Manila, Philippines ? There used to be five of them: Manny Pacquiao. Brian Viloria. Nonito Donaire. Johnreil Casimero. Donnie Nietes.
Only two Casimero and Nietes remain.
In a span of a week, two lost their world titles, leaving Philippine boxing glassy-eyed and reeling on the ropes, a punch or two away from being counted out.
In Macau last April 6, flyweight king Viloria was upset by Juan Francisco Estrada of Mexico and yesterday in New York, pound-for-pound entrant and top super-bantamweight champion Donaire fell back to earth, dropping a clear-cut unanimous decision to Guillermo Rigondeaux of Cuba.
In between Viloria and Donaire?s bouts was a title shot that failed when ex-world champion Malcolm Tunacao was stopped in the 12th round by Shinsuke Yamanaka in Tokyo.
Pacquiao got stunned by Tim Bradley to surrender his world junior-welterweight title in June last year and five months later, got clobbered by Juan Manuel Marquez.
All is not lost however as Nietes and Casimero, though little-known even in their native land, are bound to defend their respective crowns very soon while Pacquiao is being poised to stage a comeback in September or October either against Bradley or Marquez.
Nietes and Casimero are actually coming off title defenses last month.
