Philippines, 15 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


INSIDE SPORTS: PROMISING YOUNG FIGHTERS WILL STEP UP


PhilBoxing.com




There couldn't have been a better time or a better slogan than "It's About Time" to promote today's truly exciting if not intriguing fight card at the sprawling Cebu Sports Center in the charming ambiance of the the "Queen City of the South."

The unbelievably low pay per view numbers for the third encounter between eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao and American Timothy "Desert Storm" Bradley at the MGM Grand Garden arena last April 9 and the subsequent wailing of Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, not only underscored the early and correct judgment of the media and fight fans who were never enamored about the trilogy. The numbers quoted by the astute Arum speak for themselves.

Of course aside from the choice of Bradley when there was a far more interesting story-line and potentially rewarding fight against Britain's World Boxing Council Silver welterweight champion Amir Khan or even a somewhat dangerous showdown with unbeaten light welterweight champion Terence Crawford who is also handled by Top Rank, underscored the meaningless trilogy with Bradley who the whole wide world knows lost both fights in which he faced Pacquiao despite the horrendous, internationally criticized decision of the judges in their first meeting.

Ultimately we hope, even if we have our doubts, that Manny will hang up his gloves as he said he would and concentrate his time and energy, which he still unquestionably has plenty of, to his demanding task as a representative of some 100 million Filipinos across our beloved country and finds more time for his charming wife Jinkee and their five lovable kids.

The retirement of Manny provides a golden opportunity for a roster of truly talented and promising young Filipino boxers mainly from the famed ALA Gym to step up and by their collective efforts fill the void left by Pacquiao's retirement.

Of course the lead fighter in this bid to continue the storied history of Philippine boxing is certainly in the fists of Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire who we believe will put on a show, as he himself envisions, against former Hungarian Olympian Zsolt Bedak who is somewhat of an unknown quantity in their WBO super bantamweight showdown tonight before what is expected to be a sellout crowd, thanks to a committed effort by the city government headed by Mayor Mike Rama and the police force, to ensure peace and order and as smooth a traffic flow as possible in a city that is fast developing into a traffic nightmare reminiscent of the Metro Manila gridlock.

Nonito Donaire never wanted to be a another Pacquiao, he wants to be his own man and carve his own name in the pantheon of Filipino greats which is as it should be.

While Manny is clearly a charismatic fighter known for his remarkable humility and generosity which sometimes is questionable in the manner in which he panders to leeches that abound when there is blood money to be sucked out of this forgiving individual, Nonito has a style and charisma all his own, anchored on his wonderful ability to string together thoughts that emanate from deep within his Filipino heart and put them into words both in English, Tagalog and Cebuano.

His eloquence touches both Fiipinos and Americans, mindful that he spent many of his youthful years in the United States and acquired a certain flair from his boyhood days but never forgetting his Filipino heritage of which he speaks with pride.

He will carry our national colors with pride and glory for a few more years while young champions of the future like Mark "Magnifico" Magsayo who may will live up to his name when he battles the talented and cocky Chris Avalos who derisively claimed that his fight with Magsayo is a clash between a man and a boy and that Mark is weak.

Let's find out whether Avalos will feel the same way after Mark connects with his rapid-fire punches tonight in what could well turn out to be the main fight of an exciting card put together by lead promoter Top Rank in cooperation with the renowned ALA Promotions and the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN whose coverage of sports has won the gratitude and admiration of millions of Filipino sports fans.

The extremely likeable manager of the Cebu Grand Hotel which is always our home when we visit Cebu because of its wonderful ambiance and clean and simple but classy facilities, Carlo Suarez, is one of many who are keen on watching "It's About Time" due primarily to the possibilities of a classic between Magsayo, the magnificient and the hitman Avalos.

They are, we believe, perfectly right, although the Donaire-Bedak title fight should be a thriller as long as it lasts.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • PACQUIAO-BARRIOS FIGHT WEEK IS HERE
    , Tue, 15 Jul 2025
  • Unbeaten Prospect Alex Bray to Face Lesther Espino July 18, Live on DAZN
    , Tue, 15 Jul 2025
  • Philippine Blu Girls Crush Thailand in Explosive Start to Women’s Softball Asia Cup 2025
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 15 Jul 2025
  • Manny motors to Vegas
    By Joaquin Henson, , Mon, 14 Jul 2025
  • Bakbakan sa Elorde on July 19
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 14 Jul 2025
  • Ringside, Still: Remembering Chino Trinidad
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Sun, 13 Jul 2025
  • Hamzah Sheeraz Demolishes Edgar Berlanga in Stunner, Becomes Mandatory Challenger to Canelo Alvarez
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 13 Jul 2025
  • Shakur Stevenson Masterfully Tames William Zepeda to Retain WBC Lightweight Crown
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 13 Jul 2025
  • JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Score KO Wins in Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 13 Jul 2025
  • Yanon is PBF flyweight champ
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 13 Jul 2025
  • Taylor vs. Serrano Trilogy: Can Amanda Get The Nod?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • BERLANGA-SHEERAZ, STEVENSON-CEPEDA, MORELL-KHATAEV MAKE WEIGHT IN NEW YORK
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • Johnny Spell Takes on Chancellor Batttenberg on Saturday, July 19th at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington, PA
    , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Make Weight for Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Philippine Under-12 Girls Team Shines Bright, Clinches Multiple Medals at 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Penang
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Kenneth “Llover Boy” Takes on “El Nica” Concepcion Aug 17 on Gerry Peñalosa’s Show @ the Winford Resort and Casino Manila (Analysis)
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Anthony Velazquez won’t be Boxing’s best kept secret in 2026
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated Gabriela Tellez Returns July 18 at “Night of Champions” Live on DAZN
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Dushanbe hosts stacked fight card with Bakhodur Usmonov and Christopher Mouafo headlining IBA.Pro 8
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Shakur vs Zepeda & Morrell vs Khataev Fight Analysis
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Peñalosa To Test "Lover Boy" Llover Versus Accomplished Panamanian Veteran Concepcion
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Begins Brandenburg Cup Prep Camp
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Dream Fight: “Bam” Rodriguez vs “Puma” Martinez on the Horizon
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Perez vs Vivas Headlines All Star Boxing's Prueba de Fuego Card on July 25
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin Promotions & Ringside Ticket Inc. Present ‘Lopez Vs. Vargas’ Welterweight Battle
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.