2014 THE YEAR IN PHILIPPINE BOXING PART I
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 31 Dec 2014
We were treated to two riveting rematches in the first half of the year. Manny Pacquiao and Donnie Nietes set things right when they turned the tables on their respective opponents. Little- known Rey Loreto came up with an upset and KO of the year candidate and Nonito Donaire distinguished himself in a fifth weight category only to lose his title less than five months later.
January 19 ? Manny Pacquiao challenges Floyd Mayweather to a fight with all proceeds going to charity
January 21 ? Shane Mosley visits the Philippines to raise funds for survivors of Typhoon Yolanda through the United Boxing Relief Fund
January 22 ? Rocky Fuentes L UD 12 Amnat Roenrueng of Thailand, vacant IBF flyweight title, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
February 1 ? Rey Loreto W KO 3 Nkosinathi Joyi of South Africa, wins IBO jr. flyweight title, Monte Carlo, Monaco
February 7 ? Gretchen Abaniel W TKO9 Nongnun Mor Krungthepthon Buri of Thailand, wins Women?s IBA world minimumweight title, Binan City,Laguna.
February 12 ? Manny Pacquiao?s close adviser Michael Koncz receives criticism and condemnation from Filipino boxing managers, boxers and sportswriters for repeated unfair treatment of Filipino boxers
February 17 ? Department of Education (DepEd) excludes boxing from the elementary division of ?Palarong Pambansa?
February 28 ? Bruno Escalante W KO 4 Lorenzo Trejo of Mexico, retains International Boxing Association (IBA) superflyweight title, Redwood City, California.
March 15 ? Jether Oliva L SD 12 Moruti Mthalane, vacant IBO flyweight title, Durban, South Africa
March 22 -Merlito Sabillo suffers first career defeat, loses WBO minimumweight title to Francisco Rodriguez of Mexico by TKO in the 10th round in Monterrey, Mexico.
April 5 ? Bruno Escalante W UD10 Victor Ruiz, retains IBA superflyweight title, California,USA
April 12 ?Manny Pacquiao W UD 12 Timothy Bradley of the U.S., wins WBO welterweight title, Las Vegas, Nevada. Pacquiao recaptures the belt he lost by controversial split decision in 2012.
April 26 ? Ritchie Mepranum L TKO 10 Juan Francisco Estrada of Mexico, WBO/WBA world flyweight title, Sonora, Mexico.
May 2 ? John Riel Casimero loses IBF junior flyweight title on the scales, weighs five pounds over the limit for title defense against Mauricio Fuentes of Colombia in Cebu City.
May 2- Former WBO female super bantamweight champ Ana Julaton joins mixed martial arts and wins ONE FC debut against Aya-Saeid Saber, Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City.
May 3- John Riel Casimero W TKO 1 Mauricio Fuentes , Waterfront Cebu City Hotel.
May 8 - Pacquiao agrees to become the playing-coach of Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) expansion team KIA
May 10 ?Donnie Nietes TKO9 Moises Fuentes of Mexico, retains WBO light flyweight title, wins Ring magazine?s lineal title, Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City. Nietes erases doubts from their majority draw in Cebu last March 2013.
May 13 ? R.I.P. Anthony Villanueva ? 1964 Olympics featherweight silver medalist passed away at the age of 69.
May 18 ? R.I.P. - Junrey Amar, 14 years old, dies after competing in a barangay fiesta amateur boxing event in San Isidro, Davao del Norte.
May 31 ?Nonito Donaire W TD4 Simpiwe Vetyeka, wins WBA featherweight ?super? world title, Cotai Arena, Macau. Donaire wins fifth title in as many weight divisions.
June 9 ? Manny Pacquiao officially named head coach of PBA expansion team KIA Motors.
TOP PHOTO ? Left to Right ? Manny Pacquiao, Donnie Nietes, Rey Loreto
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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