ALTHOUGH pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao got all the attention in 2011 with him hogging the headlines all year long, other Filipino boxing stars also put up big performances this year that helped boost the Philippines in the world boxing scene.
Aside from the current pound-for-pound king, Nonito Donaire Jr., Brian Viloria, Donnie Nietes and Ana Julaton all had an impressive year that is worth commending.
Plan your Sinulog week ahead and find out what’s in store for Sinulog 2012.
Donaire Jr. unified the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and World Boxing Council bantamweight crowns with a remarkable second-round stoppage over Fernando Montiel last Feb. 19. Donaire?s short but sweet demolition over Montiel, one of the best boxers in the division, earned him the No. 4 spot in The Ring Magazine?s pound-for-pound ratings behind Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Sergio Martinez.
Despite issues with his promoter Bob Arum that sidelined him for months, the 29-year-old Filipino-American followed up his win with a lopsided unanimous decision victory over erstwhile unbeaten WBO super flyweight Omar Narvaez on Oct. 22.
Nietes, on the other hand, also made history and became one of the few multi-division world title holders in the Philippines after dethroning WBO light flyweight king Ramon Garcia last Oct. 8 by unanimous decision in Bacolod City. He earlier beat Mexican Armando Vazquez via a first-round knockout.
For Nietes, the second world title was a sweet one as he won it in front of his hometown fans against a tough Mexican, who even cried hometown decision after the bout.
?I respect the Filipinos. I love the culture but the judges did us wrong,? Garcia?s coach Leo Camacho told Sun.Star Cebu after the bout.
But the manager of the former janitor turned world champion belied the claim and said Nietes won it fair and square.
?I think Nietes won it fair and square. He won it seven to five rounds. The judges showed it with their decision,? Michael Aldeguer said.
The scores were 115-113, 117-111, and 118-110.
WBO Asia Pacific, Oriental and Africa zones chairman Leon Panoncillo agrees with Aldeguer?s assesment.
?There was no controversy. It was a matter of what the judges saw. Whoever racked up more points won. Donnie had more clear punches while the champ (Garcia) was more aggressive but was not that effective,? Panoncillo said.
The win was just the latest addition to Nietes? storied career, who won ALA Gym?s first world title after beating Pornsawan Porpramook for the WBO minimumweight title in Sept. 30, 2007. He defended the belt four times–thrice in Mexico–before going up in weight. Since losing by split decision to Angky Angkota in his 13th fight in Indonesia, Nietes has won 18 of his last 20 fights, with two ending in draws.
He has also won 16th straight fights since a technical draw with Ni?o Suelo last July 30, 2005.
Just as their wards got busy, so too did ALA Promotions as it kept boxing alive in Cebu and Bacolod City with nine ?Pinoy Pride? installations this year.
ALA Promotions featured its only world champion, Nietes, and its top prospects Milan Melindo, AJ Banal, Rey Bautista, Rocky Funetes and Genesis Servania in the regular fight series.
Because of their exposures Melindo, Banal and Bautista are all closer to a possible crack for a world title with impressive report cards in 2011.
It?s not only the ALA boys that got Cebu boxing on the map as Cebuanos Mercito Gesta, who is slowly making a name with an perfect 24-0 record in the US boxing circuit, and Denver Cuello are also among the prospects who might be contending for a world title in 2012.
