Professional boxing and Filipino Superstar, Manny “The Pacman” Pacquiao has not only made a name for himself in the sport of boxing but also for his fellow Filipino brethren throughout the sport of professional boxing.
Boxing fans already know Pacquiao’s story and that he is one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world. They know that Pacquiao is a warrior who has been through many battles with various opponents, including Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez, and Erik Morales, being successful in almost each and every fight.
However, he isn’t the only successful fighter to come out of the Philippines and boxing fans should know that the Philippines has more than Manny Pacquiao when it comes to the world of boxing.
This became evident in a recent “World Cup” instituted by Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions. Although poorly titled the Philippines defeated Mexico in the “World Cup” 5-1 proving that the Philippines in the sport of boxing is a force to be reckoned with.
The “World Cup” featured some very entertaining bouts including both the main event and co-main event. However, perhaps the most stunning bout was the co-main event Gerry “Fearless” Penalosa – Jhonny Gonzalez.
The 35-year-old Penalosa entered the bout as the wily former WBC Super Flyweight Champion and legendary tactician. However, few gave Penalosa a chance in the fight, as he faced off against the younger, stronger, and larger WBO Bantamweight Champion, Gonzalez.
As the fight progressed the Penalosa doubters seemed to be on safe ground with their prediction. In fact, he was losing on all three judges scorecards going into the seventh round and definitely looked as if he was going to lose the match. However, Penalosa scored a perfect liver shot, causing Gonzalez to take a couple of steps back, falling to the ground and shockingly never returning to his feet.
Penelosa was ecstatic, not believing that he was able to pull out the victory. It went according to pattern however, as the Philippines were winning hands down the entire night prior to this bout taking off.
The Filipino veteran defeated the younger Mexican becoming the new WBO Bantamweight Champion, a sign that Filipino boxing is strong and most definitely here to stay.
After the Penelosa fight, the Filipinos were leading the Mexicans 5-0 in the “World Cup” and had high hopes for their potential future Filipino star boxer, Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista in a title bout against the hard puncher and WBO Super Bantamweight Champion Daniel Ponce De Leon.
Although Bautista lost the bout, he came into the fight with an unblemished record of 23-0, 17 KO’s, but left the bout with a blemish on his record. Although Bautista lost, he still earned a title shot at the young age of 21-years-old and has a successful future in boxing awaiting him, and can still not be discounted as the man that will run with the torch when Manny Pacquiao passes it.
Aside from the one blemish in Bautista’s loss in the “World Cup,” the Filipinos prevailed, winning the “World Cup” 5-1, and proving on that night that the Philippines have a great talent pool of upcoming boxers and even some fighters that have been around the block that still have a fighting chance to make some waves.
Another Filipino boxer fighting under the radar is Z Gorres who also competed victoriously in Golden Boy Promotions “World Cup.” The 25-year-old super flyweight defeated his opponent Eric Ortiz via eighth round technical knockout. Gorres lost a controversial split decision to Fernando Montiel in February in a fight that was for the WBO Super Flyweight Title.
The “World Cup” also featured another Filipino fighter, Diosdado Gabi, defeating Jose Angel Beranza by way of unanimous decision.
Another Filipino with an alias of “Bruce Lee,” Michael Domingo also was victorious against Miguel Roman, in the upset of the night, arguably, and AJ Banal did the Philippines proud by defeating Jorge Cardenas.
Overall the Filipino fighters had a good night defeating the Mexican fighters in the Golden Boy Promotions “World Cup” 5-1. The only blemish coming to perhaps the best fighter throughout the HBO: Boxing After Dark broadcast, Daniel Ponce De Leon.
Therefore the casual boxing fan can now understand that Pacquiao is not the only successful fighter that comes out of the Philippines as there is now a new champion in Penalosa and perhaps a future champion in Bautista.
As for Pacquiao and his fans, his much anticipated bout with Marco Antonio Barrera will be the next step for his already legendary status. The fight will also continue the boxing rivalry between the two countries of Mexico and the Philippines.
So far Barrera is down one to zero in the battle between the two fighters. If the bout is anything like the Erik Morales-Pacquiao trilogy, we should definitely be in for a war.
