REMARKABLE RATINGS FOR ?PINOY PRIDE XXIII'
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 04 Dec 2013
?Pinoy Pride XXIII?, the continuing boxing series staged by the famed ALA Promotions in cooperation with the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN continues to turn in remarkable ratings.
Kantar Media reported that the WBO light flyweight title defense of long-reigning champion Donnie Nietes against Mexico?s Sammy ?Guty? Gutierrez which Nietes won by a crushing 3rd round TKO at the Araneta Coliseum last Saturday and was telecast on Sunday beginning at 10:15 a.m. over Channel 2 rated 20.4 percent while GMA Kapuso Festival turned in a 10.9 percent rating.
In the WBO minimum weight title fight in which champion Merlito ?Tiger? Sabillo savaged a split draw against previously unbeaten Carlos Buitrago of Nicaragua rated 14.1 percent.
The telecast opened with the Sabillo-Buitrago title fight followed by Nietes vs Gutierrez.
Although there were several Filipino media people who felt WBO minimum weight champion Merlito ?Tiger? Sabillo was lucky to retain his title with a controversial split draw over mandatory challenger Carlos Buitrago of Nicaragua, Edgar Rodriguez who hosts his TV talk show ?Strike Zone? in Nicaragua said Sabillo deserved the victory at the famed Araneta Coliseum last Saturday night.
Rodriguez pointed to the scorecards of the three judges where Levi Martinez of the US had Buitrago the winner 115-113 and Germany?s Joerg Milke by the same score for Sabillo with Japan?s Takeshi Shimakawa scoring the fight an even 114-114 and said that it raised the possibility of different criteria being applied.
He said the judges ?who are trained to judge a fight and who have the knowledge and long experience gave the impression that they saw different fights.?
In a conclusive statement Rodriguez said ?for me Sabillo won but that does not make me disrespect Buitrago? and that it is important to appreciate that Buitrago who is only 21 years old is a young prospect.
He said Buitrago lacked ?fire, aggression and a sense of kick?.
The journalist noted that Buitrago?s attack was actually a counter-attack and he concentrated only on shots to the head of Sabillo whose flexibility and speed rendered it difficult to catch him.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Gracie meets Zubiri in PH
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 02 Feb 2026International Master Eric Labog Jr. rules FIDE rapid chess tourney
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 02 Feb 202676ers star Paul George has been suspended for 25 NBA games by doping
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sun, 01 Feb 2026Fit To Be Unified: Xander Zayas Defeats Abass Baraou To Unify Junior Middleweight World Titles
Sun, 01 Feb 2026Fit To Be Unified: Xander Zayas Defeats Abass Baraou To Unify Junior Middleweight World Titles
Sun, 01 Feb 2026Trazo beats Jabagat in Talisay
By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 01 Feb 2026Into fights Sanchez on Feb. 9 at Villa Kristen
By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 01 Feb 2026Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson: Styles Make Fights Fitting Cliche
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 31 Jan 2026Bryan Flores Wins Majority Decision Over Starling Castillo in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’ at Live! Casino Hotel Maryland
Sat, 31 Jan 2026KinetixSports Legacy Run on March 1
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 31 Jan 2026THE RING 6: OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR TEOFIMO LOPEZ VS. SHAKUR STEVENSON
Sat, 31 Jan 2026Legendary Soccer Player Sergio Ramos to make professional boxing debut
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sat, 31 Jan 2026Weigh-In Results: Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou
Sat, 31 Jan 2026Teofimo vs Shakur Fight Analysis
By Ralph Rimpell, Sat, 31 Jan 2026Rohan Polanco-Christian Gomez Welterweight Showdown Canceled
Sat, 31 Jan 2026