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Philippines, 23 Nov 2024 |
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A PINOY BOXING JUNKIE LOOKS BACK AT 2013 PhilBoxing.com Sat, 28 Dec 2013  A ferry from Hong Kong to Macau, a boat from Dumaguete to Siquijor, a taxi moving at a snail?s pace on a congested Metro Manila street. These are just some of the routes that a boxing correspondent enjoys or endures in anticipation of a good fight or scrutinizing a prospect. 2013 was not exactly the best year we?ve had on the international stage in the so-called ?golden age? of Philippine boxing but there was enough action at the domestic front to keep fans interested. BEST FIGHTS These are the fights that made me say, ?I?m glad I was at ringside.?: Vergilio Silvano W UD 12 Jetly Purisima, WBO Oriental lt.flyweight title, Balamban, Cebu (9-7-13) - a gritty and fast paced toe to toe battle tucked away in the western side of the country?s fight capital. The two southpaws matched each other punch for punch until Silvano broke through in the final round, dropping Purisima twice and winning by scores of 116-110, 116-110 and 115-111. Merlito Sabillo Split Draw 12 Carlos Buitrago, WBO world minimumweight title, Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City (11-30-13) - a poor man?s Pacquiao-Marquez. Sabillo, a southpaw ex-street fighter, manages to hang on to his crown against the skillful Nicaraguan counterpuncher. It was a battle of aggression vs. accuracy. Just like the first three Pacquiao-Marquez bouts, fans and sportswriters had divided opinions on the final score of the judges ? Levi Martinez (USA) ? 115-113 for Buitrago, Joerge Milke (Germany) ? 115-113 for Sabillo and Takeshi Shimakawa (Japan) -114-114. Jason Pagara W UD 12 Aaron Hererra, WBO International lt.welterweight title, Pacific Ballroom, Waterfront Hotel, Cebu City (5/25/13) -Pagara held back the Mexican?s late surge in a fight highlighted by heavy bombs traded at close quarters. Herrera was dropped in the second, bleeding from a cut past the halfway mark but continued to apply pressure pushing Pagara to dig deep into his reserves. The scores ? 115-112,116-111, 119-108. Yasutaka Ishimoto W MD 12 Wilfredo Vazquez,Jr., WBO International superbantamweight title, Cotai Arena, Macau (4/6/13) Relatively unknown Japanese flourished in the heat of battle against the Puerto Rican former world titlist. Ishimoto compensated with guts after Vasquez drew blood in the 8th from Ishimoto?s left eyebrow. He dropped Vazquez with a short right near the end of the round and unloaded every time he got Vazquez in a corner to win a close one ? 95-95,96-93,95-94. KO OF THE YEAR Genesis Servania KO2 Rafael Concepcion, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel (10/26/13) -a well-timed right uppercut sent Concepcion flat on his back and out cold. The Panamanian was attended to by medical personnel at ringside before he regained consciousness. ROUND OF THE YEAR ROUND 1 ? Genesis Servania vs. Konosuke Tomiyama, Cotai Arena, Macau (7/27/13) - Servania?s overseas debut almost got spoiled in a wild opening round that saw Servania drop the Japanese with a left hook but Tomiyama got up and dropped the overeager Servania with a short left. The Japanese swarmed on Servania when he got up and knocked him down again but the Bacolod fighter survived the onslaught. -Servania would go on to score another knockdown in the third and win a split technical decision in the ninth round. UPSETS OF THE YEAR Gerpaul Valero W SD 10 Sonny Boy Jaro, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel (8/1/13) -Valero was 14W-14L, 10KO?s going into this bout but he gave a career best performance against a former WBC and linear world flyweight champion. Jose Ramirez W SD 12 Rey Bautista, WBO Intl. featherweight title, USeP Gym, Davao City (4/20/13) - Unknown Mexican ruins first ?Pinoy Pride? event in Mindanao and sends Bautista to a brief ?retirement? after his third career loss. The 27 year old Boholano is mulling a comeback in 2014. HISTORY IN CEBU CITY -Last August, Tomoki Kameda became the third Kameda brother to win a world title belt in a historic bout in Cebu City in a card headlined by two unbeaten foreigners - Paulus Ambunda of Namibia, who had the WBO bantamweight title, fell to the excellent boxing skills of the Japanese, who won by unanimous decision. TOP PROSPECT Arthur Villanueva ? in one of the more compelling all-Pinoy match-ups in recent years, ?King? Arthur gave a dominant boxing performance against another undefeated fighter, Marco Demecillo last April in Davao City to retain his OPBF title. He added another regional belt, the WBO Asia-Pacific superflyweight title, when he stopped Arturo Badillo of Mexico in four rounds at the Solaire Resort and Casino. The ALA Gym boxer finished the year with an impressive first round knockout win against another Mexican, Edgar Martinez in Cebu City. Runner-up honors in my prospects list goes to Genesis ?Azukal? Servania. He may have looked shaky in Macau against Tomiyama but he did have two ?revenge? KO wins this year - against Concepcion (who beat AJ Banal in 2008) and Indonesian Angky Angkotta (the only man to beat Donnie Nietes in 2004). PACQUIAO AT THE HOME FRONT - Manny Pacquiao?s ring return was the biggest boxing story in the country. His lopsided victory against Bandon Rios in Macau lifted the spirits of the earthquake and typhoon survivors in the Visayas. But he will have to solve his tax problems. This writer would like to echo the sentiment of many concerned sports scribes and give the congressman and boxing icon a piece of unsolicited advice: ?Look the people around you and look closer, especially those who call you ?friend?.? UPS AND DOWNS Edrin Dapudong of North Cotabato scored a rare win in South Africa when he knocked out Gideon Buthelezi of South Africa in one round to win the IBO super flyweight title in Johannesburg. Donnie Nietes (WBO lt.flyweight), Johnriel Casimero (IBF lt.flyweight) and Merlito Sabillo (WBO minimumweight) ended the year with their titles still in their hands. Brian Viloria and Nonito Donaire lost their world crowns this year. Viloria has not fought since losing to Juan Francisco Estrada in Macau but Donaire had bounced back from losing to Guillermo Rigondeaux with a come from behind TKO win against old foe Vic Darchinyan. Malcolm Tu?acao, Milan Melindo, Denver Cuello, John Mark Apolinario and Vergilio Silvano lost in their bids to win world titles for our country. TO THE DEARLY DEPARTED Rest in Peace ? Ramon ?Moy? Lainez, Louie Bantigue and Jonas Garcia. ON A MORE PERSONAL NOTE ? Getting to meet legends Marco Antonio Barrera and George Foreman were the highlights of my year. TOP PHOTO ? Manny Pacquiao, Merlito Sabillo, Donnie Nietes and John Riel Casimero Click here for a complete listing of columns by this author. Click here for a complete listing of this author's articles from different news sources. |
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