At the age of 27, Genesis is a nine-year pro. A contender at 122 to 126 pounds – ranked No. 1 by the WBO at featherweight – he moved up from the super bantamweight division in April, 2017.
He is a native of the Philippines and was based in his homeland for the first six years and 26 fights of his pro career, but relocated to Japan in 2015 and now fights out of the Kashimi Gym in Kanazawa.
Genesis has fought 24 times in his native Philippines, four times in Japan, two times in the United States, and one time each in China and the United Arab Emirates.
He made his United States debut on September 22, 2017, in Tucson, Arizona, and challenged WBO featherweight world champion Oscar Valdez – Valdez won a 12-round unanimous decision, but Genesis gave a very strong effort and established himself as a world-class contender.
In his last fight on September 28 in Oakland, California, he won by third-round knockout against Carlos Carlson.
ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael reported [excerpts]: Filipino featherweight contender Genesis Servania won his third fight in a row since a decision loss to world titlist Oscar Valdez in a slugfest last September.
Servania knocked out Carlos Carlson (23-5, 14 KOs), of Mexico, with a counter right hand that dropped him for the full count from [the] referee at 44 seconds of the third round. [End Rafael item]
In his post-fight interview, Genesis said, “I am ready for any of the champions at 122 pounds. I’ll fight Dogboe, Doheny, Vargas – any of the champions. I am ready to go.”
In an earlier interview, Genesis said through an interpreter, “I’m an aggressive fighter. Mark Gil Melligen has been my trainer for about three years now. He’s the reason I moved to Japan. Mark was in Kanazawa boxing out of Kashimi Boxing Gym, and he told me about Japan. I wanted to go and train and box together with him there.” [note: Melligen is also a native of Bacolod City, Philippines, and a currently retired professional super featherweight who first fought in Japan in 2009 and relocated to Kanazawa in 2013; he last fought in April, 2016, and has a record of 21-7-1, 12 KOs]
Regarding his nickname, Genesis said, ” ‘Azukal’ is my old nickname – I don’t use it anymore. My current nickname is ‘Kashimi,’ which is the name of the gym I fight out of in Kanazawa, Japan.”
AMATEUR, PERSONAL BACKGROUND: Genesis said through an interpreter, “I was born in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines. I have five brothers and two sisters. My parents’ business is buying and selling rice. Two of my brothers are professional boxers and one of my sisters was an amateur boxer. My father was also an amateur boxer when he was younger. [note: brother Rolando Servania is a professional super flyweight with a record of 6-0, 2 KOs – his last fight was in January, 2014; Jake Servania is a retired former light flyweight with a record of 5-1-1, 1 KO – his last fight was in February, 2010]
“I started boxing when I was 15. My father told me to start boxing. I was scared and didn’t want to, but he forced me to box. My trainer when I started was the father of my trainer now, Mark Gil Melligen.
“I had 25 amateur fights, with 23 wins and 2 losses. I won two medals at the All-Philippines Junior Championships, one gold and one silver.
“I’m naturally right-handed.”…
From The Ring, by Ryan Songalia [May 24, 2013 – excerpts]: Genesis Servania has already accomplished his initial goal to help his family. The junior featherweight prospect from Bacolod City, Philippines has long been the breadwinner of his family, where he is one of five children raised by his parents.
Servania has reached this level of success purely through his hard work, a trait that was instilled in him as a child.
Servania grew up in a home with no running water, and it was Genesis who was often charged with the responsibility of fetching water every morning from a public pump a kilometer away. Once he returned, he’d leave once again to gather firewood on the outskirts of town so the family could cook their meals.
His father found it difficult to find work because he was a convicted felon, so Genesis’ mother would support the family of seven by herself. Every morning, she would head to the market, purchase two buckets of fish and walk around the city until all the fish was sold.
To help his family, Genesis dropped out of high school at 15 to work as a tricycle driver. A tricycle is a motorcycle equipped with a sidecar which passengers can ride in for a fare.
Two of Genesis’ brothers have also followed him into the professional boxing field. [End Songalia item]
STRENGTHS: Has an aggressive style, good skills and movement…has good punching power…at his best, he pressures his opponents, out-works them, and wears them down…is experienced against top opposition…is always in top condition…
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: 33 fights…229 total rounds…12 world championship rounds…
AVERAGE LENGTH OF BOUTS: 6.9 rounds…
KNOCKOUT PERCENTAGE: of total fights – 45 %…of wins – 46 %…
DISTANCE FIGHTS: 12 rounds – 5 (4-1)…10 rounds – 6 (6-0)…
