Filipino Joey Canoy has earned another chance to become a world titleholder as he will be facing defending International Boxing Organization minimumweight champion Simphiwe Khonco of South Africa on Sunday at the Orient Theater in East London, South Africa.
Canoy, 25, is upbeat this time that he could get the job done after losing his first IBO world title fight against South African Hekkie Budler via seventh-round technical knockout win last Feb. 4, 2017 also in South Africa.
“I’m confident to beat him (Khonco) and this world title fight is dedicated to my children. I pray to God to bring the title home,” said the General Santos native Canoy, noting that he is already 100 percent ready in this fight. “I’m hoping to get a chance to knock him out.”
But after losing to Budler, Canoy scored back-to-back wins, beating former Filipino world title challenger Melvin Jerusalem (unanimous decision) and Rodel Tejares (technical knockout) in his two last fights to get another world title shot.
Trainer Marvelo Aballe, 23, will be guiding Canoy (14-3-1 win-loss-draw record with seven knockouts) for the first time as head trainer.
“I hope we can score a knockout in this fight. But that’s possible since Joey has a strong punching power like a super flyweight,” said Abelle, who served as an assistant trainer to IBF super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas at the Survival Camp before in Magallanes, Cavite.
Khonco, for his part, is holding 19-5 record with seven knockouts.
Canoy is joined by new promoter Engineer Jilson Basang of Mindanao’s Best boxing promotion and trainer Aballe in South Africa. They arrived to South Africa on Wednesday.
A victory by Canoy will put him in the list of current elite Filipino world champions, namely WBA welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, WBA bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr., WBO minimumweight champion Vic Saludar and IBF super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas.
