For the Philippines, 2012 in boxing has been a year of transition. The shock of Manny Pacquiao’s stunning knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez has finally set in, but so has the reality that the nation as a whole is one of the world’s richest in boxing talent. The Ring magazine (where I serve as a columnist), has 12 boxers from the Philippines in their divisional ratings, putting the country fifth in terms of representation behind the United States, Mexico, Japan and the United Kingdom.
Furthermore, the calendar year saw six Filipinos hold world titles (Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire, Brian Viloria, Johnriel Casimero, Donnie Nietes, Sonny Boy Jaro), and ended with three more as mandatory challengers for world titles in their divisions (Denver Cuello, Malcolm Tunacao, Milan Melindo). Many more are rated by the various sanctioning bodies as well, predominantly from the strawweight to junior bantamweight divisions.
Like the great champion he is, Pacquiao will rebound to have more memorable, great performances. Pacquiao is still a dangerous, highly-marketable prizefighter, but the era in which the sport in the Philippines revolves around one central figure is over. We are now in the era that Pacquiao’s success has helped create. Young boxers, who were once transfixed to TV screens watching Pac-man play his trade, are now living their dream of following in his footsteps. In Pacquiao’s path, Filipino boxers are reaching higher plateaus.
In spite of Pacquiao’s loss, 2012 was a great year for Filipino boxing. And, in many ways, it has never been better.
FIGHTER OF THE YEAR Nonito Donaire
2012 was the Year of the Flash. Donaire (31-1, 20 knockouts), a native of Talibon, Bohol now living in Northern California’s Bay Area, posted the best year of his career, winning all four of his bouts, including two by knockout. Not only is he by-far the best Filipino boxer of the year, he’s probably the favorite to win the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) Fighter of the Year award. Manny Paquiao is the only Filipino boxer to win the award since it was instituted in 1938.
Nonito Donaire (R) capped off his sensational year by pummeling Jorge Arce. Scott Halleran/AFP Donaire, who is currently rated number five by The Ring’s pound-for-pound list, began the year by moving up to the talent-rich junior featherweight (122 pounds) division after winning titles at flyweight, junior bantamweight and bantamweight. In his first fight of the year, Donaire pounded out a hard-fought split decision over Wilfredo Vazquez in February, winning the WBO junior featherweight title. Five months later, Donaire returned to face IBF titleholder Jeffrey Mathebula of South Africa, dropping Mathebula in the fourth to coast to victory.
Donaire returned just three months after, facing Japan’s Toshiaki Nishioka. Nishioka had been the division’s longest reigning titleholder before being stripped of the WBC version of the title. The bout was no contest as Donaire ripped into Nishioka, knocking him out in nine rounds. Afterwards, Nishioka announced his retirement.
But Donaire wasn’t done retiring fighters. Donaire promptly signed on to face former four-division titleholder Jorge Arce just two months later in December. The bout was an artful display of Donaire’s talents, as he used his superior speed to keep Arce off-balance before landing the coup de grace, a left hook that dropped Arce flat on his back in round three. Like Nishioka, Arce too decided shortly after that he would be hanging up his gloves.
In addition to his work inside the ring, Donaire has worked to improve the integrity of the sport outside of itm by becoming the first professional boxer to engage in 24/7/365 random performance enhancing drugs (PED) testing through the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, or VADA. Donaire’s example has pushed the envelope for increased vigilance as it pertains to PED testing, and hopefully will be the catalyst for raising the standard.
Runner-up: WBO/WBA flyweight champion Brian Viloria (32-3, 19 KOs) of Waipahu, Hawaii, who avenged his earlier defeat to Omar Nino Romero, knocking him out on a card in Pasig City, before KO-ing WBA titleholder Hernan “Tyson” Marquez to unify the 112 pound titles. Viloria has quietly had the two best years of his career back-to-back, and has (deservingly) crept up on a lot of pound-for-pound lists.
