Philippines, 13 Oct 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


WBO'S PANONCILLO WANTS BOXING TO HAVE A HEART


PhilBoxing.com



Panoncillo.
The World Boxing Organization (WBO) has certainly gone a very long way from its humble beginnings as a fringe organization into what it is today, the biggest and most admired sanctioning body in the world.

Aside from maintaining an unsullied integrity in the sport, and doing away with the usual set up of an organization with Old Boys' Club mentality, the WBO is finely carving a name for itself as an organization with a heart, operating in an environment where as it grows bigger, it knows its accrued social responsibility is just about as huge.

Nothing illustrates that more than tomorrow's big event, where again the WBO is at the center of a ring battle that has the potential for a classic featuring world champion Donnie Nietes against world champion Moises Fuentes.

ALA Promotions, the country's biggest and most respected boxing outfit, is putting up this mega event as part of its "Pinoy Pride" series in partnership with ABS-CBN, and it seems this show will be another blockbuster.

But behind all the hoopla, the WBO's Leon Panoncillo is also busy preparing for an event that truly makes this occasion extra special.

Tomorrow morning, the WBO Kontra Drugs once again takes place here in Cebu, where a baseball event will be sponsored by the sanctioning body for the poor kids in the city. Michael Angel Lopez, an award-winning baseball personality from Cebu, has been tapped by the WBO to put up the baseball event.

"I see there is so much poverty going around in my country. I see kids sleeping on the streets begging, and I know something must be done," said Panoncillo yesterday after the official press conference of the Nietes-Fuentes fight. "So this is where the WBO would like to somehow have a part. That as we grow bigger, that we care better," added Panoncillo, who is expected to grace the opening of the WBO Kontra Drugs event along with Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, WBO officials, and boxing legend Marco Antonio Barrera.

The WBO's recent entry in Japan, which was formalized last week with no less than WBO president Paco Valcarcel and Panoncillo along with ratings chairman Luis Perez visiting Tokyo to meet with officials from the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) and Japanese promoters, as well as the upcoming WBO double world championship in Macao, has just solidified the WBO's position as the number one boxing body in the world today. Panoncillo, however, sees it as a chance to not just oversee boxing, but also to give the sport a heart for the less fortunate.

"The annual WBO Kontra Drugs is not just a program we do in Asia every year, but this has been on going in other parts of the world, courtesy of the WBO. And we plan to do this for as long as we can," said Panoncillo.

Next year, aside from the baseball event, Panoncillo is also looking at the possibility of actually feeding kids alongside the sports program. "I'd like to have a day where we can just tell the street kids, 'Come, join us and eat with us. I'm sure Paco (Varcarcel) would love to have a project like this."

NOTES: Boxing legend Marco Antonio Barrera arrived in Cebu last night to be at ringside for his prized protege Moises Fuentes. Fans will get a chance to meet the legendary fighter tomorrow night at the Waterfront Hotel...I never got the chance to meet Barrera last night, as "only the elites" as described by Michael Angel Lopez were invited to meet him. I will have that chance tonight, hopefully, as ALA Promotions holds a presscon for the legend...Nietes vs Fuentes has the potential of becoming the new version of Alexis Arguello vs Aaron Pryor. We'll see...Expect Manila's media to be at special ringside tomorrow night for the big fight. They know a real fight when they see one...Veteran boxing man Ronnie Nathanielsz is pretty much like Bob Arum. After decades in the sport, they remain as passionate about it as the first day they got involved in boxing...


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • “The Wonder Boy” Carl Jammes Martin Ready to Shine October 29 at the 50th Anniversary of the Thrilla in Manila (Analysis)
    By Carlos Costa, , Mon, 13 Oct 2025
  • THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 19: JOE FRAZIER FIGHTS ALI, QUARRY AND ELLIS AGAIN
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Mon, 13 Oct 2025
  • Berchelt captures "Reynosa" WBC commemorative belt after triumphant return
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 13 Oct 2025
  • Supeyia Fights Mamdouh in Brico Santig’s Thailand Show; Elmo Traya and Raymond Yanong Also in Action Oct 25 LIVE on TrillerTV
    By Carlos Costa, , Mon, 13 Oct 2025
  • PIJUS LABUTIS MAKES HISTORY WITH MAIDEN MATCHROOM MAJOR TRIUMPH IN HANOI
    , Mon, 13 Oct 2025
  • ARSLANBEK MAKHMUDOV DEFEATS DAVE ALLEN AND DEMANDS TO FACE AJ NEXT
    , Sun, 12 Oct 2025
  • Domingo faces Fajardo in Thrilla in Manila 2 Countdown
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 12 Oct 2025
  • Doroma-Aranas 2 on October 13
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 12 Oct 2025
  • OFFICIAL WEIGHTS FOR FISTS OF FURY 8, TOMORROW NIGHT AT SEMINOLE HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO HOLLYWOOD
    , Sun, 12 Oct 2025
  • Alvin Camique Busts the "Mafia" in Tanzania!!!
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 12 Oct 2025
  • DAY FOUR: NEUHAUSEN, CAPITO, VERGARA AND LABUTIS CHARGE INTO SEMI-FINALS IN HANOI
    , Sun, 12 Oct 2025
  • RED OWL BOXING BOXFEST XVI LIVE ON DAZN RESULTS: DEONTE BROWN DEFEATS GRIMARDI MACHUCA
    , Sat, 11 Oct 2025
  • SBA Expands Scouting Tour to Discover New Talents for Season 2 Team Expansion
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 11 Oct 2025
  • Alvin Camigue KOs unbeaten Ibrahin Mafia in Tanzania
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 11 Oct 2025
  • DARE TO ENTER: ORTIZ VS. LUBIN LESS THAN A MONTH AWAY, GOLDEN BOY ANNOUNCES STACKED PRELIMINARY CARD FEATURING FAN FAVORITES ERIC PRIEST AND ROBIN SAFAR
    , Sat, 11 Oct 2025
  • Ennis vs. Lima: Boots is Back in Philly
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 11 Oct 2025
  • Weigh-in Complete: Philadelphia's Jaron Ennis and Uisma Lima Set for WBA Interim World Title Fight
    , Sat, 11 Oct 2025
  • Ronny Alvarez Training Camp Notes Ahead of Most Valuable Prospects 16 on DAZN
    , Sat, 11 Oct 2025
  • Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington Featured in Exclusive Global Boxing Network Interview
    , Sat, 11 Oct 2025
  • SHEFFIELD WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND FIGHT NIGHT RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED AS ALLEN AND MAKHMUDOV FACE-OFF FOR FINAL TME
    , Sat, 11 Oct 2025
  • Manchester says Goodbye to Ricky Hatton
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 11 Oct 2025
  • DAY THREE: CHUA AND GORST KNOCKED OUT AS BIADO, YAPP AND SHAW MARCH INTO LAST 16
    , Sat, 11 Oct 2025
  • JARON ‘BOOTS’ ENNIS AND UISMA LIMA PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • RED OWL BOXING: BOXFEST XVI – OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN RESULTS
    , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • Irish amateur star Jim Donovan Right back in ring after pro debut
    , Fri, 10 Oct 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.