Philippines, 12 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Bleacher Talk: Raising The Bar


PhilBoxing.com


Cebu Boxing is getting busier these days setting the pace for boxing in the country.

Ever since the successful Z Gorres?Vic Darchinyan card kicked off the year of big time boxing events for Cebu, it now looks like there?s no stopping Cebu?s local promoters and boxers from maintaining or even raising the bar a notch higher.

Never before has Cebu seen a calendar of activities like the one we?re expecting to see for the rest of 2008. In what is getting to be a norm for local boxing, all the succeeding big events for the rest of the year will be showcasing at least a regional championship or a world championship title fight as a main event.

A natural feature here is that bringing in foreign opponents to face Cebu?s top boxers in the main event of each card is already something considered as a ?given? or a ?must have.?

Gone are the days when a national championship was the biggest fight available for our top stars. In fact, a Philippine championship doesn?t seem to be a top priority anymore these days, now that the World Boxing Organization (WBO), International Boxing Federation (IBF) and now the World Boxing Association (WBA) -in that order- have now opened their arms to sanction regional or world title fights here in Cebu, something we never saw before. In the past, it was Cebu reaching out to Japan to break into the Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) or the United States to crack the world?s top ten rankings.

We were admittedly ?sad? when Golden Boy Promotions? ?Invasion? boxing card featuring the ALA Boys and Gerry Pe?alosa was held in Manila last April, knowing that Cebu was a more passionate fan of boxing than those in Manila. I guess the Manila experience was a learning for them as it now looks like Cebu will be THE venue for the year?s remaining big cards.

And so after a delayed reaction, the standard set by the Gorres-Darchinyan fight has finally created a ripple effect that will have Cebu busy with a loaded calendar of boxing. ?Back On Track? was a good way to re-start the ripple, as it featured Bert Batawang and the come-backing Rodel Mayol at the Cebu Coliseum. This also signified boxing?s return to what was once known as the home of Cebu Boxing?s biggest events in the 70s through the 90s. A few weeks before this saw Randy Suico crush a Thai in Lapu-lapu.

ALA Promotions is bringing boxing back to the Waterfront Hotel for the second time this year as Gorres faces off against Kenya?s Nick Otieno in a non-title fight on Saturday. The card also features another comeback kid in Malcolm Tu?acao who goes up against Rashid Ally of Tanzania. Special mention is the Marty Elorde promoted boxing promotion in Bogo on Friday. The main event of the card features Manila-based Ryan Bito defending his WBO Intercontinental Minimumweight title against Arnel Tadena of Bohol.

Then coming up in July is the possibility of a double world championship card featuring Gerry Pe?alosa and AJ Banal. Pe?alosa will be making the second title defense of his WBO bantamweight title against Isidro Garcia of Mexico, while Banal will be fighting for the vacant WBA super flyweight championship against Rafael Concepcion of Panama. But that isn?t it. The rest of the card features a list of fights that could make this THE boxing event of the year. Also being negotiated to see action on the same card is one-time Manny Pacquiao foe Oscar Larios of Mexico and Milan Melindo who?ll be going for a WBA Fedelatin championship. Batawang, Ciso Morales and Michael Domingo are also tabbed to see action in the card that?s expected to fill up the Cebu Coliseum for the first time in over a decade (for a boxing event).

As we write, we haven?t even heard of the latest for Boom Boom Bautista whose next fight is also being lined up either in Cebu or Bohol. Yuka Gejon is also listed to be fighting in Bohol in July while Along Denoy will also see action in Palawan next month. Mark Jason Melligen is to show off his stuff before a hometown crown in Bacolod also in July.

The only Cebu prospect who?ll be missing out in all the local action will be Donnie Nietes who?s scheduled to defend his WBO Minimumweight belt against Erik Ramirez in Mexico on July 5.

Wow! That was the first reaction I made when I saw all this being lined up for local boxing?s calendar for 2008. This has to have Cebu?s boxing colleagues in Manila and the rest of the country drooling in envy.

But then again, what else is new? This is Cebu Boxing raising the bar!


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rico Navarro.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Taylor vs. Serrano Trilogy: Can Amanda Get The Nod?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • BERLANGA-SHEERAZ, STEVENSON-CEPEDA, MORELL-KHATAEV MAKE WEIGHT IN NEW YORK
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • Johnny Spell Takes on Chancellor Batttenberg on Saturday, July 19th at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington, PA
    , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Make Weight for Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Philippine Under-12 Girls Team Shines Bright, Clinches Multiple Medals at 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Penang
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Kenneth “Llover Boy” Takes on “El Nica” Concepcion Aug 17 on Gerry Peñalosa’s Show @ the Winford Resort and Casino Manila (Analysis)
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Anthony Velazquez won’t be Boxing’s best kept secret in 2026
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated Gabriela Tellez Returns July 18 at “Night of Champions” Live on DAZN
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Dushanbe hosts stacked fight card with Bakhodur Usmonov and Christopher Mouafo headlining IBA.Pro 8
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Shakur vs Zepeda & Morrell vs Khataev Fight Analysis
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Peñalosa To Test "Lover Boy" Llover Versus Accomplished Panamanian Veteran Concepcion
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Begins Brandenburg Cup Prep Camp
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Dream Fight: “Bam” Rodriguez vs “Puma” Martinez on the Horizon
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Perez vs Vivas Headlines All Star Boxing's Prueba de Fuego Card on July 25
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin Promotions & Ringside Ticket Inc. Present ‘Lopez Vs. Vargas’ Welterweight Battle
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Vegas Fight Experience Where Authentic Sparring Meets Cinematic Vegas Energy
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • 4 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Erik Morales Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • SALITA PROMOTIONS SIGNS FORMER WORLD CHAMPION TONY HARRISON
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • FIGHT EMPIRE! TUAZON, ADOR, DE BARBO, JOMAR, AND MORE ARE READY FOR ACTION IN BRICO SANTIG'S EXCITING SHOW JULY 12 IN THAILAND
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Shakur Stevenson and David Morrell Face "Crossroad Fights" This Saturday in Queens
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin’s “Mayhem in Music City 2” to Feature Undefeated Vic Hernandez Facing Jayvon Garnett for NABA & Jr. NABF Featherweight Championships
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • James Perkins & Anthony Andreozzi Headlines “Oceanside Prize Fights”
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • GORST PURSUES GOLDEN GLORY IN JEDDAH, DEFENDING WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE IN SAUDI ARABIA, 21–26 JULY
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Hovhannisyan and Barrientes Set for High-Stakes Showdowns July 18 on DAZN
    , Tue, 08 Jul 2025
  • UNBEATEN PROSPECT KENNETH LLOVER TO FACE FORMER TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION LUIS CONCEPCION IN MANILA
    , Mon, 07 Jul 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.