MANILA, Philippines — Two Filipino boxers made it to the 2011 All-ESPN Boxing Team, the list of boxers who had the best year in their respective divisions as voted on by ESPN boxing writers. WBO welterweight boxing champion and congressman Manny Pacquiao (L) raises the hand of WBO Flyweight champion Filipino-Hawaiian Brian Viloria (R) after his win against Giovani Segura of Mexico during their WBO Flyweight championship fight at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City, Metro Manila December 11, 2011. Photo by Cheryl Ravelo, Reuters
ESPN named Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire as the top fighter in the bantamweight division, while Brian “The Hawaiian Punch” Viloria was the number 1 fighter in the flyweight division.
“Nonito Donaire blew up Fernando Montiel in a knockout of the year candidate in February, and although it wasn’t nearly as spectacular, he was just as dominant in October’s unanimous decision victory against Omar Narvaez,” ESPN said.
“Brian Viloria outdueled Julio Cesar Miranda for a flyweight title in July, then defended it in perhaps his most notable win to date: an eighth-round TKO of former 108-pound champ Giovani Segura in December,” it added.
Donaire has decided to leave the bantamweight division and will make his debut at the junior featherweight division on February 2012 against Wilfredo Vasquez Jr.
Viloria, meanwhile, plans to stay at flyweight.
Notably left out of the All-ESPN boxing team is Filipino boxing icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, who routed Shane Mosley in his first match of 2011 last May, before salvaging a majority decision win against Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez in November.
Instead, ESPN named undefeated American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. as its top boxer for the welterweight division.
“Floyd Mayweather Jr. fought just once in 2011, and although the outcome was semi-controversial, it was absolute: In September, Mayweather delivered a merciless knockout of Victor Ortiz to repossess a welterweight strap,” ESPN said.
The other fighters included in the All-ESPN boxing team are:
– Wladimir Klitschko, heavyweight division – Marco Huck, cruiserweight division – Bernard Hopkins, light heavyweight division – Andre Ward, super middleweight division – Sergio Martinez, middleweight division – Miguel Cotto, junior middleweight division – Lamont Peterson, junior welterweight division – Brandon Rios, lightweight division – Adrien Boner, junior lightweight division – Yuriorkis Gamboa, featherweight division – Jorge Arce, junior featherweight division – Omar Narvaez, junior bantamweight division – Roman Gonzales, junior flyweight/strawweight division
