Angel Acosta Returns October 24

Angel Acosta Returns October 24!

3KingsBoxing has learned former WBO Light Flyweight champion Angel Acosta (20-2, 20 KO’s) will return to the ring on October 24 against Raymond Tabugon (22-10-1, 11 KO’s) at Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, California.

The bout will air live via the Golden Boy Promotions Fight Night series.

This will be Acosta’s first fight since his surprising twelfth-round stoppage loss to Elwin Soto on June 21. In the process, he would lose the fourth defense of the WBO Light Flyweight title.

Acosta’s fight against Soto was one of the best fights of 2019. However in the eyes of many who witnessed the bout, the ending was controversial. Acosta was winning on all three scorecards at the time of the stoppage.

Although, Soto would deliver a left hook early in round 12 to shakeup the champion. Though hurt, Acosta was defending himself. Still, referee Thomas Taylor stepped in to stop the fight, leaving many fans outraged.

Acosta’s ultimate goal is an eventual rematch with Soto. In the meantime, he announced the bout with Tabugon on October 20 via social media.

WHO IS RAYMOND TABUGON?

Raymond Tabugon (20-10-1, 11 KO’s) is an interesting choice for a comeback fight.

While the fighter from General Santos City, Philippines has a very modest record, a closer inspection reveal his opponents have been of the very high caliber.

He has been in the ring with the likes of current WkBC Super Flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada, former WBC Bantamweight champion Luis Nery as well as Andrew Maloney. The latter is the WBA’s number one super flyweight contender.

While losing to all of those fighters, the fact that he’s been matched so tough throughout his career says something. His list of opponents is not only high-quality.

Since 2015, Tabugon’s fights have taken place at either super-flyweight or bantamweight. So for Acosta, he returns against a fighter who has been in the ring against elite competition. He will also be facing a naturally bigger and stronger fighter.

As suspect as the Acosta fight was in the eyes of many, what was exposed is that he may not have the strongest chin. Soto hurt him several times during the fight.

This fight will be part of a card headlined by Elwin Soto (15-1, 11 KO’s), who will be making the first title defense against #1 contender Edwin Hono (14-0, 5 KO’s).

For the former champ, to fight on the same card as the man who took his title could very well be a setup for the two to fight a rematch at some point in 2020.

Fans who saw their first fight were screaming rematch on social media afterwards due to, first, how good it was and second, how the fight ended.

However, could Acosta low-key be in a bit more danger than he suspects? That will be determined on October 24.

By: Michael Wilson Jr.