BONSUBRE: TWO TITLE BELTS IN ONE DAY BUT WILL THIS REIGNITE LOCAL BOXING?
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 16 Jul 2018
It was a great day for Philippine boxing. Jhack Tepora got the chance to showcase his punching power on a big fight stage and boxing icon Manny Pacquiao resumed his winning ways.
Tepora, a southpaw from Cebu, the Philippines? fight capital, was facing Mexican Edivaldo Ortega for the vacant WBA interim world featherweight title. Tepora dominated in the strategic and power aspect of the fight. Tepora?s coup de grace was a hard right uppercut in the ninth.
Tepora fulfilled the promise of his boss, Pio Paulo Castillo, the CEO of Omega Sports Promotions, who vowed last January that his company will produce a world champ in 2018.
Pacquiao was coming back from a year-long hiatus from the ring and a WBO title loss to Jeff Horn in Australia. He entered this fight with fans and pundits doubting if he still has what it takes to take on a dangerous puncher like the Argentinian Lucas Matthysse. The former eight division titleholder is 39 years old and an incumbent Senator.
It turned out to be an easy fight, with Matthysse too slow to do anything of significance both on offense and defense.
Matthysse was dropped thrice in a seven round span before referee Kenny Bayless decided he had seen enough.Matthysse even took a knee in round five and one cannot help but wonder at that point if the Argentinian?s heart was still in the fight.
Pacquiao has a WBA welterweight belt, but more importantly, his career is back on a positive note. Whether this was the one good fight still left in a great champion or a start of another improbable string of victories remains to be seen.
We also hope that Pacquiao?s victory will have a trickle-down effect in the Philippines? boxing industry. Casual fans have gradually lost interest since Pacquiao lost to Juan Manuel Marquez and Floyd Mayweather.
There are fewer boxing programs seen on Philippine free TV compared to the years when Pacquiao was at the peak of his powers. Local fights are still not aired live.
Jerwin Ancajas and Donnie Nietes are lucky that they defended their world titles in the U.S. and were shown on Philippine television stations. When the likes of Raymart Gaballo and Vic Saludar won their titles, only those with wifi access got to see their fights on youtube.
A few years ago, there were at least four competing major boxing promoters in the island of Cebu, with fans witnessing boxing shows almost on a monthly basis. Now, Cebu fans would be lucky to have two major cards in a year.
And despite our unprecedented success in the pro ranks, the Philippines is still seeking that elusive boxing gold medal in the Olympics.
Will Pacquiao?s victory rekindle the interest of the sponsors and the local networks and make them look at rising stars like Tepora?
Manny Pacquiao and Jack Tepora at post-fight press conference after their title-clinching victories Sunday in Kuala Lumpur.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Ringside, Still: Remembering Chino Trinidad
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Sun, 13 Jul 2025Hamzah Sheeraz Demolishes Edgar Berlanga in Stunner, Becomes Mandatory Challenger to Canelo Alvarez
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 13 Jul 2025Shakur Stevenson Masterfully Tames William Zepeda to Retain WBC Lightweight Crown
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 13 Jul 2025JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Score KO Wins in Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 13 Jul 2025Yanon is PBF flyweight champ
By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 13 Jul 2025Taylor vs. Serrano Trilogy: Can Amanda Get The Nod?
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 12 Jul 2025BERLANGA-SHEERAZ, STEVENSON-CEPEDA, MORELL-KHATAEV MAKE WEIGHT IN NEW YORK
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 12 Jul 2025Johnny Spell Takes on Chancellor Batttenberg on Saturday, July 19th at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington, PA
Sat, 12 Jul 2025JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Make Weight for Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 11 Jul 2025Philippine Under-12 Girls Team Shines Bright, Clinches Multiple Medals at 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Penang
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 11 Jul 2025Kenneth “Llover Boy” Takes on “El Nica” Concepcion Aug 17 on Gerry Peñalosa’s Show @ the Winford Resort and Casino Manila (Analysis)
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 11 Jul 2025Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Anthony Velazquez won’t be Boxing’s best kept secret in 2026
Fri, 11 Jul 2025Undefeated Gabriela Tellez Returns July 18 at “Night of Champions” Live on DAZN
Fri, 11 Jul 2025Dushanbe hosts stacked fight card with Bakhodur Usmonov and Christopher Mouafo headlining IBA.Pro 8
Fri, 11 Jul 2025Shakur vs Zepeda & Morrell vs Khataev Fight Analysis
By Ralph Rimpell, Thu, 10 Jul 2025