Jundy ‘Pretty Boy’ Maraon (15W-0L-1D, 12 KOs) will face NABA and WBA Fedelatin bantamweight champion Juan Carlos Payano (13W-0L, 7 KOs) of the Dominican Republic in the battle of undefeated prospects in a WBA title eliminator on June 14 (June 15 Philippine Time) at the Richard J. Codey Arena in New Jersey, U.S.A.
The fight will be one of the featured bouts on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights.
Maraon, a southpaw from the Braveheart Boxing Club of North Cotabato fought here in Cebu in 2009 in a televised fight at the Cebu Coliseum, beating Jason Egera by knockout in the third round for the WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight title.
Maraon has been hampered by recurring hand injuries and was inactive for two years before making a comeback last year against Ernie Marquez of Colorado, whom he beat by TKO in the third round in California.
The death of Maraon’s father re-ignited his desire to be a world boxing champion and he was sent to the U.S. by former North Cotabato Gov. Manny Pinol to train under Nonito Donaire Sr.
In his last ring appearance in May, Payano beat Jhon Alberto Molina of Colombia by second round TKO. He fought four times in Florida last year where he won his regional belts.
A win in this eliminator will bring either fighter closer to a crack at WBA bantamweight champion Koki Kameda of Japan. Kameda, incidentally, is penned to defend against another Filipino, John Mark Apolinario, on July 23.