By Carlos Costa

On a Canelo Alvarez Boxing Promotions event, Filipino IBF #1 world-ranked Mateo Handig (13-5. 7 KO's) of Samar will battle Mexican former WBC Silver Champion Gánigan "El Zurdo" López (22-5, 15 KO's) in an 12-rounder IBF Minimumweight eliminator on June 29 in Ciudad de México.

The winner becomes mandatory world title challenger of IBF Minimumweight world champion Katsunari Takayama (26-6, 10 KO's) of Osaka, Japan, whom Mateo Handig defeated in a razor thin split decision clash last October in La Trinidad, Philippines.

In May of last year, the 31-year-old Mexican southpaw Gánigan López was pulverized in two rounds by outstanding Filipino Denver Cuello (33-4-6, 21 KO's) in Guanajuato, México.

But Gánigan has bounced back with two straight wins, the most recent a knockout victory over unheralded fellow Mexican Josue Vega last January.

Will the 23-year-old "Warai Warrior" Mateo Handig be able to knockout Gánigan López in México, the same way compatriot Denver Cuello did last year?

Or will the tough and serious Gánigan make Handig pay for the severe beating handed to him by Cuello?

The victorious in the Gánigan-Handig clash will will go on to dispute the IBF world title to the Japanese world champion Takayama, while the defeated will go back to the drawing board.

Fight contracts for the Gánigan-Handig have already being signed by Mexican matchmaker Eddy Reynoso of Canelo Promotions, fighter Mateo Handig and WBC Asian Promoter of the year Brico Santig of Highland Boxing of Baguio, Philippines.

Filipinos Cayetano "Jun" Gandeza Jr. of Kambal Kamao Boxing Promotions of Batangas and Brico Santig of Highland Boxing in Benguet will accompany Mateo Handig in the important combat in land of México.

The Gánigan-Handig clash for the IBF Minimumweight World Title Eliminator is a presentation of Canelo Promotions, Boxeo de Gala and Grupo Modelo and will broadcast live by Televisa.