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Philippines, 24 Nov 2024 |
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THE NEW GOLDEN AGE OF PHILIPPINE BOXING ? PACQUIAO AND DONAIRE LEAD THE WAY By Butch Romero PhilBoxing.com Tue, 22 Feb 2011   It was September 10, 2005. On that night, Manny Pacquiao, already one of the top fighters at that time, had just stopped Hector Velazquez and was preparing for his upcoming rematch with Eric Morales. Earlier that evening, Filipinos Rey Bautista and Brian Viloria had scored brutal knockouts of their opponents as well, with Viloria picking up his first world title and Bautista announcing himself to the world as a bright prospect. It was a glorious moment for Philippine Boxing, and many felt it was the start of a new golden era. But the feeling was fleeting and never quite solidified. In the following years, Filipino boxers started to get more opportunities to show off their skills in the US as well as other countries, thanks to Pacquiao?s growing popularity and influence. In the process, several Filipinos went on to win world titles. - July 2007, Nonito Donaire announces himself to the world by upsetting Vic Darchinyan via a knockout-of-the-year left hook. - On that same day on another continent, Florante Condes picks up a world title in Indonesia. - After coming back from his brief retirement, Gerry Penalosa eventually fights his way back to prominence by winning a belt at bantamweight in August of 2007. - On September of the same year, Donnie Nietes wins a vacant belt. But the Philippines was never able to take that proverbial ?next step? as a world power in the sport because of all the speed bumps along the way. Some of the world champions couldn?t hold on to their titles for very long, as was the case with Viloria, Condes, and even Penalosa. Bautista?s young aura of invincibility was shattered when he was stopped in the first round of his title challenge. So many other names would come up, but their progress halted or derailed. Amonsot, Banal, Concepcion, Domingo, Donaire (Nonito?s brother), Gabi, Gorres, Jaca, Lunas, Morales, Suico, Tunacao, and so many others, each one stopped in their tracks. Other young boxers would win titles, only to also lose it soon after, as was the case with Rodel Mayol, Marvin Sonsona and Johnriel Casimero. With Pacquiao as its only recognizable star, it was difficult to consider the Philippines as a global force in the sport along with Mexico or Puerto Rico. But on the 19th of February, 2011, that all changed. Instantly. With another knockout-of-the-year-candidate left hook against the biggest name of his relatively young career, Nonito Donaire became the second superstar from the Asian nation. And together with Nietes, who has now defended his title 5 times in 3 years, and newly-minted interim world champ Drian Francisco, the Philippines only holds 4 world champions. But what they lack in quantity, they more than make up for with quality. With Pacquiao and Donaire simultaneously holding 2 of the top 3 or 5 spots on anyone?s mythical pound-for-pound list, the Philippines can now stand up and be recognized as one of the best in the boxing universe. With other hot prospects such as Mercito Gesta, Melan Melindo and Jason Pagara rising up in the rankings, and combining all the other aforementioned names who haven?t given up their dreams for a world title, perhaps we can say that the Philippines? New Golden Age has begun in earnest. It?s a good time to be a Filipino boxing fan. --- *Note ? I would have named other up-and-coming or world-ranked Filipino boxers, but for fear of prolonging the article, I?ve done this instead. Click on the next links to boxrec?s top Filipino boxers for a bird?s eye view: Page 1 - http://boxrec.com/ratings.php?country=PH&sex=m&division=P4P&status=A&SUBMIT=Go Page 2 - http://boxrec.com/ratings.php?country=PH&sex=m&division=P4P&status=A&SUBMIT=Go&pageID=2 This author can be reached at butcher_boy_37@yahoo.com Edited by Johnny Wu. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Butch Romero.  |
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