GAB Shocked Zulueta Got Removed from WBA Ranking

By Azir Guay

MANILA, Philippines — Since August of 2022, unbeaten Filipino boxer John Michael Zulueta (16-0-3, 9 KO’s), has been in the WBA world rankings.

By hard work, winning fight after fight, Zulueta kept on climbing in the WBA minimumweight ranks, by August 2023 reaching the WBA # 3 position.

Then, all the sudden, despite being extremely active and undefeated, Zulueta was completely removed from the world ranks, no explanation given.

“We are shocked and we feel its unfair,” think the Filipino boxing family, wondering what is the real reason for Zulueta to be removed.

“Maybe there is a wicked black hand,” say some Pinoy boxing fan from Bacolod in Negros Occidental, a city nearby Zulueta’s hometown.

In response to the strange removal of Zulueta to the WBA world rankings – even after winning another fight – the chairman of the Philippines GAB, the government authority in charge of overseeing boxing, has issued a letter to the WBA kindly asking for an explanation.

None has been given so far.

However, comments or reasons should be given, as it is the normal practice for sanctioning bodies to explain to the boxing community the logic of the moves in the world rankings.

With sacrifice and tenacity, Zulueta battled 4 fights in the year 2022, drawing hard-fought 10-rounder, plus winning another 3 clashes behind enemy lines by way of KO.

That performance, made Zulueta one of the hottest rising star boxers in the minimumweight (105 lbs) weight class.

During 2023, Zulueta has kept himself equally busy, not only fighting his own battles, but also working as world sparring partner in Japan for Japanese world champion Shigeoka brothers.

With Zulueta’s help, the Japanese stars claimed world titles last October 7 at the Ota Gym in Tokyo.

With endless energy, the friendly John Michael Zulueta, has managed to fight 2 fights in 2023, winning both of them by stoppage, one a KO win in round one and yet another one via TKO in round 10.

By that time Zulueta, 28, has reached the WBA world’s # 3 rank, being lined-up as for a incoming world title show against WBA World Minimumweight “Super” Champion Niyomtrong or WBA Minimumweight “Regular” Champion Erick Rosa. All of that was taken away.

What is the reason for that?

Normally, when a boxer badly loses, or gets caught in an illegal activity, or fail a drug test, a boxer is logically is taken out from the world rankings and an explanation is given to the boxing community.

None of that has happened in Zulueta’s case. Despite winning, despite exercising exemplary good behavior and acting professionally as a world-class pro boxer, the WBA removed Zulueta from his rankings.

Fans wish to know why. They have the right to know.

Also, the GAB chairman Attorney Richard Clarin has issued a letter, kindly requesting explanation. (read letter below)

None has been given. Is it any “black hand” acting against Filipino John Michael Zulueta, pulling strings against the gooda and brave Pinoy boxer? It seems so.

But if so, who? And Why?

It would be fair if Zulueta is re-instated in the WBA World Rankings, an honor that he has earned with his sweat, blood and tears.

Taking his rank from him is evil, its wicked and is bad. Fans hope that he will be put back among in the world rankings where he belongs.

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