New Year's Boxing Wish List
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 01 Jan 2025
With two current world champions and a clutch of top rated contenders, the new year 2025 holds potentials and promises for Philippine boxing for more and higher international fistic recognition as well as glory.
Significantly, 2025 is the 50th anniversary of the world famous Thrilla in Manila bout between boxing legends Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier giving the country a grand opportunity to showcase its progress and accomplishments in international professional boxing over the last fifty years.
This early, our boxing pride Manny Pacquiao is leading efforts in collaboration with the private sector, primarily the Aranetas, and most probably with pertinent government agencies such as the Office of the President, the Games and Amusements Board and the Department of Tourism together with the Quezon City LGU for a boxing extravaganza fitting of the commemoration.
It could be recalled that bringing that major bout over was through the efforts and initiatives of then President Ferdinand E Marcos, father of our current President Ferdinand R. "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.
Late last year, it was also reported that Governor Luis Chavit Singson is interested and willing to support Charley Suarez attempt for world championship in the super featherweight even expressing his desire to have that fight held in the Philippines.
There appears to be a confluence of events and main personalities that could spell a desired outcome and hopefully better future for Philippine Boxing.
Such has prompted this writer to come up with a boxing wish list for 2025, to wit:
1. The emergence of a real Filipino boxing patron ala Saudi Turki Alalshik who can promote big time championship fights in the Philippines. Billionaires Manny Pacquiao and Governor Chavit are obviously cut for the job especially if supported by other Filipino bilyonaryos.
2. Sustained and consistent support from both the government and private sector, including mass media organisations for Philippine Boxing particularly boxers and boxing gyms as what they enjoy in Thailand.
3. Successful title defenses for our two reigning world champions Melvin Jerusalem and Pedro Taduran preferably here in the country and before their countrymen such as what the late great Gabriel Flash Elorde enjoyed in the 1960s.
4. Fruitful world title quests for our top Filipino challengers especially Charley Suarez, Mark Magsayo and Christian Araneta. And likewise Manny Pacquiao in his bid for another world title at welterweight versus Mario Barrios.
5. Unification fight for either Taduran or Jerusalem. Or better, unification fight between the two as among the main attractions in the 50th anniversary of the Thrilla in Manila this October.
6. Governor Chavit succeeding in bringing any of the world super featherweight champions to defend in the country, even having the fight held in the North
7. Better results for our overseas fighters especially in Japan and the USA.
8. Successful commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Thrilla in Manila.
9. A fight between our big boys Eumir Felix Marcial and Johnwell Mindoro; even if it is just exhibition.
10. More exposures to our emerging gems Arvin John Paciones, Lienard Sarcon and Jerald Into.
Happy New Boxing Year!
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.
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