FIGHT OF THE YEAR Brian Viloria KO10 Hernan “Tyson” Marquez Sports Arena, Los Angeles, Calif. November 17
It was the biggest little fight of 2012. Two respected titleholders with knockout power in either hand. The fight though, wasn’t picked up by a major network in America, depriving fans in that country of one of the years best clashes. WBO flyweight champ Viloria was hot off of a superb 2011 that saw him resurrect his career with two of his biggest wins, over “Pingo” Miranda and Giovani Segura, while Hernan Marquez of Sonora, Mexico had won a title the year before with one of the best fights of 2011.
Brian Viloria, on the set of FTW with his WBO title belt. GMA News Online Marquez landed the first meaningful punch of the fight, a short left, with 30 seconds left in the first round, hurting Viloria and sending him into the ropes. But Marquez was sloppy trying to finish, and with just seconds left in the round, a counter right from Viloria put Marquez down hard. Despite the knockdown, Marquez wasn’t deterred from trading. His power kept him dangerous, and just moments into round five, he hurt Viloria with a short right hook that sent Viloria reeling into the ropes. The Filipino weathered the assault though, which saw Marquez throw many unanswered punches at Viloria’s guard.
Soon after Marquez’s output began to slow, and when Marquez became arm-weary, Viloria took advantage and scored a knockdown that mirrored the first round’s, although Marquez survived. By the tenth, it looked like Marquez’s strategy to wear Viloria down might be working, as Viloria was on the ropes again with Marquez pounding away, seeking a knockout. But once again, Viloria’s expert timing kicked in, launching a left hook dropped Marquez. Marquez rose up, but his trainer recognized that he was in no shape to continue and stopped the fight.
For Marquez, whose three losses have come against Pinoys Viloria, Nonito Donaire and Richie Mepranum, maybe he should steer clear of the Philippines in 2013.
Runner-up: Dennis Laurente KO12 Eusebio Baluarte, March 25, Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati City – Perhaps the best fight I’ve ever seen that wasn’t televised internationally. As Filipino boxing personalities gathered to celebrate at the Elorde Awards, Laurente of Paranaque City and Baluarte of Bukidnon set out to steal the show. Laurente, who was a world-rated contender, probably didn’t expect to get the fight of his life from Baluarte, who had lost his two previous fights going in. But moments into round one, Baluarte shocked everyone in attendance by dropping Laurente with a counter right cross. The two beat each other with every ounce of energy they had, and with just seconds left in the fight, Laurente finally dropped Baluarte, prompting the referee to halt the fight at 3:00 of the twelfth.
KNOCKOUT OF THE YEAR Donaire KO3 Arce Toyota Center, Houston, Tex., USA December 15
It was indeed the Year of the Flash. As the Philippines reeled from Pacquiao’s knockout loss the week before against Juan Manuel Marquez, Donaire set out to erase those memories with a shocker of his own. Donaire, who had won The Ring magazine KO of the Year award in 2007 (Vic Darchinyan) and 2011 (Fernando Montiel), filed a late entry to contend for that publication’s selection once again.
Donaire, who had dropped Arce in round two on a short right hand, pounded Arce back to the floor in round three with a series of blows that left Arce retreating awkwardly before going down. Being the warrior that he is, Arce rose up again and fought back valiantly. After eating a Donaire left uppercut, Arce waived him in as if to say “Give me more.” In an act that could only be described as instant gratification, Donaire landed a perfect left hook, dropping Arce on his back and sending him into retirement.
When boxing trainers teach young fighters how to throw a left hook, they could use this clip as a perfect example.
UPSET OF THE YEAR Sonny Boy Jaro KO6 Pongsaklek Wonjongkam Chonburi, Thailand March 3
You’d probably be lying if you said you saw this coming. Pongsaklek Wonjongkam had lost just once in the previous 16 years, dominating the 112 pound division for over a decade while defeating nine past or present titleholders. Jaro (34-11-5, 24 KOs) of Silay City, Negros Occidental looked like just another victim for Wonjongkam. But there’s a saying that fighters can get old in one night. For the 35-year-old Wonjongkam, that night was this one.
