From Tremors to Triumph: Can Joey Canoy Shake the Boxing World?

At 7:42 a.m. on June 8, 2026, General Santos native Joey Canoy felt a tremor. The ground shook beneath him.

The boxer wrote on his Facebook page, “Grabe kusoga oy.” That was so strong.

What rattled Canoy that morning was a 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of southern Mindanao. The quake, one of the strongest to hit the country in decades, claimed the lives of dozens in the Soccksargen and Davao areas. For thousands of families who were affected by this calamity, the present and the future have been derailed.

The day after the quake, Criz Sander Laurente (a pro fighter and boxing coach in the General Santos area) announced that he was postponing an event called “Golden Boy Boxing Competition.” Originally scheduled on June 12, this event was meant to be a showcase for kids and teenagers aspiring to make it big in the sport. In the comments section of Laurente’s Facebook post, someone shared a tragic update on one participant: “His family died.”

Amidst the grieving and the suffering of his countrymen, Canoy has an obligation to fulfill. In more ways than one, it’s an opportunity to spread the elusive gift of hope.

In a matter of days, this southpaw will walk into California’s Frontwave Arena to face Puerto Rico’s Oscar Collazo for the WBO, WBA, and Ring Magazine minimumweight world titles. It’s a fight that, quite frankly, no one expects him to win.

Why? Because Collazo is one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the game today, holding the no. 9 spot in the Ring Magazine rankings. Because Collazo has yet to lose a professional boxing match since he began his career in 2020. Because Collazo (14-0, 11 by KO) claimed his most recent victory by making his opponent retire on the stool after six rounds.

Some would say Canoy vs. Collazo is a foregone conclusion, a predictable fight that allows the champion to pad his winning streak. Me, I’d call it a different thing. This, right here, is the story of the Filipino.

This weekend, every punch thrown by Canoy is a rousing hymn to the doubted, the overlooked, the forgotten. Every combination he lands is a shoutout to compatriots who work two, three, or even four jobs just to make ends meet. And every round that he decides to get up from his corner is a testament to Filipinos refusing to quit in the face of catastrophe, man-made or otherwise.

The 32-year-old might never get another shot at a world title. (Veteran analyst Atty. Ed Tolentino thinks that way, and I agree.) Win, lose, or draw, Canoy can send a crystal clear message to every kababayan in this fight: When adversity comes along, just keep swinging.

Maybe, just maybe, Canoy can rattle Collazo with a strong left. One that would make the champ go, that was so strong.

Catch Joey Canoy vs. Oscar Collazo live on DAZN this Sunday (Manila time). The event is scheduled to start at 8:00am; ringwalk is projected to begin at 11:00am.

Stay tuned to ALL-STAR for live, round-by-round coverage of the Canoy vs. Collazo main event.

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