MANILA, Philippines – Filipino prizefighters figured in 21 world title fights this year with WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, WBO lightflyweight titlist Donnie Nietes and IBA superflyweight ruler Bruno Escalante showing the way with two wins apiece.
The overall performance was below average as Filipinos won in only nine fights and lost 12. The year ended with two heartbreaking losses by split decision in South Africa as Michael Dasmarinas of Albay bowed to IBO superflyweight champion Lwandile Sityatha last Dec. 13 and Roli Gasca of Cebu yielded to IBO featherweight king Lusanda Komanisi two nights later.
Of the 21 losses, five were by split decision. Aside from Dasmarinas and Gasca, others to lose in similar fashion were Jether Oliva of General Santos City to Moruti Mthalane for the vacant IBO flyweight crown in South Africa last March, Edrin Dapudong to Sityatha in South Africa last July and Gretchen Abaniel to Kumiko Seeser Ikehara for the vacant WBC female minimumweight diadem in Osaka last September.
Dasmarinas, 22, gained the nod of Canadian judge Benoit Roussel who had it a lopsided 118-110 for the 5-5 southpaw but the two other judges Andre Van Grootenbruel of Belgium and Hilton Whitaker of New Jersey both scored it 116-112. The loss snapped a win streak of 15 fights since 2012 as Dasmiranas? record slipped to 18-2, with 11 KOs. It was only Dasmarinas? second overseas outing with the first a win on points over Hayato Kimura in Tokyo last July.
Gasca, 25, was ahead in Florida judge Don Balas? scorecard, 116-112, but the two other judges Sazi Xamlashe of South Africa had it 115-113 and Englishman Reg Thompson 116-112 for Komanisi.
The winners were Pacquiao who regained the WBO 147-pound crown from Timothy Bradley in Las Vegas last April and retained it via a unanimous decision over Chris Algieri in Macau last month, Nietes who knocked out Moises Fuentes in nine at the Mall of Asia Arena last May and stopped Carlos Velarde in seven at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu last month, Escalante who halted Lorenzo Trejo in four in Redwood City last February and outpointed Victor Ruiz in Brooks last April, Rey Loreto who wrested the IBO lightflyweight crown from Nkosinathi Joyi by a third round knockout in South Africa last February, Nonito Donaire who dethroned WBA featherweight champion Simpiwe Vetyeka on a fifth round technical decision in Macau last May and Abaniel who trounced Thailand?s Nungnun Mor Krungthepthonburi for the Women?s IBA minimumweight belt in Binan last February. Dean’s Corner ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
The year is ending with Pacquiao, Nietes, Loreto and Escalante the only reigning Filipino world champions. Loreto was scheduled to defend his crown against Joyi in a rematch in South Africa last Dec. 13 but the fight has been postponed to Feb. 28. Escalante, 26, is not widely recognized as a world titleholder because the IBA isn?t a mainstream global governing body and IBA title fights are scheduled only up to 10 rounds instead of the traditional 12. Escalante?s record is 13-1, with 6 KOs.
The 21 title fights excluded Johnriel Casimero?s first round knockout victory over Colombian Mauricio Fuentes in Cebu last May. Casimero lost the IBF lightflyweight title on the scales for failing to make weight but the fight went on with Fuentes named the new champion if he won. Since Casimero knocked out Fuentes, the throne was declared vacant. Casimero, 24, went on to stop Armando Santos in two in Mexico last Dec. 13 to re-establish himself as a title contender, this time in the flyweight division.
Two Filipinos blew two title chances each during the year. Rocky Fuentes lost to Thailand?s Amnat Ruenroeng on points for the vacant IBF flyweight title in Nakhon Ratchasima last January and was knocked out by unbeaten WBC flyweight king Roman (Chocolatito) Gonzalez of Nicaragua in six in Yokohama last month. Gasca yielded a unanimous decision to Thabo Sonjica in an IBO superbantamweight title fight in South Africa last August then conceded to Komanisi, also in South Africa, two weeks ago.
Other Filipino losers included Richie Mepranum who was halted by WBA/WBO flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada of Mexico in Sonora last April, Donaire who was poleaxed by Jamaica?s Nicholas (The Axeman) Walters in six in a WBA unification featherweight title fight in Carson City last October, Marvin Mabait who was halted by WBC superflyweight champion Carlos Cuadras of Mexico in Washington, D. C., last month and Merlito Sabillo who surrendered his WBO minimumweight crown to Mexico?s Francisco Rodriguez via a 10th round knockout in Monterrey last March.
Of the 21 world title fights, eight were sanctioned by the WBO, five by the IBO, two by the WBC and three by the WBA. The nine Filipino wins were three by unanimous decision, one by technical decision and five by knockout. The 12 losses were five by knockout, five by split decision and two by unanimous decision.
In 2015, several Filipinos are tipped to fight for world titles. Former two-time world champion Brian Viloria, 34, is on the comeback trail with three wins in a row since losing the WBA/WBO flyweight title to Juan Francisco Estrada on a split decision in Macau last year. Donaire, 32, vows to return strong after losing to Walters and will now campaign in the superbantamweight division. His record is 33-3, with 21 KOs, but 2-2 in the last four bouts. Another former world champion Sonny Boy Jaro, 32, is being lined up to battle WBA superflyweight champion Carlos Cuadras.
Interim WBA lightflyweight titlist Randy Petalcorin of Davao City and IBF lightflyweight title eliminator survivor Milan Melindo of Cagayan de Oro are also in the queue. Other world championship prospects are superbantamweight Albert Pagara, superflyweight Arthur Villanueva, lightweight Roberto Gonzales, lightweight Mercito Gesta and minimumweight Denver Cuello.
Prospects with pedigree include superbantamweight brothers Dave and Dodie Boy Penalosa and brothers Juan Martin and Juan Miguel Elorde. Dave, 23, is 9-0,, with six KOs, but hasn?t fought since coming off the canvas to stop Danilo Gabisay last July. Dodie Boy, Jr., 23, is 13-0, with 12 KOs, but fought only once this year. Juan Martin, 30, is 16-1-1, with seven KOs, as a lightweight and his only loss was a four-round decision to Angel Rodriguez in Texas four years ago. Juan Miguel, 28, is a 5-8 featherweight with a 17-1 record, including nine KOs. He has won seven in a row since losing a four-round verdict to Jerry Guevara in Las Vegas three years ago.
