Until a few months ago, Filipino boxers were the favored whipping boys of Japanese fighters regardless of what’s on the line.

The notoriety of Filipino boxers hit an all-time high when just about any fighter who was sent to fight in Japan wound up getting knocked out and sent home battered black and blue.

But just this past few days, there seems to be a resurgence of Filipino pride.

A few days ago, undefeated bantamweight Kenneth Llover needed just less than a minute — 59 seconds to be exact — in disposing of Tulio Dekanarudo in Osaka.

The win handed Llover, just 21, the interim Orient-Pacific Boxing Federation 118-lb champion.

In getting the job done, Llover unleashed a flurry of fast and furious blows that sent the stunned Japanese down, forcing the referee to immediately called a halt to the action even after just one knockdown.

Moments after the quick win, Llover’s handlers — led by two-division champion Gerry Peñalosa — were approached for a meeting by the camp of International Boxing Federation champion Ryosuke Nishida.

It could not be determined what was talked about but Peñalosa was obviously tickled pink by the show of interest.

However, Jonathan Peñalosa, Gerry’s brother and Llover’s chief trainer, feels a world title shot is too soon.

Though he believes Llover is the real thing, Peñalosa swears one more fight — a tuneup — will help the hot prospect a lot to become tougher and even better.

Likewise, another Filipino boxer, one time world super-bantamweight title challenger, Jeo Santisima carved out a convincing victory on Japanese soil by stopping Hiro Ichimichi with an avalanche of power shots.

With less than two weeks before 2024 comes to a close, these are good signs that Philippine boxing could be on the verge of a mighty comeback.

After months and months of severe battering, the recent triumphs could jumpstart a revival, something that is worth waiting given what’s on the horizon.

In 2025, World Boxing Council minimumweight king Melvin Jerusalem could find himself facing Yudai Shigeoka for the second defense of his title.

Llover is likely to be imported again as the Japanese would be looking to get even.

I only hope that the major wins as of late would cross over to 2025 because Philippine boxing deserves to be right up there again.