The Republic of the Philippines captured Golden Boy Promotion’s World Cup this past Saturday night against Mexico. Winning five of the scheduled six bouts between Filipino and Mexican boxers, the Philippines continues to own the bragging rights against an Aztec nation which has fallen into hard times in the rivalry. Within an estimated populations of 88,706,300, the Philippines has been come a boxing crazed nation. The flames of the fistic fires were fueled by iconic Manny Pacquiao, who has run through noted boxers Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, and Oscar Larios in recent years, all Mexicans.
Though victorious, the World Cup of Saturday night has been bitter sweet for the island nation and its people. Gerry Penalosa, Z Gorres, Michael Domingo, AJ Banal, and Diosdado Gabi all notched victories for the Philippines.
In the main event the Philippines had one of their rising stars, Rey Bautista battling for the WBO 122 pound championship. 21 years of age and undefeated, going into his battle with the rudimentary but savage Daniel Ponce De Leon, Bautista was on a sky rocket to the top of the Pinoy boxing world.
Unfortunately for Bautista, De Leon came into the ring motivated and with a chip on his shoulder. Sources close to Daniel revealed that the he came into the ring rather bothered, feeling that Golden Boy Promotions (which promote both Reyes and De Leon) had put him in the role of stepping stone for Reyes. The source shared that De Leon felt as if Golden Boy was sure that Bautista was the next big Filipino moneymaker and he was just another disposable Mexican name.
With thirty seconds left in the first round of the contest, Ponce De Leon was victorious via technical knockout and Bautista’s career now has a tremendous question mark as he moves into the future.
See, while Manny Pacquiao is the big Filipino moneymaker of the moment, his time is limited. Manny is a free spirit, one day he is all about boxing, the next, politics, the one after that, cockfights, a week later, playing his guitar. If his lack of focus outside of the ring has not effected him inside the battle zone, the manner in which he fights with rcrowd-pleasing reckless abandon will surely led to a short, but memorable career.
And with everyone knowing that Pacquiao’s time is limited, the Philippines understood they would need a new star to fuel their need for world class fist and cuffs. The anointed one was Bautista, with some Filipinos going as far as saying that his future would be brighter than the Pacman’s.
One loss does not derail the career of a future star, but it does open the door for questions. Yes, I agree with those who will state that Bautista did not suffer a brutal beating as did a young Fernando Vargas at the hands of Felix Trinidad. The physical punishment Ponce De Leon handed out on Rey was short and sweet.
What we will have to monitor is the psychological effects a one round rubbing will have on Bautista. He has had a lot of pressure on his shoulders; the expectations of a country. Now he will have to answer his own fears of being knocked out again in future fights.
My critics, and I know I have dozens and dozens, will say that the Philippines is rip with talent that will shine on the world scene. I respond by asking, who is there at or above the 122 pound weight limit with the skills to captivate Filipinos and draw the interest of the rest of the world?
Only time will tell if Daniel Ponce De Leon won the war for Mexico with one punch and sent the Philippines into a pre-Manny Pacquiao hibernation on the world’s boxing scene.
