‘Magic’ Plania trains sights on WBO champ Navarrete

CEBU, Philippines —  Three days after his stunning victory over WBO top bantamweight contender Joshua ‘Don’t Blink’ Greer Jr., Filipino boxer ‘Magic’ Mike Plania of General Santos City’s Sanman Promotions doesn’t want to rest on his laurels as he intends to go back to training right away preparatory for bigger bouts ahead.

A heavy underdog fighting in just three weeks notice against a top caliber foe, Plania shocked the boxing world when he scored two knockdowns in a well-deserved majority decision win over Greer last Wednesday, July 17, inside ‘The Bubble’ at the MGM Grand in Las vegas.

Plania floored the Chicago-native Greer with a crushing left hook in the first round. He duplicated that picture-perfect knockdown late in round six to pile up points enough to get the nod of two of the three judges.

“First of all, I want to thank God for giving me the strength and wisdom in that fight,” said Plania (24-1, 12KOs), the reigning WBC Asian Boxing Council Silver and IBF North American super bantamweight champion. “Thank you also to my family and to all my fans for their support.”

As for his immediate plan, Plania said he will leave it up all to his promoter and manager Jim Claude ‘JC’ Manangquil, the CEO of Sanman Promotions based in the country’s tuna capital.

But if he will have his way, the 23-year-old Plania said he wants to challenge reigning WBO super bantamweight titleholder Emanuel Navarrete of Mexico if opportunity presents.

The hard-punching Navarette (31-1, 27KOs) grabbed the WBO 122-pound belt after beating Isaac ‘Royal Storm’ Dogbe of the United Kingdom by decision on December 8, 2018 at the Madison Square Garden in New York.

The 25-year-old Navarette defended his throne five times, the last was via 11th round TKO of ALA Gym’s Jeo Santisima before the lockdown last February 22 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

“I will just depend on my manager on what are his plans for me,” said Plania. “But if given a world title shot, I want to fight next Emanuel Navarrete,” said Plania.