With the career of Manny Pacquiao in limbo as a result of that stunning knockout defeat to Juan Manuel Marquez, it is imperative for a good number of Filipino boxers to step up and make 2013 their year not only to take the spotlight.
It has to be the year for our other champions to take the cudgels from Pacquiao and maintain our country?s stature as hotbed of boxing superstars.
And when you say superstar, one has to be a boxer who has the ability that makes people pay their hard-earned money and expect a worthy match-up.
In short, marketability is the name of the game.
Let?s face it, there will never be another Manny Pacquiao.
But outside of Pacquiao, there are at least five Filipino boxers who, if they reign simultaneously as champions, could be the saving graces of Philippine boxing once the fighting congressman calls it a career.
DONNIE NIETES. A native of Bacolod based in Cebu, this two-division world champion may be next to Pacquiao in terms of being Mexico?s most feared Filipino fighter.
Nietes captured the vacant World Boxing Organization minimumweight crown when he decisioned Thai Pornsawan Porpramook on Sept. 30, 2007 in Cebu.
During his reign as world minimumweight champion, Nietes travelled to Mexico three times to defend his crown behind enemy lines.
The 30-year-old Nietes came out victorious in all those trips to Mexico as he won by convincing decisions over Mexicans Erik Ramirez, Manuel Vargas and Mario Rodriguez.
His biggest break happened in October of 2011 when he fought another Mexican, Ramon Garcia in a battle for the vacant WBO lightflyweight champion.
In a nationally televised card staged in his hometown, Nietes had a strong start and dominated Garcia during the first half of the match, but faded in the last few rounds to eke out a narrow decision win over the Mexican.
While there are those who criticized Nietes for losing steam towards the end of his bout versus Garcia, experts consider it as actually a selling point for his future fights.
The performance of Nietes against Garcia proved in a lot of ways that he can rely on his fighting heart once his stamina betrays him during the crucial stretches of a championship match.
Nietes, with a record of 31 wins one loss and three draws with 17 knockouts, could face reigning WBO 105lb champion Moises Fuentes in early February.
DRIAN FRANCISCO. He is one of those fighters who possess a very awkward style, but still ends up getting those wins in convincing fashion.
A former holder of the interim World Boxing Association superflyweight crown, Francisco was once considered an opponent for undefeated Cuban sensation Guillermo Rigondeaux as the main supporting bout of the Nonito Donaire Jr. versus Jorge Arce brawl last December in Houston.
However, Top Rank big boss Bob Arum chose to pit a former world champion from Thailand, who eventually failed a medical examination.
Francisco?s chief handler Elmer Anuran, a no-nonsense manager, who never fears to pit his fighters against the best, is still hoping to get that Rigondeaux clash sometime this year.
MILAN MELINDO. He is a cinch to battle for a world crown within the year.
Undefeated in fights, Melindo is called ?El Metodico? because of his methodical ways in defeating his opponents.
Pocket Rocket could also be an apt nom de guerre for the pint-sized Melindo, who is actually a natural lightflyweight, but has chosen to compete in the flyweight division where he likes the challenge of facing bigger and stronger champions.
Currently, Melindo is the mandatory challenger to WBO flyweight ruler Brian Viloria.
BRIAN VILORIA. The Hawaii-raised boxer who traces his roots in Ilocos Sur, is having his best reign as world champion.
Despite a near-death experience in losing his IBF lightflyweight crown to Carlos Tamara in a brawl, Viloria maintained his gung-ho style and simply added a little science to his repertoire.
He continues to wow fight fans with his daredevil approach and plans to do so in his upcoming fights.
Viloria is poised to be involved in one of the biggest bouts in the flyweight division as talks are ongoing for him to face the most feared lightflyweight to date, Roman Gonzalez of Nicaragua.
NONITO DONAIRE. JR. He is close to Pacquiao in terms of explosiveness, speed and ability to move up in weight and beat bigger guys with aplomb.
All he needs is to get those marquee fighters across the ring and one of them has to be Mexican Abner Mares.
