MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao is back! That was the big news highlighting the developments in Philippine professional boxing in 2013. Coming back from a knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez late last year, Pacquiao scored a convincing 12-round decision over Brandon (BamBam) Rios in Macau a month ago and set himself up for a possible rematch with WBO welterweight king Timothy Bradley on April 12 in Las Vegas. Down the road, Pacquiao could be in line for a megabuck ultimate showdown with unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr.
It was a case of good news and bad news for Philippine boxing. WBO/WBA flyweight king Brian Viloria was unceremoniously dethroned by Mexican Juan Francisco Estrada via a split decision at the Cotai Arena inside the Venetian Resort and Casino in Macau last April then the new champion repulsed Filipino challenger Milan Melindo three months later in the same venue. Melindo was one of eight Filipinos who failed in bids to capture a world title this year. Another Filipino who was defrocked was Nonito Donaire Jr. who lost his WBO superbantamweight belt to WBA champion Guillermo Rigondeaux on points in a unification duel last April.
Thwarted in attempts to claim a world crown were Filipino challengers Denver Cuello, Renan Trongco, John Mark Apolinario, Silvester Lopez, Virgilio Silvano, Malcolm Tu?acao, Melindo and Gretchen Abaniel.
The good news was as the year came to a close, five Filipinos reigned as world titlists ? WBO minimumweight Merlito Sabillo, WBO lightflyweight Donnie Nietes, IBF lightflyweight Johnriel Casimero, IBO superflyweight Edrin Dapudong and IBA superflyweight Bruno Escalante. Next in the queue for a title shot is Davao City?s Rey Loreto who battles South Africa?s Nkosinathi Joyi for the vacant IBO lightflyweight diadem in Monaco on Feb. 1.
Viloria is rumored to be fighting on the Feb. 22 ?Ring of Gold? card in Macau against either Estrada in a rematch or Giovani Segura for the vacant WBO flyweight throne if it is declared vacant. Estrada may relinquish the crown and move up to the superflyweight division rather than risk facing a vengeful Viloria. A fighter who?s itching to fight for a world title anywhere, anytime is former two-time WBO female superbantamweight queen Ana (Hurricane) Julaton.
The top 10 stories in Philippine professional boxing: Dean’s Corner ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
? Pacman returns. After nearly a one-year layoff, Pacquiao proved he?s far from finished in making Rios look like a novice in their Macau bout. He could?ve gone for the kill in the late going but chose to keep Rios on his feet, showing a humane side that is rare among top-caliber warriors. The win brought Pacquiao back on track in his pursuit for another world title after losing back-to-back to Bradley and Marquez. Outside the ring, Pacquiao is embroiled in another battle to prove he?s no tax evader.
? Donaire?s redemption. He decked Rigondeaux but couldn?t finish the Cuban off and wound up losing a decision but seven months later, the Filipino Flash was back in the winner?s circle, halting Vic Darchinyan in Corpus Christi. In between fights, Donaire became a first-time father with son Jarel?s arrival. Donaire, 31, is now campaigning as a featherweight and remains a strong contender for a world championship.
? Pinoy Pride. Last June, ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN inked a 10-year agreement to continue their partnership in staging the highly successful Pinoy Pride series, now entering its 24th edition. ALA?s Michael Aldeguer has plans of bringing Pinoy Pride overseas to enhance the careers of Filipino fighters. Among the stars in the ALA stable are Nietes, Sabillo, Melindo, A. J. Banal and Jason Pagara. Aldeguer said he will base some of the fighters in San Diego to keep them close to the action in the US market.
? Dapudong?s revenge. In November last year, the M?lang, North Cotabato, slugger lost a split decision to IBO superflyweight champion Gideon Buthelezi in South Africa. As the verdict was widely disputed, the IBO ordered a rematch. Last June, Dapudong went back to Kempton Park, Gauteng, to face Buthelezi and this time, made sure he wouldn?t be robbed. Dapudong knocked out the hometowner at 2:29 of the first round to wrest the IBO title.
