Mateo Handig: Boxing Career and Notable Fights
Mateo Handig is a Filipino boxer from Samar who competed at minimumweight. He is nicknamed the “Waray Warrior.” Records and contemporary reports highlight his split-decision win over Japan’s Katsunari Takayama in 2012.
The Takayama upset
In October 2012, Handig defeated Takayama by split decision over 12 rounds to win the vacant IBF Pan Pacific minimumweight title. The result was a notable upset: Takayama later went on to regain the IBF world minimumweight title, while Handig was described by contemporary coverage as the IBF’s top-ranked contender.
Handig was then ordered to meet Mexico’s Ganigan López in an IBF title eliminator, with the winner due to challenge for the world title. The bout was repeatedly delayed before the two eventually met in Reynosa, Mexico, on August 24, 2013. López won a unanimous decision over twelve rounds. The video above shows Handig against Orlandino Sinaloba in a separate local bout.
Further career results
The route to the López fight involved several changes of date. A contemporary preview first announced June 29 in Mexico City, with Handig listed at thirteen wins and five defeats and López at twenty-two wins and five defeats. A later announcement moved the proposed date to July 13, and the IBF subsequently called for a purse bid after negotiations failed to settle the eliminator. The eventual August contest therefore followed a prolonged attempt to arrange the matchup. In Reynosa, López received scores of 118–110 and 116–112 twice. Handig remained competitive but could not overturn the Mexican boxer’s advantage in the closing rounds. That result was a defeat in a contest leading toward a world-title opportunity, separate from the earlier regional championship victory over Takayama. His 2012 win remains important precisely because Takayama went on to regain a world championship, while Handig’s own next step ended in Mexico without bringing him the IBF world belt.
Sources
Additional sources: https://www.boxingscene.com/articles/armando-santos-ganigan-lopez-big-winners-mexico; https://www.boxingscene.com/articles/handig-vs-lopez-ibf-eliminator-goes-purse-bid; https://philboxing.com/story-86355
- WBA profile: Katsunari Takayama’s bout record
- BoxingScene: Handig and López IBF eliminator planned for June 2013
- PhilBoxing: Takayama’s IBF title and his loss to Handig
