A LOOK BACK AT THE LOCAL BOXING SCENE
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 01 Jan 2013
The Philippines hosted three world title bouts in 2012 and finished with a 2W-1L result. Brian Viloria stopped Omar Ni?o Romero of Mexico in nine rounds to retain his WBO flyweight title last May 13 at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City. It was a decisive ending to their trilogy and sweet vengeance for the ?Hawaiian Punch?. Three weeks later Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes retained his WBO light flyweight title by unanimous decision against another Mexican, Felipe Salguero at the Resorts World in Pasay City. But on October 20, it was a dire d?j? vu for AJ ?Bazooka? Banal when he lost to Pungluang Sor Singyu of Thailand by ninth round TKO for the vacant WBO bantamweight title at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
It was a busy year for small and big fight cards. Boxing fans in Cebu got treated to public workouts before ?Pinoy Pride? events which helped recruit new followers to the sport. Television ratings subsequently went up.
There was always a boxing promotion going on every month somewhere in our archipelago. It was hard to keep track of everything but there were bouts that made me thankful that I was seated at ringside.
MEMORABLE FIGHTS:
MARCO DEMECILLO SINGWANGCHA TKO 3 MARVIN MABAIT , Philippine super flyweight title, Mactan Shrine, Cebu (4/22/12)
-A rematch of two unbeaten fighters who fought to a four round draw in 2009. This time around, Mabait?s Philippine title was at stake. Just like in their first meeting, Mabait knocked Demecillo down in the opening round. Marco looked ready to be taken but he covered up and landed enough body shots to prevent Referee Ben Necessario from stopping the contest.
In the second round, Mabait looked spent and Demecillo turned the tide with vicious hooks and uppercuts to the body. Mabait fired back and brutal exchanges brought the crowd to their feet.
In the third, with Mabait on the ropes,Demecillo landed one hard punch after another. A stunning left sent Mabait crashing in the neutral corner and as the referee started to count, trainer Carl Pe?alosa signalled that he did not want the fight to continue. Official time 1:12.
ADONES ?The Undertaker? CABALQUINTO W UD 12 DAN ?Iron Man? NAZARENO, vacant Philippine jr.welterweight title, Hoops Dome, Lapu-lapu City, Cebu (3/17/12)
-This was a fight, pure and simple. They unloaded power punches right after the opening bell. Nazareno?s right hand lead peppered the southpaw Cabalquinto and gave him an early edge. Past the halfway mark. Cabalquinto?s one-two combos were on target as Nazareno began to fade.
From the 9th to 12th rounds, they took turns staggering each other. A point was deducted from Cabalquinto when a clash of heads inflicted a cut on Nazareno?s left eyebrow. Cabalquinto however, threw more punches in the endgame and won by scores of 115-112, 114-113 and 115-112.
GENESIS ?Azukal? SERVANIA W TKO 12 GENARO GARCIA, WBC Silver International super bantamweight title, Resorts World, Pasay City (6/2/12)
The real ?Poblanito? Garcia showed up and gave the unbeaten Servania a crash course in toughness. Garcia managed to survive Servania?s early salvos and landed enough telling blows to stay in the fight. Headbutts inflicted cuts on Servania?s right eyebrow in the 5th and his left eyebrow in the ninth round.
Garcia remained aggressive and targeted Servania?s body. Servania landed the cleaner punches but Garcia was always there in front of him.
In a dramatic twelfth round, a sharp flurry sent Garcia down. He got up but another barrage had him reeling and Referee Bruce McTavish waived it off as he hit the canvas the second time. Time 2:02.
Servania was ahead 105-102 in two judges' cards and one had him behind 103-104 when the fight was stopped.
BRUTAL KNOCKOUTS:
Jose Ocampo TKO 4 Weng Haya, WBO Asia-Pacific jr.lightweight title, Cebu Coliseum (3/4/12)
Rey Labao TKO 1 Jay Solmiano,Philippine lightweight title, Cebu Coliseum (3/4/12)
Joseph Von Mi?oza KO 6 RJ Ano-os, Dumaguete City Quadrangle, Negros Oriental (7/21/12)
?Prince? Albert Pagara KO 2 Tawanrung Eusampan , Maasin City Gym, Southern Leyte (11/15/12)
REMARKABLE UPSETS:
Gerpaul Valero TKO 1 Marjhun Macahilig, Balamban, Cebu (9/29/12)
Fredirex Rodriguez KO5 Vincent Palicte, WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight title, Mandaluyong City Gym (8/16/12)
PROSPECT WATCH
Last December 13, 2010, I wrote an article about seven relatively unknown prospects who I thought had the talent to make it big. When that article was posted not one of them had faced a foreign opponent or fought for a regional title. But the past two years, especially the last one, have been rather eventful for all of them.
Genesis Servania (19W (6 KO's) - 0L) - 'Azukal' may turn out to be the best from this bunch. Aside from stopping former world title challenger Genaro Garcia of Mexico in a twelve round thriller, he also beat tough Kenyan Nick Otieno and Mexican Jorge Pazos by unanimous decision. He now holds the WBO Asia-Pacific super bantamweight title.
Mark Anthony Geraldo (27W (11KO's)-4L-3D)- currently ranked number two jr. bantamweight contender by the WBO. He earned his lofty ranking by beating the erstwhile undefeated Jerwin Ancajas by majority decision for the WBO Youth Asia-Pacific superflyweight title in Lapu-lapu City last March.
Merlito ?Tiger? Sabillo (20W(9KO?s)-0L) and ?King? Arthur Villanueva (21W (13KO?s) -0L) are reigning champions in the OPBF respectively at 105 and 115 lbs. Marlon ?The Nightmare? Tapales (20W (7 KO?s)-1L) got his first big fight card exposure on the undercard of Pinoy Pride XVII and stopped Indonesian Rasmanudin in two rounds.
Dodie Boy Pe?alosa,Jr (10W (10KO?s)-0L) fought on the undercard of Pacquiao-Marquez 4 and stopped Jesus Lule in two rounds.Marco Demecillo Singwangcha (18W (14KO?s)?0L-1D) reigns as Philippine super flyweight champion and could be headed for an OPBF showdown against Arthur Villanueva.
MORE PROSPECTS:
The Pagara brothers, Jason and Albert, are making waves as headliners. We hope Drian ?Gintong Kamao? Francisco will get a meaningful fight here or abroad. Prospects looking for bigger fights include Jun ?Hercules? Doliguez, Randy Petalcorin and Romnick Magos. Denver Cuello?s status as a title challenger is in limbo.
Title shots are in the horizon for Milan Melindo, Rocky Fuentes, Froilan Saludar, Malcolm Tu?acao and Mateo Handig.
IN MEMORIAM
Pro boxers Karlo Maquinto and Jog Alim, amateur boxer Romnick Dablo and trainer Danny Bactol
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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