PINOY BOXERS NEARING A WORLD TITLE SHOT
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 16 Dec 2011
Filipino boxing fans are looking forward to 2012 hoping that more contenders will step up and win world titles for our country. There are three Filipino boxers who attained number one challenger status this year.
Sylvester ?Silver? Lopez, the WBC Silver superflyweight titlist, is the number 1 contender to WBC superflyweight champ Suriyan Sor Rungvisai (Chokchai) of Thailand. Denver ?The Excitement? Cuello, who also holds a WBC Silver title, is ranked number 1 strawweight (minimumweight) also by the WBC and could fight for a vacant title if Kazuto Ioka moves up in weight. Promoter Aljoe Jaro talked about this possibility when he spoke with philboxing after the Brian Viloria-Giovani Segura title bout.
Lopez and Cuello achieved rare and commendable feats this year by winning on Mexican soil for their titles. Lopez stopped Oscar Ibarra (TKO 8) while Cuello blitzed Carlos Perez (TKO1). Cuello is also ranked by the IBF.
Froilan ?The Sniper? Saludar is the number 1 flyweight contender of the WBO. He is also ranked in the top ten of the IBF and WBC. Saludar bared his intentions to challenge Brian Viloria in a recent video interview and article posted on philboxing by Epifanio Almeda. It will be an intriguing Pinoy vs Pinoy match-up but the talented Saludar may need more experience building bouts; He will be taking several steps up in class against the streaking Hawaiian Punch.
More and more Filipino boxers are climbing up the rankings of the major sanctioning bodies.
Milan ?Metodico? Melindo, the WBO Intercontinental flyweight champion, is in the top three of their rankings. He is scheduled for another fight this January but Melindo has been considered a bright title hope for the past couple of years. He has beaten former world champs Muhamad Rachman and Carlos Tamara. He is also in the top ten of the WBC and WBA.
AJ ?Bazooka?Banal is ranked number 2 in the WBO with Pungluang Sor Singyu of Thailand at number 1. But the title vacated by Nonito Donaire was disputed by Jorge Arce and Angky Angkota with the former coming up with the win. Banal is also ranked number 5 WBA, number 8 WBC and number 4 IBF.
Rey ?BoomBoom? Bautista, the IBF International featherweight champion, was ranked the number 5 contender of IBF prior to his successful defense against Mexico?s Miguel Angel Mendoza. There were only two fighters ranked above him as the top two positions are vacant. He is in a good situation for a title eliminator and challenge for Billy Dib?s world title. The latest WBA ratings (dated Oct. 2011) on their website does not list Bautista as a contender for Cris John?s title.
OPBF flyweight champ Rocky Fuentes is ranked WBC number 4, WBA number 7, WBO number 5 and IBF number 4. Former WBA interim titlist Drian Francisco is at number 4 superflyweight in the WBA rankings.
Other ranked Pinoy boxers include Randy Petalcorin (number 10 WBA light flyweight), Richie Mepranum (number 6 IBF Flyweight), Mercito Gesta (number 6 WBA lightweight, number 6 superlightweight by the WBO), Johnriel Casimero (IBF lt.flyweight number 4) with Sonny Boy Jaro at number 5. Former world champ Malcolm Tunacao is placed in the top ten bantamweights of the WBC,WBA and IBF, Dennis Laurente is ranked number 9 welterweight by the WBC, Lorenzo Villanueva (featherweight number 5 WBO) and another former champ, Rodel Mayol is moving up the rankings as well.
(PHOTO ABOVE ? Clockwise Top Left to Right ? Denver Cuello, Froilan Saludar, Sylvester Lopez, AJ Banal, Milan Melindo and Rey Bautista)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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