marlon Tapales | WBO Bantamweight (118) | Jul 27, 2016 | Pungluang Sor Singyu | TKO 11/12 |
| 39 | Marlon Tapales | WBA (Super) Super bantamweight (122) | Apr 8, 2023 | Murodjon Akhmadaliev | SD 12/12 |
| 39 | Marlon Tapales | IBF Super bantamweight (122) | Apr 8, 2023 | Murodjon Akhmadaliev | SD 12/12 |
| 40 | Jerwin Ancajas | IBF Super flyweight (115) | Sep 3, 2016 | McJoe Arroyo | UD 12/12 |
| 41 | Milan Melindo | IBF Light flyweight (108) | May 25, 2017 | Akira Yaegashi | TKO 1/12 |
| 42 | Vic Saludar | WBO Mini flyweight (105) | Jul 13, 2018 | Ryuya Yamanaka | UD 12/12 |
| 43 | Pedro Taduran | IBF Mini flyweight (105) | Sep 7, 2019 | Samuel Salva | RTD 4/12 |
| 43 | Pedro Taduran | IBF Mini flyweight (105) – (2) | Jul 28, 2024 | Ginjiro Shigeoka | TKO 9/12 |
| 44 | Rene Mark Cuarto | IBF Mini flyweight (105) | Feb 27, 2021 | Pedro Taduran | UD 12/12 |
| 45 | Mark Magsayo | WBC Featherweight (126) | Jan 22, 2022 | Gary Russell Jr. | MD 12/12 |
| 46 | Melvin Jerusalem | WBO Mini flyweight (105) | Jan 6, 2023 | Masataka Taniguchi | TKO 2/12 |
| 46 | Melvin Jerusalem | WBC Mini flyweight (105) | Mar 31, 2024 | Yudai Shigeoka | SD 12/12 |
Note
* Interim titles are not included unless they get promoted to the official champion.
* For WBA champions, only champions in the WBA primary lineage are listed.

### List of WBA secondary champions

| No. | Name | Titles | Reign period | Opponent | Result | Primary champion/s during reign |
| 1 | Manny Pacquiao | WBA (Regular) Welterweight (147) | Jul 15, 2018 – Jul 20, 2019 Won Super title against Super champion Keith Thurman | Lucas Matthysse | TKO 7/12 | Keith Thurman Feb 7, 2017 – Jul 20, 2019 |
| 2 | Vic Saludar | WBA (Regular) Mini flyweight (105) | Feb 20, 2021 – Dec 21, 2021 | Robert Paradero | SD 12/12 | Thammanoon Niyomtrong Mar 1, 2020 – Saludar lost the title to Erick Rosa while Niyomtrong was still the primary champion. |

## List of women's professional boxing world champions

The following is a list of filipina boxing champions who have held titles from one or more of the "Big Four" organizations (WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO) and The Ring.
| | Current world champion |
| | Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame |
| | World titles from world and The Ring |
| H | denotes boxer of Filipino heritage due to parent's nationality, residence or other circumstances |
| No. | Name | Titles | Date | Opponent | Result | Defenses |
| 1 | Ana Julaton$^H$ | WBO Super bantamweight (122) | Dec 4, 2009 | Donna Biggers | UD 10/10 | 0 |
| 1 | Ana Julaton$^H$ | WBO Super bantamweight (122) | Jun 30, 2010 | Maria Elena Villalobos | SD 10/10 | 2 |

## Current titleholders in world boxing sanctioning bodies

| Name | Organization | Division | Date won |
| Melvin Jerusalem | WBC | Mini flyweight | March 31, 2024 |
| Pedro Taduran | IBF | Mini flyweight | July 28, 2024 |

## Current titleholders in Philippine boxing sanctioning bodies
### Philippines Games & Amusement Board

| Weight class: | Champion: | Reign began: | Days |
| Strawweight | Pedro Taduran | January 27, 2018 | 2562 |
| Strawweight | Melvin Oliva Jerusalem | January 6, 2023 | 757 |
| Light Flyweight | Jesse Espinas | May 22, 2018 | 2447 |
| Flyweight | Genisis Libranza | April 14, 2018 | 2485 |
| Super Flyweight | Eranio Semillano | May 19, 2018 | 2450 |
| Bantamweight | Glenn Suminguit | September 23, 2017 | 2688 |
| Super bantamweight | Carl Jammes Martin | March 12, 2022 | 1057 |
| Featherweight | vacant | | |
| Super Featherweight | Allan Vallespin | September 30, 2017 | 2681 |
| Lightweight | Roldan Aldea | February 11, 2018 | 2547 |
| Light Welterweight | Jheritz Chavez | March 10, 2018 | 2519 |
| Welterweight | Jayar Inson | March 25, 2018 | 2505 |

### Philippines Boxing Federation

| Weight class: | Champion: | Reign began: | Days |
| Strawweight | Clyde Azarcon | May 2, 2018 | 2467 |
| Light Flyweight | vacant | | |
| Flyweight | Arnold Garde | June 29, 2018 | 2409 |
| Super Flyweight | vacant | | |
| Bantamweight | Carlo Demecillo | May 23, 2018 | 2446 |
| Super bantamweight | vacant | | |
| Featherweight | KJ Natuplag | November 27, 2017 | 2623 |
| Super Featherweight | vacant | | |
| Lightweight | vacant | | |
| Light Welterweight | Rosekie Cristobal | November 25, 2017 | 2625 |
| Welterweight | vacant | | |