2016 PHILIPPINE BOXING YEAREND REVIEW (PART II)
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 31 Dec 2016
The second half of the year gave us success in the professional ranks but Philippine amateur boxing once again had a letdown at the Olympics. Manny Pacquiao came out of one of the shortest retirements in history and gifted the nation with another world title.
July 2 ? Jonathan Taconing LUD12 Ganigan Lopez (Mexico), WBC world junior flyweight title, Arena Coliseo, Mexico City, Mexico.
July 2 ? Gretchen Abaniel WUD10 Saowaluk Nareepangsri (Thailand), wins vacant Women?s IBA world minimumweight title, Punchbowl,New South Wales, Australia.
July 20 ? A brass statue of Donnie Nietes is unveiled in his hometown, Murcia, Negros Occidental.
July 21 - President Rodrigo Duterte has appoints Abraham Khalil Mitra as chief of the Games and Amusement Board (GAB), the government office responsible for regulating and supervising professional sports - including boxing - in the Philippines
July 27 ? Marlon Tapales W TKO11 Pungluang Sor Singyu (Thailand) , wins WBO world bantamweight title, Ayutthaya, Thailand. Tapales rises from the canvas twice in the fifth round to knock down Pungluang in the sixth and stop the Thai in the eleventh round.
August 3- Donnie Nietes announces plan to vacate WBO light flyweight title and move up to flyweight.
August 3- After a nine month absence, Manny Pacquiao returns to the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and plays for his team Mahindra for three minutes.
August 5 ? Jack Asis L UD 12 Malcolm Klassen (South Africa), loses IBO world super featherweight title, Emerald Casino, Gauteng, South Africa.
August 7 ? Lightweight Charly Suarez eliminated from the boxing competition in the Rio Olympics after losing in his first fight by split decision against Joe Cordina of the U.K.
August 8 - Light-flyweight Rogen Ladon bows out of the Rio Olympics after losing a unanimous decision to Yurbejen Herney Martinez of Colombia. Ladon?s loss ends the Philippine amateur boxing campaign in the 2016 Olympiad.
August 10 ? Manny Pacquiao confirms his return to boxing against WBO world welterweight champion Jessie Vargas of the U.S. on November 5 in Las Vegas.
August 20 ? Nonito Donaire separates from his head trainer/father Nonito,Sr.
August 31 ? former IBO world super featherweight titlist Jack Asis retires.
September 3 ? Jerwin Ancajas WUD12 McJoe Arroyo (Puerto Rico), wins IBF world super flyweight title, Jurado Hall of the Philippine Marine Corps, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, Metro Manila.
September 10 ? Johnriel Casimero WTKO 10 Charlie Edwards (U.K.), retains IBF world flyweight title, O2 Arena, London,England.
September 24 ? Donnie Nietes wins first fight as a flyweight by a shutout unanimous verdict against Edgar Sosa (Mexico), StubHub Center, Carson, California,USA.
November 5 ? Manny Pacquiao WUD12 Jessie Vargas (USA), wins WBO world welterweight title. Nonito Donaire LUD12 Jessie Magdaleno (USA), loses WBO world super bantamweight title, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Pacquiao becomes the first incumbent senator to win a world title.
November 10 ? Veteran sportswriter and TV boxing analyst Ronnie Nathanielsz passed away at 81 in California after suffering a heart attack on the way to the Pacquiao-Vargas fight.
November 26 ?Milan Melindo WUD 12 Fahlan Sakkreerin (Teeraphong Utaida) of Thailand, wins vacant IBF interim world light flyweight title, Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City.
December 20 ? John Riel Casimero announces plan to relinquish IBF flyweight world title and campaign at super flyweight.
December 21 ? The IBF orders Donnie Nietes and Eaktawan Krungthepthonburi (Thailand) to fight for the vacant IBF flyweight world title
December 28 ? 33 injured by improvised explosives in the town plaza of Hilongos,Leyte where people were gathered to watch an amateur boxing show.
December 29 ? Criztian Pitt Laurente, from Gen.Santos City, is named best junior amateur boxer in Asia by the Asian Boxing Confederation (ASBC).
This article is dedicated to the late referee Ben Necesario from Cebu, who passed away last October. Ben did not mind riding on rusty ferry boats and overcrowded buses when we went to officiate in small fight cards held in small towns in Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Negros and Siquijor. He also had stints as a referee overseas.
Photo ? top row left to right ? Donnie Nietes, Manny Pacquiao, John Riel Casimero, Gretchen Abaniel, Bottom row left to right ? Jerwin Ancajas, Marlon Tapales, Milan Melindo, Nonito Donaire
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