2013 THE YEAR IN PHILIPPINE BOXING (PART I)
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 31 Dec 2013
It was not the best of times but Filipinos learned a long time ago to take the bad with the good. There were unexpected world title losses overseas but three world champs had successful defenses at home.
January 3- Filipino doctor?s comments in a radio interview about Manny Pacquiao having signs of Parkinsons ignites controversy
January 28 ? Nonito Donaire chosen as Fighter of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA).
February 14 - Heavyweight great Evander Holyfield visits Manny Pacquiao in Sarangani for charity work and distribute aid to typhoon victims
February 16 - Renan Trongco L UD 12 Hekkie Budler of South Africa, IBO minimumweight title Gauteng, South Africa
March 1 ? Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera visits Cebu for ?Pinoy Pride XVIII?
March 2 ? Donnie Nietes retains WBO lt.flyweight title by majority draw against WBO minimumweight champion Moises Fuentes of Mexico at the Waterfront Hotel, Cebu City
March 9 ? Merlito Sabillo W TKO 8 Luis dela Rosa of Colombia, wins WBO interim minimumweight title in Colombia
March 16 ? Johnriel Casimero W UD 12 Luis Alberto Rios of Panama, retains IBF light flyweight title in Panama City
-Rematch between John Mark Apolinario and Roberto Vasquez of Panama for the WBA interim bantamweight title once again ends in a draw
March 17 - Host Philippines bags four golds in Asian Confederation Youth Amateur Boxing Championships ? Ian Clark Bautista (flyweight), Jade Bornea (lt.flyweight), James Palicte (lightweight) and Eumir Felix Marcial (lt.welterweight)
March 16 ? Nonito Donaire fails to attend Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) awards ceremony
March 19 ? Donaire apologizes for PSA Awards no-show
April 6 ? Juan Francisco Estrada of Mexico dethrones Brian Viloria by split decision, WBO/WBA flyweight titles, Cotai Arena, Macau.
April 8 ? Malcolm Tu?acao L TKO 12 Shinsuke Yamanaka of Japan, WBC bantamweight title, Tokyo, Japan.
April 13 ? Nonito Donaire L UD12 Guillermo Rigondeaux of Cuba, WBO/WBA superbantamweight unification, New York.
April 18 ? World Boxing Organization (WBO) recognizes Merlito Sabillo as the regular WBO minimumweight world champion.
April 20 ? Top local crowd drawer and world ranked featherweight Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista L SD 12 Jose Ramirez of Mexico in Davao City. ALA Promotions "retires" Bautista at 26 years old after third career loss.
May 13 ? Manny Pacquiao wins re-election bid for lone congressional seat in Sarangani. Wife Jinkee wins as Vice Governor, Pacquiao?s brother Ruel loses congressional bid in South Cotabato.
May 17 ? Manny Pacquiao featured in ?The Fighters? a CNN Documentary about the battle against human trafficking in the Philippines
June 1 ? Retired boxer turned trainer Louie Bantigue shot dead in Mandaue City,Cebu
June 14 ? Edrin Dapudong W KO1 Gideon Buthelezi of South Africa, wins IBO super flyweight title, Johannesburg, South Africa.
June 22 - Former amateur standout and welterweight prospect Mark Jason Melligen arrested during a drug buy bust operation in Mandaue City.
June 28 ? Denver Cuello loses to Xiong Zhao Zhong of China by majority decision, WBC strawweight title, Dubai, UAE. Southpaw Cuello knocked down Zhong in round one but had to fight with an injured right shoulder for the rest of the bout.
PHOTO : TOP ROW - LEFT TO RIGHT ? Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire, Donnie Nietes, BOTTOM ? LEFT TO RIGHT ? Merlito Sabillo, John Riel Casimero, Edrin Dapudong
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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