Manny Pacquiao, the uncrowned world superfeatherweight champion ranked No. 2 behind only Floyd Mayweather in the pound-for-pound honor roll, remained the man of the moment in Philippine boxing this year.
The Filipino ring icon would?ve fought more than only twice if not for the elections where he failed in a bid to unseat two-term Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio in the first district of South Cotabato last May.
As it turned out, Pacquiao saw action in April and October. He halted long-armed Mexican contender Jorge Solis in San Antonio then decisioned Marco Antonio Barrera, sending the grizzled warrior into retirement, in Las Vegas.
Without missing a beat, Pacquiao continued to thrill audiences on the global stage. No fighter is as exciting today, not even Mayweather. When Pacman fights, everything in the Philippines stands still. Pacquiao isn?t just a fighter who excites. He?s a hero who inspires.
Promoter Bob Arum said he expects Pacquiao to fight thrice in 2008. That?s Pacquiao?s preference. First in the calendar is a rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez for the WBC superfeatherweight crown in Las Vegas on March 15. Pacquiao also intends to fight in July and November. Macau and Dubai are being considered as sites for future bouts with a long line of possible opponents, including Edwin Valero, David Diaz, Joel Casamayor and even Ricky Hatton.
Curiously, Pacquiao doesn?t even hold a legitimate world title. He?s recognized as the WBC international champion in the 130-pound division but that?s largely insignificant. In the modern era, fighters ? not titles ? make fights. Fans pay good money to watch gladiators give it their all in the ring, regardless of what crown is at stake. When Pacquiao fights, fans are guaranteed to get their money?s worth. And that?s why Pacquiao commands top dollar in every bout.
Pacquiao is now 29 and has at least three peak years left as a world-class fighter. Before he?s through, the General Santos City southpaw will become the greatest Filipino fighter and the richest Filipino athlete who ever lived.
As the year comes to a close, four Filipino fighters reign as world champions ? Florante Condes (IBF minimumweight), Donnie Nietes (WBO minimumweight), Nonito Donaire Jr. (IBF and IBO flyweight) and Gerry Pe?alosa (WBO bantamweight). Additionally, four other Filipinos hold OPBF titles ? lightflyweight Juanito Rubillar, bantamweight Rolly Lunas, lightweight Randy Suico and welterweight Rev Santillan.
Among the country?s world title prospects are superbantamweight Rey (Boom Boom) Bautista, superflyweight A. J. Banal, superflyweight Z Gorres, superbantamweight Bernabe Concepcion and lightweight Ranee Ganoy.
In the OPBF, two Filipinos are ranked No. 1 ? flyweight Jojo Bardon and superfeatherweight Dodie Boy Agrabio.
Several Filipinos fought for world titles this year, a testament to the depth of the country?s pool of talent. The losers were Gabriel Pumar (IBO minimumweight), Brian Viloria (WBC lightflyweight), Rodel Mayol (IBF lightflyweight), Bert Batawang (IBF lightflyweight), Federico Catubay (IBO bantamweight), Bautista (WBO superbantamweight) and Dondon Sultan (WBF welterweight).
Sultan created a stir when he trounced Eddie Delic to claim the WBF welterweight crown in Singapore in November last year but was knocked out by Hamza Issa in his first title defense in Calais, France, last June.
Last August, the Philippines dethroned Mexico as the World Cup champion by winning five of six matches in a dual meet organized by Golden Boy Promotions in Sacramento. The only Filipino loser was Bautista who bowed to Daniel Ponce de Leon in a single round. But the overall victory was resounding for the Philippines as Pe?alosa, Banal, Michael Domingo, Gorres and Diosdado Gabi triumph.
Because of Pacquiao?s resonance, Filipino fighters were in demand by promoters all over the world. A beneficiary was Pacquiao?s younger brother Bobby who has fought overseas in his last eight bouts since 2004. This year, Bobby lost to Humberto Soto at Madison Square Garden in New York City and halted Fernando Trejo in Cabazon, California. Thailand, Japan, South Africa and Australia were popular hunting grounds for Filipino beakbusters looking for dollar paychecks outside the US.
Pe?alosa?s ascent back to the top was a breakthrough for the 35-year-old veteran who lost in three bids ? two by split decision ? to regain the WBC superflyweight title he won in 1997. He defied the odds by knocking out Jhonny Gonzalez with a left hook to the body to wrest the WBO bantamweight crown in Sacramento last August. Pe?alosa is now looking to defend the title against mandatory challenger Ratanachai Sor Vorapin.
Donaire?s win was just as outstanding. A huge underdog, he ended previously unbeaten Vic Darchinyan?s reign with a left hook to the jaw in the fifth round in Connecticut last July. Then, a few weeks ago, Donaire bloodied rugged Mexican challenger Luis Maldonado before scoring an eighth round stoppage in his first defense, also in Connecticut.
Tony Aldeguer was in the forefront of the Philippine crusade for world championships as his ALA stable fighters gained world-wide recognition as top-class contenders.
Former PBA commissioner Noli Eala made a successful debut as a boxing promoter early this month. He was backed by a consortium made up of ABC-5 owner Tony Boy Cojuangco, banker Eric Tagle and Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Neri Lim in staging the highly-acclaimed ?Payback? card before 7,500 fans at the Araneta Coliseum.
In the amateurs, the Philippines won a lone gold medal at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand, courtesy of women?s flyweight champion Annie Albania. The consolation was Filipinos took 12 silver and two bronze medals.
Harry Ta?amor, who represented the country in the 2004 Athens Olympics, booked a ticket to Beijing by making it to the lightflyweight finals at the World Championships in Chicago last October. On the way to the gold medal bout, Ta?amor ? who was excluded from the 2006 Asian Games lineup because of disciplinary reasons ? outpointed Pan American Games champion Luis Yanez of the US. He dropped a 16-3 decision to 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Zou Shiming in the finals.
Emerging from the woodwork was featherweight Orlando Tacuyan who stunned Asian Games gold medalist Joan Tipon in the preliminaries and shocked Charlie Suarez in the finals of the National Open in Cagayan de Oro last October. Tacuyan, 19, is now being groomed as a future Olympian.
More on the year?s sports highlights in Part 3 of The STAR?s yearender tomorrow.
