Jin Sisaki vs Marlon Pagalpalan Preview Feb. 19th, 2026
Jin Sisaki of Japan returns to the ring in Tokyo this Thursday, February 19th to take on Marlon Pagalpalan of the Philippines in an eight-round welterweight clash. Sisaki is testing the waters after being brutally knocked out by Brian Norman Jr. in the fifth round in June in a shot at the WBO Welterweight Title. In his previous outing in January, 2025, Sisaki beat fellow countryman Shoki Sakai via a 12-round unanimous decision to defend his WBO Asia-Pacific, and Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation Welterweight Titles. Pagalpalan last stepped into the ring in December when he stopped Kelvin Tonorio in the second round. Thursday’s fight can be seen live in Japan on Lemino.
Pagalpalan vs Sisaski Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Marlon Pagalpalan +350
- Jin Sasaki -475
My Pick
Sasaki is just 24 years old and has built up a mark of 19-1-1 with 17 Ko’s and has 92 rounds to his name since making his pro debut in 2018. He took up boxing when he started junior high school and reportedly went just 1-3 as an amateur. Things have certainly gone better for the youngster since turning pro as a teenager as he reached the 2019 East Japan Lightweight Rookie of the Year Final. However, he couldn’t make weight when he got there.
In 2020, Sasaki captured the Japanese Super Lightweight Youth Title by stopping Aso Ishiwaka in the third round. He defended the belt against Kaiki Yuba via a second-round KO to earn a shot at the vacant Japanese Super Lightweight Crown and the WBO Asia-Pacific Super Lightweight Title. He faced off against unbeaten Andy Hiraoka and was halted in 11th round for his first pro defeat. Unfortunately, he had a weight problem again as he was four pounds overweight and the 140 lb title was on the line for Hiraoka only.
This led to the Japanese Boxing Commission suspending Sasaki’s license in October, 2021 for six months and they also fined him 20 per cent of his purse. When he returned to the ring in April, 2022, Sasaki had moved up to the welterweight division and halted Marcus Smith in the fifth round. The lone draw on his record came in his next fight when he fought to a six-round stalemate with Kotaro Sekine. He then won the WBO Asia-Pacific Welterweight Belt in November, 2023 when he took care of Ryota Toyoshima in just 116 seconds. Sasaki added the vacant Oriental and Pacific Belt with a fifth-round TKO over Joe Noynay last May.
It’s obvious that Sasaki has a ton of power as he’s gone the distance just three times as a pro and 89.5 per cent of his victories have come by stoppage. However, his ability to take a punch is a big question mark as he’s been stopped in his two defeats. Sekine went the distance with him in their draw and he beat Hikaro Satu via a four-round unanimous decision in 2019 as well as going the distance with Sakai. Although Sasaki was stopped by Hiraoka and Norman, they did represent a step up in class. Sasaki measures just over 5-feet-8-inches tall with a 69.5-inch reach.
The 31-year-old Pagalpalan makes the ring walk with a mark of 13-4-1 with 6 Ko’s and has 97 rounds of pro experience under his belt since making his debut in 2014. He stands 5-feet-6 inches tall with an unlisted reach so gives up 2.5-inches in height to Sasaki. As far as power is concerned, he doesn’t carry much of at as 46.2 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage. He’s stopped just one of his last 11 opponents and that was his last bout. However he’s gone just 5-4-1 in his lat 10 outings.
Pagalpalan has been stopped twice as Bayarkhuu Ganbaatar halted him in the fifth round in September, 2024 in a shot at the vacant WBO Oriental Junior Welterweight Title. He was also stopped 18 months earlier by Brock Jarvis with a body shot in the fourth round. Pagalpalan has dropped decisions against Kuntae Lee and Lei Wang over six and eight rounds respectively in 2019. His lone draw was an eight-round affair with Jerwin Mejes in 2018. Just seven of his 18 opponents have entered the ring with a winning record.
Prediction…
It’s understandable for Sasaki to tread a little lightly in his return to the ring here after the way he was knocked out by Norman. Pagalpalan doesn’t possess much in the way of power but did halt his last opponent. We’ll have to see if Sasaki is a little gun shy or if he’s going to come out swinging. Based on talent and power Sasaki should win this fight, but it all depends on how he reacts when he gets nailed solidly on the chin.
Sasaki has the edge in power and skill.
Play: Sasaki -475 @ BetOnline.ag
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Jin Sasaki betting • Marlon Pagalpalan betting