After a painful unanimous-decision loss to highly-rated Ra’eese Aleem last year, the 26-year-old Plania is eager to bounce back and be one of the top super bantamweights in the world. However, he’ll have his hands full against an experienced and dangerous foe in Geraldo.
The 31-year-old Geraldo has faced some of the best in the division. He owns a win over former world champion Jerwin Ancajas and has fought but lost to the likes of current World Boxing Association bantamweight king Takuma Inoue and former world champions McJoe Arroyo and Oleydong Sithsamerchai.
Geraldo is currently in a slump, losing to Ludumo Lamati, Ryuto Owan and undefeated Pinoy prospect Carl Jammea Martin.
Plania bounced back from his loss to Aleem with a first-round knockout of Jeffrey Francisco on Dec. 31 in Tagum City. Plania is still world rated in two of the three major world boxing-sanctioning bodies. He’s ranked No. 14 by the International Boxing Federation and No. 22 by the World Boxing Council.
Plania, a former amateur standout, is 27-2 with 14 knockouts, while Geraldo is 38-12-3 with 19 knockouts. (EKA)