Wonjongkam was dropped once in the first and third rounds, then twice in the sixth, ending his reign as champion. Jaro would lose the WBC and Ring magazine belts in his first defense to Toshiyuki Igarashi, while Wonjongkam would get knocked out again by another Filipino – this time Rey Megrino – before hanging up the gloves for good.
The upset was so shocking, it also earned The Ring’s Upset of the Year as well.
ROUND OF THE YEAR Brian Viloria-Hernan Marquez, round five
Viloria had been dominating his foe up to this point, dropping Marquez in the opening round and pounding his body at will. But 40 seconds into round five, Viloria got caught with a right hook that wobbled him momentarily. Marquez unloaded everything in his arsenal trying to finish Viloria, who later said that he was able to shake the punch off shortly after but was riding out the Marquez assault. Marquez soon became arm-weary, and Viloria began to return fire between Marquez’s shots. With a little over a minute left in the round, Viloria began to reassert his dominance, once again sending Marquez to the canvas with a right cross.
But as Marquez rose up, he resumed throwing hard punches as fresh as he could’ve hoped for, matching Viloria’s assault and making a most memorable round.
ROBBERY OF THE YEAR Timothy Bradley SD Manny Pacquiao MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada June 6
50-3. That was the tally of unofficial scores from members of the media that dissented with the official verdict in Pacquiao’s bout with Bradley, in which two out of three official judges gave the bout to the unbeaten American fighter. ESPN boxing commentator Teddy Atlas immediately took to the airwaves and declared boxing “a corrupt sport,” as “RIP Boxing” trended worldwide on Twitter.
Timothy Bradley (L) fought Manny Pacquiao in June to a controversial finish. Steve Marcus/Reuters
The fight was competitive, and Bradley gave as honest and determined an effort as could’ve been asked of him. But Pacquiao’s superior power-punching (particularly early on) should’ve earned him the decision. A lack of public demand for a rematch and Pacquiao’s subsequent loss to Marquez have all but crossed out any hopes of a second bout to settle the score.
TRAINER OF THE YEAR Marvin Somodio
Somodio (L) has become a fixture at Pacquiao training camps. Carlo Pamintuan The Iloilo-native, now Baguio-resident Somodio is still only 29, but his experience as Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach’s protege’ has given him a first-rate education in boxing indoctrination. Somodio, who has assisted in each of Pacquiao’s Philippines-based training camps since the Cotto fight of 2009, was granted a U.S. visa in 2012 and traveled to Los Angeles to further assist Roach at the Wild Card Gym. There he worked Pacquiao’s two training camps, while also also serving as a second assistant in the corner of rising prospect Frankie “Pitbull” Gomez.
Somodio’s biggest assignment of the year was serving as chief second of Brian Viloria for his November unification bout with Hernan Marquez. In the opposite corner was Robert Garcia, the frontrunner for BWAA Trainer of the Year, but Somodio and Viloria were able to stay a step ahead all night en route to a knockout victory.
PROSPECT OF THE YEAR Froilan Saludar
This unbeaten flyweight from Davao del Sur wasn’t particularly active in 2012, having fought just twice in the year. Still, his two bouts against tough Mexicans pushed him further than he’d ever been pushed before, asking questions of his character that can only serve to improve him as a fighter. The 23-year-old Saludar (16-0-1, 11 KOs) had scored knockouts in the first two rounds in eight of his previous bouts, but was forced to go the ten and twelve round distances, making adjustments as his 1-2 combinations failed to make his opponents fall. These lessons will serve him well in the future.
Runner-up: Dodie Boy Penalosa Jr., of Cebu City, who fought three times in 2012. Penalosa Jr., whose record stands at 10-0 (10 KOs), didn’t overly impress in his first two outings of the year, but spending time in Pacquiao’s camp prior to the Marquez fight seemed to ignite his dedication to conditioning, enabling him to wow viewers when he knocked out Jesus Lule with one right hook on the Pacquiao-Marquez undercard.
