Bornea guns for IBF crown

Jade Bornea finally gets the opportunity to become a world champion when he battles defending champion Argentine Fernando Martinez for the International Boxing Federation super-flyweight throne Saturday night (Sunday morning in Manila) at the Armory in Minneapolis.

On the eve of the scheduled 12-rounder, Bornea stepped on the scales at the division limit of 115 lbs.

Martinez, making the second defense of the IBF 115-lb belt he won from Jerwin Ancajas last year, tipped in at 114.6 lbs.

In his first defense, the rampaging Martinez repulsed the vengeful Ancajas also on points.

Bornea trained long and hard for his much-awaited title shot as he has been residing and training on American soil since 2021.

If victorious, the Mindanao-born Bornea will join stablemate Marlon Tapales as the country's other world champion.

Before turning professional, Bornea was an amateur standout.

A former world youth champion, Bornea packs an 18-0 card with 12 knockouts while Martinez sports a 15-0 card with eight wins inside the distance.

Ancajas, meanwhile, is on the comeback trail and will meet Wilner Soto of Colombia in the undercard.

Ancajas came in at 121.8 lbs while Soto weighed in at 120.8.

To help him develop staying power, Ancajas began working with renowned strength coach Memo Heredia.