We Should Rediscover Zest For Domestic Boxing Rivalries
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 07 Oct 2020
(L-R) Pete Apolinar, Christian Araneta, Carlo Baro and Mark Vicelles will see action today to re-start boxing in the Philippines.
Three factors are prompting that we Filipino fight fans should rediscover our taste - and passion - for domestic boxing rivalries.
First is the standing travel restrictions, if not outright bans, necessitated by the ongoing and still raging Covid-19 pandemic that prevent Filipino fighters from going abroad and entering other countries and foreign fighters from entering our own country.
Since June, barely a handful of Filipino fighters, many based or left stranded in the US have been able to see action, most prominent of whom included Johnriel Casimero, Mike Plania, Leo Dato and Mark Magsayo.
Second is that in view of the above, we have no other viable course but to rely on our local fighters to revive and hopefully re-energize Philippine boxing by promoting riveting domestic fistic rivalries as seen during the sport's golden era in the 60s through the Manny Pacquiao's early years in the 90s.
Neighboring countries as China, Japan, South Korea and Thailand have been able to a certain degree resume boxing through bouts almost exclusively involving their local fighters, including a few of their world champions as Wanheng Menayothin and Srisaket Sor Rungvusai and rated contenders as Ryota Yamauchi and Konichi Ogawa.
It is indeed welcome news that the Cebu-based Omega Boxing Promotion is leading today the resumption of Philippine boxing with a star-studded four bouts card billed as Kombati 5 to be held behind closed doors at the IPI Complex in Mandaue City.
The event will be top-billed by world rated Mark Vicelles and comebacking Christian Araneta who will be going up against battle tested journeymen Junuel Lacar and Richard Rosales, respectively.
Vicelles (11-0-1, 5 KOs) will be trying to resume the momentum of his career marked by his winning the WBA Asia light flyweight title last year. Araneta (17-1-0, 14 KOs) on the other hand will try to recover from a long layoff following the recurrence of his shoulder injury in September also last year that led to his retirement loss to Daniel Valladares in Mexico.
The two other bouts will feature Peter Apolinar versus former world title challenger Jethro Pabustan in a featherweight class and Carlo Bacaro against Jeffrey Stella in a super lightweight.
Health protocols and Covid testing of the fighters and officials have been initiated and health safeguards will be in place for the fight night.
Hopefully, the fightcard will deliver the action and results that would whet the appetite for more local fights and keep the ball rolling, so to speak.
Third factor why we should rediscover our taste and zest for domestic rivalries is the growing number of Filipino world champions and highly rated contenders in some specific weight divisions where a clash or clashes could become unavoidable or even inevitable.
In the minimumweight division, there are at least half a dozen highly rated Filipino fighters in addition to reigning WBO champion Pedro Taduran. In fact, five of Taduran's leading contenders are all Filipinos namely Melvin Jerusalem, Mark Cuarto, Robert Paradero, Samuel Salva and Lito Dante.
Significantly, local organizers have sought and successfully secured the approval of the WBA for an all-Pinoy interim minimumweight title fight between mandatory challenger Robert Paradero and former WBO titlist Vic Saludar this December. This is in view of Wanheng Menayothin's inability to defend his regular title in view of the current Covid travel restrictions.
Though we have no current world beltholder at light flyweight, there are also as many as seven Pinoy rated contenders there including Mark Vicelles, Christian Araneta, Jaysever Abcede Edward Heno, Toto Landero, John Michael Zulueta and ex world titliist Milan Melindo.
In the super flyweight class, aside from our long reigning IBF titleholder Jerwin Ancajas, there's the comebacking multi division champion Donnie Nietes, Aston Palicte, Jade Bornea and KJ Cataraja.
The dearth in foreign assignments may continue to prompt organizers to pit some of these rated fighters.
The bantamweights is literally crawling with top rated Filipino fighters aside from our reigning WBO champion Johnriel Casimero. Nonito Donaire is fighting for the WBC title versus Frenchman Nordine Oubaali this December. Waiting on the wings are IBF mandatory challenger Michael Dasmarinas, highly rated former WBA interim titlist Raymart Gaballo and the surging Mike Plania. And there's still the highly promising Carl Jammes Martin.
If Donaire manages to become champion again, the possibility of him fighting Casimero in a unification is there especially if Naoya Inoue continues to duck both fighters. Or one or both fighters could also end up fighting any of Dasmarimas, Gaballo or Plania depending on what their sanctioning bodies would decide upon later.
These are distinct possibilities in this Covid restricted world of ours now and perhaps for some time in the near future.
So it is incumbent upon us Pinoy fans to rediscover our taste and passion for all Filipino ring rivalries by eschewing a recent time fallacy and embracing the fight sport as we did back in the 60s through the 90s.
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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