Pro Boxing Yearender: Manny’s on a roll
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 02 Jan 2020
Super WBA welterweight champion Sen. Manny Pacquiao was undefeated in two fights in 2019 and at 41, is looking forward to bigger bouts in the New Year, possibly against Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in a much-awaited rematch.
Filipino fighters figured in 22 world title fights sanctioned by the WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO over the last 12 months, winning 10 and losing 12. Last year, the count was 10 wins, 13 losses, three draws and one no-contest. Pacquiao, IBF superflyweight ruler Jerwin Ancajas, WBO bantamweight king Johnriel Casimero and IBF minimumweight titlist Pedro Taduran are the reigning Filipino world champions at the moment.
Of this year’s world title fights, the breakdown by governing body showed eight WBO fights, five IBF, four WBA, three WBC and two IBO for Filipino boxers. Casimero had three wins, including two interim WBO bantamweight title bouts, while Pacquiao and Ancajas took two each. Other winners were Nonito Donaire, Jr., Vic Saludar and Taduran. Donaire stopped Stephon Young to retain his super WBA bantamweight title in Louisiana last April then lost his crown to Naoya Inoue in Saitama last November. Saludar retained his WBO minimumweight belt by outpointing Masataka Taniguchi in Tokyo last February but surrendered it to Wilfredo Mendez on a decision in Puerto Rico last August.
Casimero drops Tete.
Casimero, a former IBF lightflyweight and flyweight champion, claimed the interim WBO bantamweight diadem via a 12th round disposal of Ricardo Espinoza in Carson, California, last April then defended the title on a 10th round knockout over Cesar Ramirez in San Andres, Manila last August. The interim championship was created while WBO titleholder Zolani Tete recovered from a training injury. Last November, Tete was back in the ring and faced Casimero in Birmingham. Casimero dethroned Tete on a third round knockout then called out super WBA/IBF champion Inoue for a unification showdown.
Pacquiao (L) throws a left at Broner.
Pacquiao made believers out of skeptics who thought he was over the hill by thrashing Adrien Broner to keep his regular WBA welterweight crown last January and Keith Thurman to unify the super and regular WBA welterweight titles last July. Pacquiao floored Thurman in the first round and nearly toppled the brash American with a body shot in the 10th before winning by a split decision. There was no doubt who was the superior fighter and Pacquiao re-established himself as the world’s preeminent welterweight.
Ancajas (L) in action against Funai.
Ancajas was just as dominant as Casimero and Pacquiao. He retired Japanese challenger Ryuichi Funai after six rounds in Stockton last May then blew away Chile’s Miguel Gonzalez at 1:53 of the sixth in Puebla, Mexico, early this month. Taduran beat another Filipino, Samuel Salva, to capture the vacant IBF 105-pound title in Taguig last September.
Aside from Donaire, Saludar and Salva, other Filipinos who lost in world title fights this year were Marlon Tapales (to Ryosuke Iwasa on an 11 th round TKO in Brooklyn for the interim IBF superbantamweight crown), Joey Canoy (to Nkosinathi Joyi on points in South Africa for the vacant IBO minimumweight crown), Carlo Penalosa (to Maximino Flores on a seventh round technical decision in Novaliches for the vacant IBO flyweight crown), ArAr Andales (to Knockout CP Freshmart on an eighth round technical decision in Thailand for the WBA minimumweight crown), Randy Petalcorin (to Ken Shiro on a fourth round TKO in Yokohama for the WBC lightflyweight crown), Jonathan Taconing (to Ken Shiro on a fourth round TKO in Osaka for the WBC lightflyweight crown), Arthur Villanueva (to Nordine Oubaali on a sixth round TKO in Kazakhstan for the WBC bantamweight crown), Edward Heno (to Elwin Soto on points in Indio, California, for the WBO lightflyweight crown), Juan Miguel Elorde (to Emanuel Navarrete on a fourth round TKO in Las Vegas for the WBO superbantamweight crown) and Aston Palicte (to Kazuto Ioka on a 10th round TKO in Chiba for the vacant WBO superflyweight crown).
Filipinos were winless in three WBC and two IBO world title fights but won three of four in WBA bouts, three of five in IBF and four of eight in WBO.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
TOP PROSPECT KEITH HUNTER AND FIVE OTHER SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION FIGHTERS WORK OUT IN FRONT OF LAS VEGAS MEDIA IN ADVANCE OF TRIPLEHEADER
Thu, 27 Feb 2020King James Outduels Zion Williamson as Lakers Beat Pelicans 118-109
By John Holtz, Thu, 27 Feb 2020Laylo takes over Sadorra's slot in Chess Olympiad
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 27 Feb 2020AMAZON MAN HARRIS PRIMED TO DELIVER WORLD TITLE STUNNER
Thu, 27 Feb 2020Undefeated lightweight prospect Jamaine "The Technician" Ortiz Set for Friday's homecoming fight
Thu, 27 Feb 2020Ruben Villa Closing In on Title Shot as He is Now Ranked #2 By The WBO
Thu, 27 Feb 2020Houston heavyweight boxer Darius Fulghum puts nursing career on hold to pursue Olympic dream
Thu, 27 Feb 2020“REDEMPTION” IN GENSAN FULL FIGHT CARD
Wed, 26 Feb 2020Santig is WBC South East Asia Promoter of the Year
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 26 Feb 2020ENE-PURCELL AND BRACKIN FIGHT FOR HONOUR AND GLORY
Wed, 26 Feb 2020The Past Week in Action 25 February 2020: Fury Crushes Wilder
By Eric Armit, Wed, 26 Feb 2020Champ cites Jeo’s heart
By Joaquin Henson, Wed, 26 Feb 2020Alamo-Castaneda set for Friday on Telemundo
Wed, 26 Feb 2020A bold and complete conquest
By Recah Trinidad, Wed, 26 Feb 2020Second Overtime: Masbateños in California honor Santisima
By Homer D. Sayson, Wed, 26 Feb 2020