WHO WILL STEP UP FOR PHILIPPINE BOXING?
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 19 Apr 2013
The optimists among us say that Philippine boxing is down but not out. There is still a lot to look forward to despite the fact that in a five month span two Filipino boxers who occupy the top ten pound for pound list ? Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire ? suffered stunning defeats. Filipinos boxing fans also had to endure Brian Viloria?s split decision loss in Macau and Malcolm Tu?acao losing by 12th round TKO in Tokyo. That leaves the Philippines with two world champions in the 108 lb division ? Donnie Nietes (WBO) and Johnriel Casimero (IBF). Both retained their titles last March and in the same month, Merlito Sabillo acquired the interim WBO minimumweight title in Colombia.
The lack of sponsors was cited as the reason for Casimero?s inability to defend at home. Nietes benefited when ALA Promotions? PINOY PRIDE series developed an audience and registered double-digit TV ratings. Nietes was able to win his second world title and defend twice here in the Philippines. But just like Casimero, Nietes had to endure fighting under the shadow of the more popular big three ? Pacquiao, Donaire and Viloria. Sabillo also needs to establish his name; most fans never heard of him prior to his title win.
THE NEXT WAVE
There are highly ranked Pinoy contenders waiting for their chance at a world title. One of these fighters could revitalize our flagging spirits.
MILAN ?El Metodico? MELINDO (28-0, 12 KO?s) ? still unbeaten and confident enough to declare that he can beat Viloria?s conqueror, Juan Francisco Estrada of Mexico during the post-fight press conference in Macau. He is the WBO number one flyweight contender and slated to challenge Estrada in July.
DENVER ?The Excitement? CUELLO (33W-4L-6D, 21 KO?s) ? power punching southpaw a.k.a. Cuello Singwangcha has his sights set on WBC strawweight champion Xiong Zhao Zhong of China but will he get his chance?
ROCKY ?The Road Warrior? FUENTES (34W-6L-2D, 20KO's) ? battle-hardened by five OPBF fights in Japan. He is ranked in the top five of the 112 lb division by the WBO, WBA and WBC and number seven by the IBF. With his stablemate Melindo going after Estrada, Fuentes could go for the WBC crown of Akira Yaegashi. But first, he has to take care of Mexican Juan Kantun this Saturday in Davao.
FROILAN ?The Sniper? SALUDAR (16-0-1, 11 KO's) ? fought twice against Mexicans last year - Alejandro Morales in Lapu-lapu City and Jose Alfredo Tirado in Pasay City. No news stories from his camp since the Tirado fight but is ranked number 2 at flyweight by the WBO and number 3 by the IBF with the top two slots vacant. Is he ready for the tough South African IBF world champ Moruti Mthalane? Saludar has not yet been tested on the road and Pinoy boxers have an ongoing losing streak in South Africa.
These four boxers are in weight divisions that are traditionally hard to sell in the U.S. market but Filipino boxing fans are starved for a big win at the world championship level.
Other contenders like Drian Francisco, Michael Fare?as, Genesis Servania, Rey Bautista and Randy Petalcorin are also looking for bigger fights.
THE ROAD BACK
Pacquiao and Viloria have been through career lows before. Do they have one more big comeback to offer?
Pacquiao is 34 years old but his fan base is still solid, which is an understatement. Filipinos working in Macau were asking members of the media if Pacquiao?s next fight will really happen in the former Portuguese colony.
Donaire has Puerto Rican knockout artist Juan Manuel Lopez in his future; a match-up that will surely generate fan interest.
REALITY BITES
The talent pool of Philippine boxing is not as deep as Mexico?s. Mexican boxing survived when the likes of Julio Cesar Chavez,Sr, Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales started their inevitable decline. At present, Mexico still has a lot of champions and rising contenders to choose from. We also don?t have the same financial clout as Japan when it comes to staging world championship fight cards.
This was the situation before Pacquiao became a crossover star and the casual Filipino fight fans and sports officials, all those who jumped on Pacquiao?s band wagon, seem to conveniently forget that fact.
It is not just the Filipino boxers, but everyone involved in the fight game, who should step up.
(Top photo clockwise left to right ? Milan Melindo, Denver Cuello, Froilan Saludar,Rocky Fuentes)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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