COMEBACK OF THE YEAR Malcolm Tunacao
Malcolm Tunacao (R) made a triumphant comeback in 2012. c/o Malcom Tunacao It took him 12 long years to get a second shot, but Mandaue City, Cebu-native Malcolm Tunacao finally earned his shot at the WBC bantamweight title by knocking out Christian Esquivel in Japan on December 22.
Tunacao (32-2-3, 20 KOs) has flown under the radar since losing his WBC flyweight title back in 2001. For the last three years, the 35-year-old Tunacao has been based in Japan fighting for a second shot, and after winning 11 in a row (including 3 in 2012), Tunacao is at the threshold of a boxing championship once again.
Runner-up: Rodel Mayol, who turned in the most complete performance of his career against Julio Cesar Miranda on the May undercard of Viloria’s knockout win over Omar Nino. Mayol, who had lost his 108 pound title two years ago, moved up to 115 pounds against the former flyweight titleholder. Looking like Ricardo Lopez, Mayol made brilliant use of his left uppercuts and hooks, dropping the iron-chinned Mexican twice en route to a unanimous decision. Most impressively, there wasn’t a single headbutt. Mayol lost a decision to IBF junior bantamweight titleholder Juan Carlos Sanchez Jr, but it’s amazing that he had worked his way back to this point.
RING ENTRANCE OF THE YEAR Jojo “Flash” Entor vs. Ali Marapao March 24, Waterfront Hotel, Cebu City, Philippines
It started out as a semi-serious joke, and it ended up as one of the most hilarious scenes I’d ever seen at a boxing event. Entor (22-10-7, 8 KOs), who is known for making audiences laugh with his in-ring antics in four-round bouts, was seeking suggestions for his ring music for his bout with Marapao. Jokingly, I suggested “MMMBop” by Hanson, thinking they’d catch on to my nonsensical recommendation.
You could imagine my surprise when he emerged from the dressing room on fight night wearing a purple Mardi Gras mask, what appeared to be glow-in-the-dark antennae and a yellow cape, skipping to the ring to the sounds of a boy band hit from 1997. Perhaps feeling self-conscious about the preceding ordeal, Entor turned in one of his most serious performances in recent bouts, beating Marapao around the ring to win a unanimous decision. It wasn’t a bad year for Entor overall, who went 5-0 on the undercards of ALA Boxing events.
MIS-EVENT OF THE YEAR Casimero-Lazarte Riot in Argentina February 2
In most instances, entering into “hostile territory” means little more than being booed during introductions. But for Casimero, everything about his IBF interim junior flyweight title clash with former titleholder Luis Lazarte in Argentina was hostile. Beginning with the action, Lazarte, who is by far the dirtiest boxer since Agapito Sanchez, repeatedly hit Casimero with low blows, headbutts, rabbit punches and even bit him. Still, the 22-year-old from Ormoc City, Leyte was undeterred, wearing out the older Lazarte and dropping him once in the ninth and twice in the tenth, registering the biggest win of his career. That’s when all hell broke out.
Chairs and beverages started raining from the crowd as Casimero celebrated his victory, with irate fans storming the ring and attacking Casimero, his cornermen and even promoter Sammy Gelloani. Casimero had to hide underneath the ring before police were able to escort him and the team back to their hotel. As a result, the Philippine embassy in Argentina filed a protest, stating that the incident “placed the safety and well-being of Mr. Casimero and his team at great danger.”
A few months later, Casimero gained full distinction as IBF champion and made his first successful title defense in Mexico. – AMD, GMA News
Those we lost in 2012: Carlo Maquinto, Danny Bactol, Ermelito “Jog” Alim Jr., Romnick Dablo
Ryan Songalia is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) and contributes to GMA News. He is also a member of The Ring ratings panel and can be reached at [email protected]. An archive of his work can be found here. Follow him on Twitter too.
