This could turn out to be an exciting year for Filipino boxing. To close out 2004, Brian Viloria, using spectacular power, dominated Angel Priolo in December. A last-minute substitute when Fernando Montiel backed out of the Priolo fight due to illness, Viloria improved his record to 16-0, scoring a convincing 7th round knockout against the highly regarded Colombian.
With that victory, Viloria reassured fans who might have had concerns that the young fighter would not become the superstar they hoped for. Soon after the Olympian turned pro, Viloria took some time off to heal a broken hand and his camp has had to field some doubt as the Waipahu native won a couple decisions that, in some boxing fans’ eyes, should not have gone the distance.
Nonetheless, he has fought well lately and the latest word is that IBF Flyweight champ Vic Darchinyan may put his title on the line with Viloria among those being considered as opponents. The fight would most likely take place on the Armenian native’s adopted territory — Australia. The characteristically humble Viloria is reported to be pleased that international champions are looking to him as a potential opponent.
The Oakland-based Donaire brothers are sure to keep plugging away at fights to position themselves for a high-profile match. The elder of the two, Glenn Donaire, is currently 12-1-0 (7 KOs) and probably still has his sights on his bitter rivalry with Viloria after the up-and-coming Hawaiian outpointed the mainlander in the finals of the 2000 Olympic trials. Donaire sat down in the middle of the ring to protest his loser’s bracket match that followed. Younger brother Nonito Donaire, last I heard, had beat Mexican Bolanos to pump his record up to 9-1. Should either of these brothers meet in the ring with Viloria, the fight would surely be fierce.
Nonito’s victory was the undercard to another familiar Fiipino pugilist — Bobby Pacquiao, brother to the current people’s champion Manny Pacquiao. Bobby will face IBF No.3 contender Fahprakorb Rakkiatgym for the Pan Pacific featherweight title. The match will take place on Rakiatgym’s home turf in Thailand on Feb. 18.
The boxing world is expecting a history-in-the-making type fight when Manny takes on future hall-of-famer Erik Morales. It will be the first time Pacquiao will fight at 130 lbs. The pinoy positioned himself for Morales with his 39th win in an elimination bout against Fahsan (3K Battery) Por Thawachai in November.
Pacquiao, of course, logged his record at 38-2-2 last May with his draw against Juan Manuel Marquez, a controversial decision that came on the heels of Pacquiao’s pummeling of boxing icon Marco Antonio Barrera whose trainers stopped the fight after 10-plus rounds of punishment. Barrera is the only fighter to beat the fearless Morales, a feat which Barrera has accomplished twice. Both Barrera-Morales fights went the distance and Morales insists that he was the actual winner.
It’s not surprising that the Filipino southpaw, who has a dangerous straight left as well as a right hand that he throws from various angles, has joined the contemporary boxing elite as his name seems always to be mentioned in every pound-for-pound debate. Pacquiao has justifiably drawn comparisons to Pinoy great and hall of famer Pancho Villa of the 1920s as well as with prolific featherweight champions of the Elorde era, including knockout specialist Sandy Saddler and the agile ring general Willie Pep.
According to some reports Pacquiao is ahead of schedule in his training for Morales, though the Pinoy boxer has been faulted in the past for late nights and carousing. After his contract ran out with Marty Elorde (son of another Pinoy hall of famer, Flash Elorde), Pacquiao opted to sign with American manager Shelly Finkel who is mentioned among the most savvy, and the most ruthless, of the boxing game.
Filipinos will not have to wait long for another of their countrymen to join the Boxing Hall of Fame. Papa Sarreal, manager for mid-century champion Flash Elorde, is responsible for opening pro boxing to Asia and introducing the sport to Korea, Thailand, and other countries in the region. He will be inaugurated into the hall this year on June 18.
In a final note, keep your eyes open for undefeated Bohol fighter Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista who makes his US debut in Hawaii against Aree Phosuwangym. I don’t know much about Bautista except that he’s a powerful young fighter (a teenager still, I think) and has impressed the likes of heralded boxer Injin Chi.
