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Plania faces Aleem to take one step closer to title shot

Sports | Boxing

Plania faces Aleem to take one step closer to title shot

By Carlo Anolin

Filipino boxer Mike Plania takes on American Ra'eese Aleem in the hopes of getting a step closer to a title shot on Sunday, Sept. 4, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.

Ra'eese Aleem and Mike Plania (Photo by Stephanie Trapp/TGB Promotions)

Plania and Aleem made their weights and both tipped the scales at 121.6 lbs.

A win by Plania, 25, would mean dethroning Aleem from his place as the World Boxing Organization (WBO) North American Boxing Organization (NABO) super bantamweight titlist.

The ten-round match will serve as an undercard for the Andy Ruiz-Luiz Ortiz main event clash in the heavyweight division.

In the WBO, Plania is currently ranked No. 2 next to top fighter Luis Nery and reigning champion Stephen Fulton while Aleem sits at No. 6.

It won't be a walk in the park for Plania though as the 32-year-old Aleem remained unbeaten in 19 matches on top of his 12 knockout wins.

Plania, who hails from General Santos City, for his part, holds a 26-1 record with 13 KOs.

He has won 11 straight matches since his first loss with the most recent against Ricardo Nunez last November 2021.

Should Plania emerge victorious, he's most likely to become the country's next contender slated for a championship bout as the Philippines was left with no boxing champions following the defeats of Nonito Donaire and Mark Magsayo.

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