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Philippines, 24 Nov 2024 |
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A Filipino Fight Fan?s 11 Wishes for 2011 By Carlo Pamintuan PhilBoxing.com Wed, 05 Jan 2011  2010 was a pretty good year for Philippine boxing. Bannered by Manny Pacquiao?s wins over Joshua Clottey and Antonio Margarito, Filipino fighters made pretty good account on themselves in the world boxing scene. I?ve compiled a list of 11 fights involving Filipino boxers which will undoubtedly make the New Year very happy. 
1. Nonito Donaire (25-1-0, 1 KOs) vs Fernando Montiel (44-2-2, 34 KOs) then the winner of Abner Mares (21-0-1, 13 KOs) vs Joseph Agbeko (28-2-0, 22 KOs) The bantamweight division is one of the hottest in boxing right now and smack in the middle of it is our very own Nonito Donaire. This wish two-part because it will be stupid to wish for something that is already scheduled. Donaire will face Fernando Montiel for the WBC and WBO titles at 118 and after that, my wish is for him to face the winner of the fight between Abner Mares and Joseph Agbeko. If all pieces fall into place, Donaire could very well be holding all four titles in the bantamweight division by year?s end.  2. Donnie Nietes (27-1-3, 15 KOs) vs Oleydong Sithsamerchai (34-0-1, 12 KOs) Donnie Nietes should change his moniker from Ahas to Road Warrior. In his last four fights, the reigning WBO minimumweight champion has only fought once in the Philippines. I talked to Nietes this year and his dream match is a showdown with Oleydong Sithsamerchai of Thailand who holds the WBC version. A unification match between the two will be big because both fighters are at their physical prime. 
3. Brian Viloria (28-3-0, 16 KOs) vs Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (77-3-1, 41 KOs) Brian Viloria seems to be more comfortable in the flyweight division and the best fighter at 112 right now is Thailand?s Pongsaklek Wonjongkam, who also holds the WBC title. A fight between Viloria and Wonjongkam will be a big fight in Asia as the Thai is the most well-known fighter in Thailand. He is also the highest ranked small fighter in the pound-for-pound list. Viloria is slowly getting back into his groove after the defeat to Carlos Tamara. He?ll need a tune-up match or two before taking in the wily Thai veteran but this fight is a definite possibility late in 2011. 
4. Denver Cuello (25-4-6, 15 KOs) vs Ulises Solis (32-2-3, 21 KOs) Denver Cuello has outgrown the minimumweight division and will now start his march for a championship at the light flyweight division. A dream match for Cuello will be a fight against Ulises Solis, who is still one of the bigger names in the division even if he?s not currently holding a title. This fight will be an all-out war because neither fighter will back down. Solis went to the Philippines to defend his title and this proves his willingness to fight anywhere. 
5. AJ Banal (23-1-1, 18 KOs) vs Koki Kameda (24-1-0, 15 KOs) AJ Banal hasn?t been the same since his loss to Rafael Concepcion back in 2008. He was fed a few tomato cans to get his confidence back but I think the best way to unleash Banal is by giving him a big fight; a fight for the regular WBA bantamweight title against Japan?s Koki Kameda. The perfect scenario is for his fight to be held at the Korakuen Hall in Japan. The Kameda?s are a well known boxing family in Japan and a win over Koki will definitely boost Banal?s stock, not to mention get him his first world title. 
6. Milan Melindo (23-0-0, 7 KOs) vs Daiki Kameda (19-2-0, 11 KOs) How can you make the Banal-Kameda card more explosive? Add a Milan Melindo-Daiki Kameda fight in the undercard. Daiki Kameda is a cocky fighter who even sang in after some of his wins while Milan Melindo is a silent hard-worker who is technically sound. Melindo has also developed a bit of power by going up in weight. 
7. Mercito Gesta (20-0-1, 10 KOs) vs Brandon Rios (26-0-1, 19 KOs) Mercito Gesta is one of the hottest prospects in Philippine boxing and he has an advantage because he has fought his last ten fights in the United States. He still needs a bit of seasoning before he fights for a world title that?s why Brandon Rios will be a perfect opponent for him. Rios hasn?t exactly endeared himself to the Filipino audience by trash-talking Pacquiao and mocking Freddie Roach?s Parkinson ?s disease. Rios has been on a tear lately but Gesta is tough enough to hang around with him. 
8. Drian Francisco (20-0-1, 16 KOs) vs Hugo Cazares (34-6-2, 24 KOs) Drian Francisco holds the interim version of the title that Hugo Cazares is holding so it means they have to face each other. This fight isn?t scheduled yet as Francisco seems to be leaning towards getting a tune-up fight in Japan before facing Cazares. Francisco is one of the most promising young fighters from our country and a win over a fighter like Cazares will definitely get him some well-deserved attention. I hope that Cazares does not lose the title before facing Francisco because I?m pretty sure a match between the two will be pretty brutal. 
9. Boom-Boom Bautista (29-2-0, 22 KOs) vs Bernabe Concepcion (28-4-1, 15 KOs) It?s been a while since two world-rated Filipino fighters fought each other. The last I remember was the fight between Manny Pacquiao and Reynante Jamili. A fight between Boom-Boom Bautista and Bernabe Concepcion will be an all-out battle because both guys have power. Concepcion and Bautista both had horrible performances in the times they challenged for world championships and they definitely can use the experience they will get in fighting each other for another shot at a world title. I?ve been clamoring for a good all-Filipino match for a while now. Hopefully, 2011 is the year when it finally happens. 
10. Rodel Mayol (27-5-2, 21 KOs) vs Ivan Calderon (34-1-1, 6 KOs) Sure, we?ve seen this twice already but the two fights were fun and both ended prematurely due to cuts brought about by headbutts. There is no better time for these two to meet against because Rodel Mayol needs to beat a world-caliber fighter in order to get another title shot while Ivan Calderon needs to bounce back from his first career loss against Giovanni Segura. 
11. Manny Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KOs) vs Floyd Mayweather Jr. (41-0-0, 25 KOs) Many people have quit wishing that this mega-fight happens. Most of them accepted the fact that Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. will never face each other. Well, I refuse to give up. I still hope to see Pacquiao and Mayweather fight each other because it will be the fight that will define our generation when it comes to boxing. We all know that Pacquiao is more than willing to fight Mayweather so let?s all hope that the sleek American boxer fends off all his legal issues, grows a pair, and signs the dotted line to fight the Pac-Man. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlo Pamintuan.  |
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