Invasion: Philippines vs the World set some new parameters for professional boxing, and sent a good signal to the international boxing community. Of course, the sweep of Filipino boxers (even the non-televised swing bouts against a Thai and Indonesian were won by Filipinos Michael Domingo and Bert Batawang by knockout), left a lasting impression of Filipino dominance.
There were many proud statements made of the Philippines by the event, staged by Golden Boy Promotions and ALA Promotions, and the excellent television coverage by ABS-CBN also cemented great impressions of the Philippines.
First of all, the card established the Philippines as a boxing destination. It had been a long time since world title fights had been a staple in the country, and Invasion made the trip here not only palatable, but attractive. For a while, the logistics and cost of staging a world title fight in the Philippines made little economic sense. But, with the rise in pay-per-view in the United States (the Oscar dela Hoya-Floyd Mayweather clash earned 2.5 million buys), the economies now are very enticing to promoters. Add to this the growing wealth of overseas Filipinos, and you have a ready market.
Secondly, there is an abundance of Filipino talent. Both the World Boxing Organization and Golden Boy acknowledge the tremendous talent of Filipino fighters. They are tough, exciting to watch, and extremely marketable, with no language barrier to the US. And the Philippines has never had five world champions at the same time. So there is more to the country now that Manny Pacquiao has become an ambassador of the sport.
Third, there are promoters and managers here who take care of their boxers. ALA Prmotions has to get a lot of credit for paving the way for great things to come for Philippine boxing. The Aldeguer family has brought up new boxers who are well-trained, well-managed and provide a lot of excitement to boxing fans. It?s about time Fiipinos are recognized as world-class businessmen outside the ring, as well.
Fourth, TV coverage can bring the excitement anywhere. With the reach of a broadcast giant like ABS-CBN, sporting events on a world stage can pull in a big market even when held in the Philippines. The sports entertainment market is growing, and ABS-CBN is at the forefront of it, if not outright pushing the envelope itself. Invasion was a calculated gamble that will pay off long-term, and ABS-CBN knows it. Cable and digital TV are growing, and still have an endless requirement for content. Imagine the possibilities.
Fifth, in Asia, the Philippines is key to success in the boxing market. Former WBC super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez was treated like a rock star at the fight yesterday. The Mexican hero hardly got any rest, as fans applauded him loudly and continuously asked for autographs. It sent a signal: Filipinos know their boxing, and respect great boxers. Remember, this was not held at a casino arena, where ringside is occupied by high rollers screaming for blood because of large bets they made. It was held at the Araneta Coliseum where regular fans mingled with the mighty for a chance to see a countryman do them proud.
When the WBO went into Asia about a decade ago, they started with Thailand, then went to the Philippines. In a growing market like Asia, with large countries like China and India waiting to be tapped, having a global boxing icon in a neighboring market will expand interest in boxing in particular, and sports in general.
In sum, the invasion may have been repelled, but the invitation to bring more big boxing events to the country is open.