? New generation fighters. Featherweight Dodie Boy Pe?alosa Jr. and brother Dave, a superbantamweight, are sons of former two-time world champion Dodie Boy Sr. and nephews of another former two-time world champion Gerry. They?re both unbeaten with Dodie Boy Jr., 22, brandishing a 12-0 record, including 11 KOs, and Dave a 7-0 mark, including 5 KOs. The late Flash Elorde?s grandsons Juan Miguel and Juan Martin are also promising pros. The boys? father Johnny, once a Southeast Asian Games boxing gold medalist, is a fixture in their corners. Juan Miguel or Mig, a featherweight, has a 14-1 record, with 6 KOs, and Juan Martin or Bai, a 15-1 mark, with 7 KOs. Boxing runs in the Elorde and Pe?alosa bloodlines.
? Emergence of venues. The year welcomed the appearance of alternative boxing venues. It?s not just the Araneta Coliseum or Ynares Sports Center or the Waterfront Resort and Casino in Cebu where fans go for fights. Solaire, Midas Hotel and Casino, Sofitel, the Mall of Asia Arena and even the Makati Coliseum hosted boxing cards during the year. A few weeks ago, Solaire was the site of the first promotion of MAG Pacman which is owned by Pacquiao, Anson Tiu Co and Gerry Pe?alosa.
? Losing challengers. Eight Filipinos went down in bidding for a world title. Cuello scored a first round knockdown but handicapped by an injured shoulder, lost to WBC minimumweight champion Xiong Zhao Zhong in Dubai last June. Trongco was outpointed by IBO minimumweight titlist Hekkie Budler in South Africa last February while Apolinario bowed to WBA bantamweight king Koki Kameda in Tokyo and Silvester Lopez was stopped by Thano Sonjica in six in an IBO superbantamweight bout in South Africa, both last July. Tu?acao was halted by WBC bantamweight titlist Shinsuke Yamanaka in Tokyo last April. Silvano was decisioned by IBF minimumweight champion Katsunori Takayama in Osaka early this month and Abaniel lost to Hyaka Miyao on points in a WBA female atomweight (102-pound limit) title bout in Tokyo a few weeks back. Melindo lost to Estrada in a WBO flyweight championship fight in Macau last July.
? Casimero?s recognition. Finally, the IBF lightflyweight king has gained the attention of the global boxing media. Since stopping Luis Lazarte and surviving a mob in Argentina last year, the Ormoc fighter has turned back three challengers in a row ? Panama?s Luis Alberto Rios in Panama, Mexico?s unbeaten Pedro Guevara in Sinaloa and Mexico?s Felipe Salguero in Makati. Casimero, 23, has a 19-2 record, with 11 KOs. The Ring Magazine recently rated Casimero No. 93 in the list of the world?s top 100 pound-for-pound fighters.
? Fearless Sabillo. Last March, Sabillo went to Colombia to knock out hometowner Luis de la Rosa for the interim WBO minimumweight title. When Mexico?s Moises Fuentes relinquished the crown, Sabillo was automatically elevated to the throne. In his first defense last July, Sabillo halted Jorle Estrada in nine. In his second defense, Sabillo was pushed to the limit but never backed down in battling undefeated Nicaraguan Carlos Buitrago to a split draw. Sabillo, 29, boasts a 23-0-1 record, with 12 KOs. A rematch with Buitrago is in order and for sure, Sabillo will once again stand his ground against the tough No. 1 contender.
? Vintage Nietes. The WBO lightflyweight champion is threatening to eclipse Flash Elorde?s record of over seven years as an uninterrupted world titlist. Nietes won the WBO minimumweight crown in 2007 and now reigns in the 108-pound division. He?s fresh from demolishing Mexican challenger Sammy Gutierrez in three rounds and there is talk of invading the flyweight ranks. But Nietes has unfinished business with Fuentes who held him to a majority draw last March. Nietes, 31, is unbeaten in nine world title fights, including three defenses against Mexicans in Mexico, and appears to be even getting stronger as he matures. No doubt, there?s still lethal venom in Ahas? sting with no signs of diminishing potency.
