PINOY VS PINOY: IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE…WILL IT HAPPEN AGAIN?
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 22 Sep 2009
Most Filipino boxing pundits disagreed with the suggestion that WBA interim world super flyweight titlist Nonito Donaire, Jr. and newly crowned WBO world super flyweight champ Marvin Sonsona should fight each other at this stage of their careers. But it has happened before that a reigning Filipino world champion fought a countryman inside the ring.
0n May 1, 1925, Pancho Villa (Francisco Guilledo), the Philippines’ first world boxing champion, defended his title against Clever Sencio (Inocencio Moldes). The fight was held in Wallace Field, Manila. This fight marked the first time two Filipino boxers fought for a world boxing championship. It was a sellout and drew a crowd of 50,000 and a reported 150,000 pesos in ticket sales. Sencio was not in Villa’s class and the champion won by a 15 round decision. This was the last victory of Villa's career.
The lives of both boxers would have a tragic end. Villa had an infected tooth extracted prior to his July 1925 bout with Jimmy McLarnin in which he lost a ten round decision. He died due to a severe infection a few weeks short of his 24th birthday. Sencio died due to injuries sustained in his 1926 fight against Bud Taylor of the U.S.
In 1938, Little Dado (Eleuterio Zapanta) beat Small Montana (Benjamin Gan) by ten round unanimous decision in an all Filipino showdown for the California version of the world flyweight title in a fight held in Oakland, California. Small Montana previously won the title in 1935 by beating Midget Wolgast of the U.S. on points.
Dado Marino, a Filipino fighting out of Hawaii, won the world flyweight belt in 1950 against Terry Allen of the U.K. In 1951, He fought Tanny Campo of Cebu and won by ten round unanimous decision in a non-title bout held in Manila.
During Flash Elorde’s reign as world junior lightweight champion from 1960 to 1967, he was also allowed to hold the OPBF Lightweight belt. In 1965, He fought Rene Barrientos in an OPBF title bout and Elorde won a 12 round unanimous decision. The fight was held at the Cebu Coliseum. Barrientos would go on and win the vacant WBC junior lightweight world title in 1969 against Ruben Navarro of the U.S.
Most Filipinos campaign in the 105 to 112 weight range. More and more Filipino boxers are climbing the world rankings and winning regional belts. Their paths are destined to cross, sooner or later. Three years ago, when he was still WBC lt.flyweight champ, Brian "The Hawaiian Punch" Viloria was offered to fight perennial challenger Juanito Rubillar. That fight did not push through. Viloria, who now hold the IBF belt, was also reported to be eyeing the winner of the WBO lt.flyweight title rematch between Ivan Calderon and Rodel Mayol. The Puerto Rican's technical decision win averted talks of another Pinoy vs. Pinoy showdown.
The bantamweight division is another potential all-Filipino flash point. This weight category has quality Filipino contenders like newly crowned WBC International bantamweight titlist Vincent Palicte, the ALA gym's Z Gorres, AJ Banal and Michael Domingo and the Braveheart Boxing Club's Jundy Maraon and Rolando Magbanua.
Most Filipino managers say they do not want all-Pinoy match-ups for a world title. But there is little room at the top. Local promoters and managers will obviously try their best in negotiating and positioning their boxers for a world title shot. Pinoy boxing fans should not be surprised if an all Filipino title showdown happens within the next two years.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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