A Jubilant July for Philippine Boxing?
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 29 Jun 2012
WBC Silver superflyweight champion Sylvester Lopez (19W-3L-1D, 15 KO's) of Zamboanga Sibugay is set to wage the fight of his life when he challenges Japanese WBC world superflyweight champion Yota Sato (24W-2L-1D, 12 KO's) in Yokohama on July 8.
Lopez has won five straight bouts by the short route since he lost by technical decision against Juan Jose Montes in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico last October 2, 2010. His streak includes a major win in Mexico last year when he stopped Mexican Oscar Ibarra in eight rounds in Queretaro. The 24 year old Lopez also held the WBC International superflyweight title.
The 28 year old Sato will make the first defense of the title he won last March by unanimous decision against Suriyan Sor Rungvisai of Thailand at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. All of Sato's pro fights were held in his home country.
The most anticipated fight next month will involve WBO superbantamweight champion Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire (28W-1L, 18 KO's), who will face IBF superbantamweight champion Jeffrey ?Mongoose? Mathebula (26W-3L-2D, 14 KO's) of South Africa on July 7 (Morning of July 8 Philippine Time) at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.
Filipino fight fans are waiting for another devastating knockout win by Donaire similar to his second round crushing of Fernando Montiel. Donaire has been stretched to the twelve round distance twice in his last two bouts. This will be Mathebula's second pro outing outside of his home country. In 2009, he lost to Celestino Caballero by split decision in Panama City.
Two Filipinos ? Michael Fare?as and Sonny Boy Jaro ? will figure in world title contests in the Land of the Rising Sun on July 16. Fare?as (34W-3L-3D, 26 KO's), the reigning Philippine featherweight champion, will move up in weight to challenge undefeated champion Takashi Uchiyama (18W-0L, 15 KO's) for the WBA world superfeatherweight title in Kasukabe, Saitama. Fare?as is a protege of former two division world champion Gerry Pe?alosa. He fought at the Mandaue City Sports Complex last April and beat Jason Egera by ten round split decision.
Uchiyama has beaten the likes of current IBF champ Juan Carlos Salgado, former interim WBA titlist Jorge Solis and Nedal Hussein, who once pushed Manny Pacquiao to near defeat.
Jaro, who hails from Silay City, Negros Occidental, will defend his WBC world flyweight champion title for the first time against Japanese challenger Toshiyuki Igarashi (15W-1L-1D, 10 KO?s). Jaro (34W-10L-5D, 24 KO's) won his title last March by an upset sixth round TKO against Pongsaklek Wonjongkam in Chonburi, Thailand.
WAS THERE A UPSET WIN OF THE SAME MAGNITUDE INVOLVING A FILIPINO BOXER?
Donaire?s fifth round knockout win of Vic Darchinyan in 2007 was chosen as Ring magazine?s Upset of the Year. But,looking at the course of their respective careers after that bout, Donaire was indeed destined to rise from anonymity to pound for pound superstar.
I can remember two huge upsets during the 1990?s - Rolando Pascua stopped Humberto ?Chiquita? Gonzales in six rounds for the WBC lt.flyweight title in 1990. Two years later, Morris East scored an 11th round stoppage win over Akinobu Hiranaka.
But the reigns of Pascua and East did not last long.
Manny Pacquiao was huge underdog in his early title challenges and when he fought Marco Antonio Barrera for the first time. But Pacquiao was already a two-division champ when he fought Barrera. Jaro on the other hand, lost twice in world title bouts. Pacquiao was also destined to be the fighter of the decade.
Jaro's victory was truly a bigger upset. Pongsaklek was ranked by Ring magazine as one of the top ten best pound for pound boxers in the world prior to his loss to Jaro. The Thai was also recognized as the historically linear champion by the publication widely recognized as the Bible of Boxing.
Can Jaro sustain his momentum and finish 2012 as Philippine boxing's ultimate Cinderella Man?
WAITING FOR CASIMERO
Johnriel Casimero was supposed to fight on June 30 and was rescheduled to fight on July 28 at the Lapu-lapu City Hoops Dome against Mauricio Fuentes of Colombia.
Still no official word if this fight will push through or whether this will be a non-title fight or for Casimero?s interim IBF lt.flyweight title. Casimero?s stablemates at the Omega Boxing Gym are penned to fight on July 29 at the J Centre Mall in Mandaue City.
The last time I checked, ?champion in recess? Ulises Solis of Mexico had until October to fight Casimero.
The ring riot in Argentina gave Casimero a lot of attention in the mainstream media. He also has his own TV commercial. But fighters are supposed to fight. Hardcore fans here in Cebu are hoping to see him in action sooner rather than later.
(PHOTO Clockwise from Top left ? Farenas, Lopez, Jaro and Donaire)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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