PHILIPPINE BOXING YEAR END REVIEW 2018 (Part I)
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 31 Dec 2018
January 17 ? Manny Pacquiao reveals talks for a fight against WBO world junior lightweight champion and top pound for pound boxer Vasyl Lomachenko of Ukraine
January 18 ? Lomachenko?s camp turns down offer to fight Pacquiao
January 27 ? Jorge Linares (Venezuela) WUD12 Mercito Gesta, WBA world lightweight title, the Forum, Inglewood, California.
February 3 ? Jerwin Ancajas WTKO 10 Israel Gonzalez (Mexico), retains IBF world junior bantamweight title, Bank of America Center, Corpus Christi, Texas.
February 21 ? Featherweight contender Genesis Servania signs a promotional contract with Top Rank.
February 24 ? Donnie Nietes WTKO7 Juan Carlos Reveco (Argentina), retains IBF world flyweight title, Brian Viloria LUD12 Artem Dalakian (Ukraine), vacant WBA world flyweight title, the Forum, Inglewood, California.
March 1 ? Ryosuke Iwasa (Japan) WUD12 Ernesto Saulong, IBF world junior featherweight title, Kokugikan Stadium,Tokyo, Japan.
March 6 ? Thammanoon Niyomtrong a.k.a. Knockout CP Freshmart (Thailand) WUD12 Toto Landero, WBA world minimumweight title, Chonburi, Thailand
March 8 ? Manny Pacquiao?s MP Promotions announces partnership with Golden Boy Promotions to stage Pacquiao?s fight against WBA welterweight champ Lucas Matthysse (Argentina) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
March 23 ? Former WBO female junior featherweight world champ turned MMA fighter Ana Julaton retires.
March 24- Reymart Gaballo WUD12 Stephon Young (USA), wins WBA interim world bantamweight title, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Hollywood, Florida.
April 5 ? Manny Pacquiao and trainer Freddie Roach part ways after 17 years.
April 11 ? Donnie Nietes vacates IBF flyweight crown and announces intention to seek a fourth world title belt.
April 20 ? Michael Dasmari?as WTKO4 Karim Guerfi (France), wins vacant IBO world bantamweight title, Indoor Stadium, Singapore.
April 21 ?Carl Frampton (U.K.) WUD12 Nonito Donaire, vacant WBO interim world featherweight title, SSE Arena Belfast, Northern Ireland,U.K.
April 27 ? Criz Russo Laurente (Lt.flywieght) wins bronze while Chriztian Pitt Laurente (bantamweight) gets silver in the ASBC Asian Youth Boxing Championships held in Thailand.
May 1- The WBO orders negotiations for an all-Filipino match-up ? Donnie Nietes vs. Aston Palicte ? for the vacant WBO world junior bantamweight title.
May 13- Mark Anthony Barriga earns IBF minimumweight mandatory challenger status by beating Gabriel Mendoza (Colombia) by unanimous decision, SM North EDSA Sky Dome, Quezon City, Philippines.
May 20 - Hiroto Kyoguchi (Japan) WUD12 Vince Paras, IBF world minimumweight title, Ota City Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan
May 26- Jerwin Ancajas WUD12 Jonas Sultan, retains IBF world junior bantamweight title, Save Mart Center, Fresno, California. Ancajas wins in the first all-Filipino world title fight in 93 years.
June 5 ? World ranked featherweight prospect Mark Magsayo announces split with ALA Promotions and signs with Malaysia-based manager Vikram Sivapragasam and Las Vegas-based Now Boxing Promotions.
June 6- ALA Promotions contests Mark Magsayo?s decision and stated that he still has a four year promotional contract with ALA Promotions and that only the managerial contract has expired.
June 13 ? Donnie Nietes enters Ring magazine?s top ten pound for pound rankings
July 5 ? Nonito Donaire joins World Boxing Super Series bantamweight tournament.
July 13 ? Vic Saludar WUD12 Ryuya Yamanaka (Japan), wins WBO minimumweight world title, Central Gym, Kobe, Japan.
July 15 ? Manny Pacquiao WTKO7 Lucas Matthysse (Argentina), wins WBA welterweight world title. Jhack Tepora WTKO9 Edivaldo Ortega (Mexico), wins vacant WBA interim featherweight world title. Axiata Arena, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
July 19 ? Pacquiao?s press officer Aquiles Zonio writes that the champion boxer/senator underwent a cardiac workup including an angiogram one week before the fight. Report triggers a media firestorm.
July 21 ? Manny Pacquiao issues statement that everything is fine and he just had a routine medical checkup before his fight.
Photo top left to right ? Donnie Nietes, Manny Pacquiao, Vic Saludar, Nonito Donaire. Bottom left to right ? Reymart Gaballo, Jerwin Ancajas, Jack Tepora, Michael Dasmari?as.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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