The ongoing boxing rivalry between Mexico and the Philippines comes to Toyota Center a week after Juan Manuel Marquez stunned the world by knocking out Manny Pacquiao.
It’s round two Saturday night when Nonito Donaire defends his World Boxing Organization super bantamweight title against Jorge Arce.
Feud goes back decade
The ring feud between the two countries began a decade ago when Pacquiao started taking on Mexican icons Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales and Marquez, compiling a 6-2-1 record against the trio.
Donaire continued the Filipino dominance with knockout victories over Fernando Montiel and Tyson Marquez. Most recently, Filipino-American Brian Viloria stopped three Mexican fighters over the last year, partially unifying the flyweight championship in the process.
“The Filipinos have had the upper hand in the rivalry, and Marquez put a stop to that,” Top Rank president Bob Arum said. “How long this continues, I don’t know. We’ll see on Saturday another chapter of this rivalry.”
