Philippines, 18 Sep 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


John Leo Dato and the Line of Legitimate Filipino Mexicutioners


PhilBoxing.com



John Leo Dato (C).

If there is one true blooded Pinoy fighter now who could truly and rightfully claim the tag as Mexicutioner today, it is none other than Fil-American prospect John Leo Dato who recently notched his sixth win in as many fights held in Mexico.

Dato remained unbeaten, dropping Mexican journeyman Angel Guevara once and proceeding to force a stoppage in the third round of their scheduled 8 round featherweight bout held in Baja California, Mexico.

Dato (15-0-1, 10 KOs), who was born of Filipino parents in the Northern Philippines province of La Union and now resides in the California Central Coast city of Santa Maria, battered Guevara during the first two rounds of the fight.

In the fateful third round, a barrage of punches from Dato dropped Guevara in a corner. Guevara beat the count and bravely fought back, but continued to take several combinations to the head and body prompting the referee to step in and mercifully save the Mexican from further punishment and damage.

Guevara, who resides in Guasave, Mexico has now lost seven of his last eight bouts, dropping his record to 16-15-4.

Dato has thus far faced thirteen Mexican opponents, beating all but one, Pedro Antonio Rodriguez who held him to a technical draw in an earlier bout held in California. His other wins came against American foes.

The term Mexicutioner was first labelled upon American fighter Roger Mayweather, Floyd Jr.'s late uncle trainer who in the 80s used to fight and mostly defeat named Mexican ring opponents, including Rene Arredondo, Rodolfo Gato Gonzales and Mario Martinez in title fights.

Ironically his biggest tormentor was also a Mexican named Julio Cesar Chavez who stopped him twice in world title fights, first at super featherweight and later at super lightweight, also in the 80s.

The first Filipino to earn the tag was Luisito Espinosa who in his prime fought a number of Mexican fighters, beating some of them including Raul Jibaro Perez, Manuel Medina, Alejandro Cobrita Gonzales, Cesar Soto and Ranchero Ramirez. Earlier and later he lost also to some, including to Israel Contreras, Juan Estrada, Cobrita Gonzales, Soto and Guty Espadas, Jr.

But his career defining wins came against Jibaro Perez whom he kayoed in one round to gain a crack against Medina whom he later outpointed in Japan to wrest the WBC featherweight title and Cobrita Gonzales against whom he scored a revenge knockout victory in defense of that crown spoiling an ongoing fiesta in Merida, Mexico (read Recah Trinidad's Massacre in Mexico).

Manny Pacquiao likewise earned the tag with his slew of elite Mexican ring opponents and victims that included now Hall of Famers Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez. We could add Antonio Margarito to that list. None of his fights were held in Mexico however.

Donnie Ahas Nietes was also considered a Mexicutioner with his fights and wins in Mexico, including WBO world mini flyweight title defense wins over Erik Ramirez, Manuel Goyo Vargas and Mario Rodriguez.

Jerwin Ancajas could have officially joined the short list of Filipino Mexicutioners but in his last IBF super flyweight title defense that was held in Mexico for the first time, he had to settle for Chile's Miguel Gonzales as substitute for his original Mexican opponent Javier Rodriguez. Ancajas easily disposed of the Chilean though.

Jerwin has thus far successfully defended his world title against three Mexican challengers, Jose Antonio Rodriguez and Israel Gonzales, both of whom he stopped and Alejandro Santiago Barrios against whom he fought to a draw, all in the US.

Pedro Taduran early this year successfully defended his IBF world minimumweight crown in Mexico thwarting the bid of Daniel Valladares via fourth round technical draw.

Johnriel Casimero with his strings of overseas world title victories, often as underdog has the chance to join the elite list of Mexicutioners as he is targeting fights against Luis Nery and Emmanuel Navarette in the near future.

Casimero has thus far faced six Mexicans, most prominent were Raul Garcia Hirales to whom he lost a controversial decision in Mexico and Pedro Guevarra whom he defeated by split decision in the defense of his then IBF world light flyweight title some years ago in the US. He has demolished his last three Mexican opponents prior to winning the WBO bantamweight crown, also by knockout over Zolani Tete in the UK.


The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • “Thrilla” card takes shape
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Wishing Best to Jayson Vayson in his World Title Challenge!
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Vayson aims to make history
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • KAIPO GALLEGOS TRAINING CAMP NOTES
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Day Two of 2025 USA Boxing National Open Delivers 108 Action-Packed Bouts in Tulsa
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Bryce Mills Boxes James Bernadin At del Lago Resort & Casino On Thursday, Oct. 30, in Waterloo, NY
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Caribbean Clash Returns Friday, November 7th at Gulfstream Park Casino in Hallandale, Florida
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • VM Sotto, City Council Recognize GM Joey Antonio
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Larida is Southern Coach of the Year
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • D.C. Knockout Artist Scooter Davis Signs Promotional Contract with Top Rank
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 15 SEPTEMBER 2025: Crawford Snatches Canelo's Undisputed Crown at 168 Lbs; Inoue Defeats Akhmadliev to Retain 4 Superbantam Belts; Crocker Outpoints Donovan
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • TICKET NEWS: EUBANK JR-BENN II ON SALE FROM THIS WEDNESDAY
    , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • “Night of Champions” Returns to Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando on September 19
    , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Canelo-Crawford: The Consolidation of Boxing’s New Commercial Empire
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • A New Era for Boxing: Canelo vs. Crawford Shatters Global Viewership Records on Netflix
    By Dong Secuya, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Crawford Not the First Lightweight to Distinguish Himself at Super Middleweight
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Kurt Scoby and Josh Popper Headline Boxing Insider Card September 19 in Times Square
    , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Green and Gold 2025: Amateur Boxing’s International Gathering in Bolivia
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Pakistan's Sameer Khan Set to Battle for UBO Youth World Title in Brico Santig’s Sep 27 Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • SAMBO Pilipinas is Southern NSA of the Year 2025
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • Kingsley “The Black Lion” Ibeh To headline historic “Legacy Nights” Inaugural Pro Boxing event in El Salvador
    , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • Smarts over power
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • HALL OF FAME FLIES FLAGS AT HALF-STAFF FOR TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION RICKY HATTON
    , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • Kazakhstan tops the medal table at the inaugural World Boxing Championships 2025 thanks to victory in the final bout of the competition
    , Tue, 16 Sep 2025
  • THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 13: JOE FRAZIER’S HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AS AN AMATEUR FIGHTER
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Mon, 15 Sep 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.