Paciones battles tough Japanese

AJ Paciones, one of the Philippines’ best-kept secrets, makes his Japanese debut on 21 November at the famed Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.

His opponent is a tough one.

One-time world title challenger Jukiya Iimura, 28, will be there to determine if Paciones, 21, is a hot prospect or just a hyped-up up-and-comer.

The bout is set for eight rounds.

Paciones, nicknamed The Sniper, will also be risking his unbeaten win-loss-draw record of 13-0-0 with seven knockouts against Iimura, who holds a 9-2-0 mark with two knockouts.

Originally from Cebu, Paciones is ranked no. 5 by the International Boxing Federation, No. 10 by the World Boxing Council and No. 5 also by the World Boxing Organization.

Managed by Cucuy Elorde, the daughter of boxing legend Flash Elorde, Paciones currently trains at the Saigon Sports Club in Vietnam.

But Paciones’ affairs are also being handled by top American dealmaker Sean Gibbons.

Since turning professional in March 2022, Paciones has fought mainly in Thailand and Vietnam.

Paciones’ fight comes less than a week before Miel Fajardo attempts to win the IBF fly throne of defending champion Masamichi Yabuki of Japan at the Ebara Wave Arena also in the Tokyo area.