WHO WILL DELIVER?
Six Filipino boxers to fight for world titles in one-month span
By Emmanuel B. Villaruel
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 05 Jul 2007
Although replete with ring talents and promising title contenders, the Philippines is left without a world boxing champion since Manny Pacquiao voluntarily abdicated his IBF super featherweight throne in 2003.
For four years, Pacquiao became a symbolic figure of RP's might in boxing even if he doesn't own a world championship belt. Thanks to his earth-shaking performances against high-profile Mexican fighters in the mold of Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales and Juan Manuel Marquez.
But still, there is that longing among Filipinos to have a legitimate title-holder, something that we can brag about other than Pacquiao's unequaled popularity and greatness inside the squared arena.
Fast forward to 2007, the fulfillment of that desire looms bright with six Filipino pugs embark on world title shots in just a one-month span starting off with Florante Condes (21-3-1, 20KOs) challenging Indonesian champion Muhammad Rachman (61-5-5, 31KOs) for the IBF minimumweight title this Saturday at the Indoor Tennis Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Armed with a high knockout percentage, Condes must capitalize on his devastating power to win by stoppage, but Rachman may end up utilizing his experience to control the fight and prevail by decision.
Top photos: Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista (L) and Rodel Mayol.
Florante "The Little Pacquiao" Condes.
Nonito "Filipino Flash" Donaire.
Czar Amonsot.
Gerry "Fearless" Pe?alosa.
The following day, Fil-Am Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire, Jr. (17-1, 10KOs) will take on the unbeaten titlist Vic "Raging Bull" Darchinyan (28-0, 22KOs), an Armenia-born Australian citizen, for the IBF and IBO flyweight titles at the Harbour Yard Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Being the heavy underdog, Donaire needs to weave one big miracle. The slightest chance for him to emerge victorious is to wisely use his flashy kills. That is if he won't get caught by Darchinyan's killer bombs.
On July 21, it's Czar Amonsot's turn to climb the ring to slug it out with Australian Michael Katsidis for the WBO interim lightweight title underneath the super middleweight shown between Bernard Hopkins and Winky Wright at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Just like Donaire, Amonsot (18-2-1, 10KOs), needs a divine intervention to put out Katsidis, who is heavily favored with a frightening record of 22-0 spiked with 20 victories by stoppage.
Amonsot, who has been given a well-deserved second chance after an embarrassing first-round knockout defeat to Indonesian Simson Butar-Butar last year in his hometown Tagbilaran City, is the hungrier fighter, therefore, he is poised to give his all-out best to win. But Katsidis' punching firepower is too much for the Boholano to endure.
Cebuano hard-puncher Rodel "Batang Mandaue" Mayol (23-1, 18KOs) is also on a mission when he takes on Mexican Ulises Solis (24-1-2, 18KOs) for the IBF light flyweight diadem in the undercard of the WBC lightweight match between Erik Morales and David Diaz on August 4 at the All State Arena in Chicago, Illinois.
Mayol has a good chance and most probably will triumph by knockout, but Solis is expected to hold on his ground and give Mayol one heck of a fight.
The much-awaited moment by the Filipinos is the double world championship headlining the prestigious World Cup of Boxing featuring RP's best against their Mexican counterparts on August 11 at the Arco Arena in California - homecourt of the NBA's Sacramento Kings.
In the main event, Boholano ring sensation Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista (23-0, 17KOs) will challenge Daniel Ponce de Leon (31-1, 28KOs) for the WBO super bantamweight plum, while former WBC super flyweight king Gerry Pe?alosa (51-5-2, 34KOs) will go after Jhonny Gonzalez's (34-5, 29KOs) WBO bantamweight marbles.
Bautista is young and vibrant. With the mental toughness, destructive punching ability and great recuperative power he manifested in his previous fights, the ALA Boxing Gym star is out to devour De Leon.
Bautista is an aggressive warrior who loves to mix it up with his foe. Ranged against a veteran power-hitter, this will test the character of Bautista and what's in store for him in the future.
Pe?alosa, on the other hand, will try to justify he still has some fuel left in his battle tank. In his last ring appearance where he lost by a controversial decision to De Leon, Pe?alosa showed he still has what it takes to be a champion once more. If he could keep up, if not surpass, that impressive showing against De Leon, then Gonzalez is in big trouble.
Now, after four years of waiting and hoping, the moment beckons for the Philippine boxing community with six world titles up for grabs. The big question is, who will deliver?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Emmanuel B. Villaruel.
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