Big Breaks Come Early for PH Boxing
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 05 Feb 2020
Santisima (L) and Navarrete.
Good breaks are coming our way even as 2020 is not even two months old and these could only augur well for Philippine international professional boxing this year.
For starters, IBF minimumweight champion Pedro Taduran was able to retain his world title on the road in his maiden defense via technical draw after four rounds against Mexican challenger Daniel Valladares in Monterrey, Mexico.
One judge had Valladares ahead at the time of the stoppage but was overruled by the two other judges who both turned in an even scorecard resulting to a majority draw verdict that allowed Taduran to keep the title.
Valladares suffered a deep gash above one eye after an accidental head clash that usually happen between an orthodox fighter and a southpaw like Taduran.
The injury became a target for Taduran who proceeded to worsen and bloody it some more in the succeeding three rounds. To Valladares credit, he gamely fought back and managed to land his own licks on the Bicolano champion.
After consulting with the ring physician, the referee stopped the bout after four rounds and called on the judges to submit their tallies which turned in the majority draw verdict.
With that first world title defense secured, Pinoy fight fans can now cast their eyes on the next big breaks to come our way very early this new year.
These include:
Jeo Santino Santissima's challenge of Emmanuel Navarette for the latter's WBO super bantamweight title in the undercard of the much awaited rematch between American WBC heavyweight titlist Deontay Wilder and British former lineal champion Tyson Fury in Las Vegas this coming February 22 (23 in Manila).
WBO bantamweight champion Johnriel "Quadro Alas" Casimero's unification fight versus WBA, IBF and Ring Magazine lineal champion Naoya "The Monster" Inoue set April 22 also in Las Vegas.
Former multi division world titlist Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire's mandatory challenge of WBC bantamweight champion Nordine Oubaali of France set in the United States, possibly coinciding with the Inoue-Casimero fight.
All of these fights will be covered by major American television and cable networks.
With the news of Kosei Tanaka vacating his WBO flyweight title most probably to fight fellow Japanese Kazuto Ioka for his WBO super flyweight title, Filipino top ranking contender Geimel Magramo is in the line to fill up the vacancy, possibly against number two Angel Acosta of Puerto Rico. Let us just hope that fight will be held in a neutral country.
We can also expect another title defense by our IBF super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas in the next few months and Bob Arum has promised a bigger and higher paying series of fight for Jerwin this time around.
As for our Pambansang Kamao, WBA welterweight super champion, Senator Manny Pacquiao, nothing is definite yet and he may see action by July yet, his legislative schedule permitting.
Now, let us hope that our other former multi division world champion Donnie "Ahas" Nietes get some good break himself and fast, as he has not fought since November 2018.
Despite his advancing age, Nietes is still capable to become world champion again.
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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