2012 THE YEAR IN PHILIPPINE BOXING (PART I)
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 31 Dec 2012
It was a year of tragedy and triumph, controversy and catastrophe. Boxing as a brand continued to generate public interest with a subsequent rise in television ratings. Manny Pacquiao remained the biggest newsmaker for actions in and out of the ring. But other boxers started to emerge from his long shadow.
JANUARY 28 ? R.I.P. KARLO MAQUINTO. Super flyweight Maquinto collapses after his eight round fight against Mark Joseph Costa which ended in a draw and dies six days later.
JANUARY 30 ? News stories spread about Manny Pacquiao's Bible reading and religious activities.
FEBRUARY 4 ? Nonito Donaire W SD 12 Wilfredo Vasquez,Jr, vacant WBO super bantamweight title, San Antonio, Texas. ?Filipino Flash? wins four titles in as many weight classes.
FEBRUARY 10 ? RING RIOT IN ARGENTINA - Johnriel Casimero TKO 10 Luis Alberto Lazarte, wins IBF interim lt.flyweight title in Mar de Plata, Argentina and triggers post-fight riot. News of the incident reached the halls of the Philippine Senate and the Dept. of Foreign Affairs.
MARCH 1 - TAXMAN VS PACMAN-The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR -Region 12) files complaint against Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao for allegedly failing to submit documents involving his business interests and income sources. Pacquiao calls it ?plain and simple harassment?
MARCH 2 ? WHAT AN UPSET! - Sonny Boy Jaro wins WBC world flyweight and Ring magazine linear title with stunning upset 6th round TKO over Pongsaklek Wonjongkam in Chonburi, Thailand. Pongsaklek was ranked number eight among the top ten best pound for pound boxers in the world.
MARCH 2 ? THEY SENT THE WRONG GENARO GARCIA ? Mexican boxing agent scams ALA Promotions by sending a hopelessly unskilled boxer with the same name as the scheduled opponent of Rey ?BoomBoom? Bautista and ruins a big fight card in Bohol.
MARCH 16 ? Ana Julaton loses WBO female super bantamweight title to Yessica Patricia Marcos by unanimous decision in Mendoza, Argentina.
MARCH 24 ? MAYOL PULLS OUT - Rodel Mayol backs out from WBA flyweight title fight in Mexico claiming that defending champion Hernan Marquez cheated at the scales.
MARCH 27 ? After more than a month of hospital stay, superbantamweight Larry Canillas recovers from brain surgery due to injury sustained during sparring session.
APRIL 29 ? R.I.P. ROMNICK DABLO - Dablo, an 18-year-old amateur boxer, dies after losing his bout in Iba, Zambales. His death gets online news attention a few days later.
MAY 3 ? Jonathan Taconing loses a fifth round technical decision to WBC lt.flyweight champion Kompayak Porpramook in Buriram, Thailand.
MAY 5 ? Lorenzo Villanueva loses by second round KO to Daud Cino Yordan, vacant IBO featherweight title, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.
MAY 13 - Brian Viloria TKO 9 Omar Ni?o Romero, retains WBO flyweight title at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City.
MAY 16 ? LEVITICUS 20:13 ? Pacquiao?s misquoted stance against same-sex marriage ignites a furious firestorm.
MAY 20 ? GABUCO STRIKES GOLD - Josie Gabuco W PTS Xu Shiqi of China, wins first ever gold medal for the Philippines in the World Women?s Amateur Boxing Championship, Qinhuangdao, China.
JUNE 2 ? Donnie Nietes retains WBO light flyweight title by unanimous decision against Felipe Salguero, Resorts World, Pasay City.
JUNE 9 ? BRADLEY WON? REALLY? Timothy Bradley W SD 12 Manny Pacquiao, wins WBO world welterweight title with highly controversial scoreline.
JUNE 19 ? R.I.P. JOG ALIM. Superbantamweight Alim collapses after winning 10 round fight vs Al Grumo in Agusan del Sur and dies two days later.
PHOTO ? Clockwise left to right ? Sonny Boy Jaro, the ring riot in Argentina, Karlo Maquinto and Josie Gabuco
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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