Uh oh?. I just discovered that another world title bout pitting two Filipinos will take place this August for the vacant World Boxing Organization junior bantamweight (115 pounds).
And the protagonists are Donnie Nietes (41-1-4 with 23 KOs) and knockout artist Aston Palicte (24-2 with 20 KOs), with Nietes climbing up in weight from flyweight (112 pounds). And I hate to see the two fight each other, not only from the fact the Filipinos bludgeoning each other for a world title remained a taboo until Jerwin Ancajas (30-1-1 with 20 KOs) and Jonas Sultan (14-1 with 9 KOs) squared off also at junior bantamweight last May. Ancajas won the fight in a bout featuring Filipinos fighting for a world title in more than nine decades.
Like Ancajas-Sultan, the Nietes-Palicte fight is mandated or has been ordered by a world sanctioning body.
The implications and consequences of this fight are enormous. Let me discuss.
Nietes is currently ranked at No. 9 in The Ring Pound-for-Pound (P4P) rankings and can win his third world divisional title if he defeats Palicte. However, it would be a waste if Palicte sustains a crushing defeat because he has the potential to become a world champion.
And at 5?7?, Palicte can climb to the higher weight divisions and win titles at bantamweight (118 pounds) and junior featherweight (122 pounds).
If Palicte defeats Nietes, that would deny the former world flyweight (108 pounds) and junior flyweight champion the chance to win a third divisional world title at junior bantamweight.
In short, I hate to see the two Filipino fighters clobbering each other for the WBO junior bantamweight title.
There may be a consolation if the bout goes the distance like Ancajas-Sultan because both of them will not be hurt badly. But if one of them gets stopped or knocked out, that would result in both fighters having to regain ground, which is not easy.
Palicte is every inch the young hungry warrior who wants to win a world title. And at 27 years old with power in his hands, Nietes is definitely facing a formidable opponent.
Nietes is already 36 years old and climbing in weight, which means he may not have the same power that can knock out junior bantamweights. But Nietes has vast experience at the championship level that can serve him well when he fights Palicte. He is also one of the most disciplined fighters and has proven stamina.
So will Filipino boxing fans cheer at the sight of Nietes getting bludgeoned by a younger, stronger compatriot in Palicte? Or will Filipino boxing rejoice if Nietes schools Palicte?
The winner of the fight also faces the prospect of squaring off against Ancajas, who holds the International Boxing Federation junior bantamweight world title. And who wants to see Ancajas fighting either Nietes or Palicte in the future?
With two bouts featuring Filipino fighters squaring off for a world title in a just a few months, we can conclude that the quality of our pugs is definitely improving, and that has caught the attention of world boxing sanctioning bodies.
Many decades back when there were only two sanctioning bodies?the World Boxing Association and World Boxing Council?it was a rarity that a Filipino gets a crack at a world title or even win a crown.
But today, there are at least six sanctioning bodies and that gives opportunities for more Filipino boxers to fight for a world title. Furthermore, with 17 weight divisions in boxing, it has become a norm for a world title holder to win two or more titles from the higher weight divisions, much like what Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire, and Nietes has so far accomplished in so far as Filipino boxers are concerned.
So maybe, we should get used to seeing Filipino pugs squaring off for a world title in the next months and years to come.
After Palicte-Nietes, maybe we should also prepare to see either of them squaring off against Ancajas in a world title unification bout at junior bantamweight?
Ancajas vs Nietes is a promoter?s dream if Nietes beats Palicte for the WBO crown, and if the fight materializes that will be the first time two Filipinos would figure in a world title unification bout.
Ancajas vs Palicte is also a good world title unification fight if Palicte wins the WBO crown by beating Nietes.
Ancajas vs Nietes or Palicte are marquee fights that can change Philippine boxing history. And analysts and promoters will definitely take notice of those two possible fights. Maybe, I am the first boxing analyst to float the idea of Ancajas vs Nietes or Ancajas vs Palicte.
Good or bad? I don?t know.
