Answers and Questions: Will it be November to Remember?
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 30 Oct 2019
By this time many of the questions about boxing and our boxers at the start of the year have already been answered.
Yes, Manny Pacquiao still has what it takes to compete at top championship level at welterweight even at his age now pushing 41.
No, we never thought that Donnie Nietes, one of our busiest world champions for years will not fight a single bout this year after opting to vacate the WBO super flyweight title he won over Kazuto Ioka on New Years eve than defend it against Aston Palicte with whom he fought to a draw earlier last year.
Yes, we managed to produce another world champion in the person of Pedro Taduran who won the vacated IBF minimumweight title over fellow Pinoy Samuel Salva last July.
No, Aston Palicte failed to bring home the WBO title left by Nietes, losing by unexpected technical knockout to Ioka in Japan.
Yes, jaded Pinoy campaigners as Arthur Villanueva, Jonathan Taconing and Milan Melindo have to seriously evaluate their options going forward after losing yet again in their respective world title tries and comeback. Retirement may be beckoning.
No, Vic Saludar failed to sustain his overseas winning streak that saw him win and defend the WBO munimumweight title in Japan, losing it to Wilfredo Mendez in Puerto Rico.
Yes, Juan Miguel Elorde despite his pedigree and experience did not stand a chance against Mexico's Emmanuel Navarette.
No, Edward Heno was not seasoned enough to vie for a world title far away from home, even against another relative newcomer in Mexican Elwin Soto.
Yes, there are more questions to be answered especially this coming November when three of our leading fighters collide with separate mostly highly touted opponents in foreign rings in all important world title bouts just weeks apart. A fourth will be going up against another fancied foe in what could amount to a world title eliminator.
Jerwin Ancajas.
On November 2 in Carson City, California, Jerwin Ancajas makes the second defense this year, and eighth overall of his IBF super flyweight title against Mexican challenger Jonathan Javier Rodriguez who like him, has just one loss on his record.
Romero Duno (R) and Ryan Garcia (L) pose during their grand arrival at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila).
Almost at the same time in Las Vegas, Nevada, promising Filipino world rated lightweight contender Romero Duno will tangle against Golden Boy Promotion's newest protege Ryan KingRy Garcia in a virtual world title eliminator.
Nonito Donaire Jr.
Five days later in Saitama, Japan, WBA bantamweight super champion Nonito Donaire clashes with WBA regular titlist, IBF champion and Ring Magazine beltholder Naoya 'The Monster' Inoue in the World Boxing Super Series bantamweight finals where not only their world titles but also the prestigious Muhammad Ali championship trophy at stake.
Johnriel Casimero.
Finally on the last weekend of November, former two weight division world champion and current WBO interim bantamweight titlist Johnriel Casimero attempts to wrest the WBO regular title from the dreaded South African defending champion Zolani Tete in the UK.
Will Ancajas be motivated enough heading to his fight versus Rodriguez given his continued inability to secure big money bouts against the division bigger names?
Can Duno stand the pressure of fighting and beating Garcia who is his promotional boss's fair haired ward?
Can Nonito Donaire turn back the hands of time once more and prove the oddsters and doomsayers wrong? Can he handle and survive the vaunted power of The Monster?
Can Casimero once again hush the hometown crowd and overcome the huge size advantage
of Tete who has adopted UK as virtually his second home?
Will this November be a month that Filipino boxing fans will forever remember?
Or rather forget?
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
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