Nagaowa eyes boxing career revival with world title bout

Aching to get back to active competition, Jujeath Nagaowa returns to boxing with a World Boxing Organization (WBO) female atomweight title at stake.

But tall task awaits as she faces defending champion Nao Ikeyama of Japan in Colombo, Sri Lanka this weekend.

“Baka andito yung swerte ko (sa boxing),” Nagaowa said in the weekly PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate on Tuesday.

Formerly a World Boxing Council (WBC) atomweight champion, the 28-year-old tried her luck in mixed martial arts, where she signed with ONE Fighting Championship. She won her first two fights, with the last one dating back on December last year.

“Hinihintay ko pa kasi yung offer ng ONE (FC) sa akin,” Nagaowa said. “Maganda ang simula ko sa MMA at yun sana ang priority ko. Kaya ako nag MMA, pangarap ko kasi talaga yun.”

However, with no offers from the promotion coming her way, she reverted back to boxing where she first initially gained fame.

Nagaowa thought she already hung up her gloves after losing her last four fights, with her last loss coming from Yu Jue Luo of China last June in Macau.

But with the fight against Ikeyama on the horizon, Nagaowa is wishing she could reinvigorate her career and possibly, make a return back to the cage.