Gibbons playing cards right

Filipino fighters aligned with American dealmaker Sean Gibbons figured prominently in the latest ratings released by the World Boxing Council (WBC) from its Mexico City headquarters.

Among the prominent Gibbons boxers on the top ten list are Carl Jammes Martin, who was listed at No. 6 in the super-bantamweight division ruled by Japanese pound-for-pound king Naoya “Monster” Inoue, and AJ Paciones, who came in at No. 10 in the flyweight class.

Even unbeaten middleweight Eumir Marcial is inching closer in the top 15, entering the latest ratings at No. 16.

Marcial is being groomed for bigger battles next year as Gibbons is expediting his rise so he could secure a world title shot by the end of 2027.

Other noted Filipino punchers who made the grade include Charly Suarez, No. 10 in the super-feather ranks, Arvin Magramo and Regie Suganob at No. 2 and 3 in the light-fly, ex-champion Melvin Jerusalem at No. 1 and stablemate Joey Canoy at No. 2, Joseph Sumabong at No. 4, Vic Saludar at No. 7 and Shane Gentallan at No. 9, in the minimumweight bracket.

Outside the top ten but already eligible for world title shots include Johnriel Casimero and Marlon Tapales, Nos. 11 and 12, in the super-bantam category.

The rankings were approved for release on Thursday following the conclusion of the governing body’s ongoing annual convention in Acapulco. One of the members of the ratings committee is Filipino Juan Miguel Elorde, grandson of the late great Flash Elorde.

Martin is coming off a rousing victory in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, while Marcial also competed last September in the US where he scored a vicious knockout of Ulises Huerta.

Paciones, meanwhile, is slated to see action on 21 November in Tokyo.