2013 THE YEAR IN PHILIPPINE BOXING (PART II)
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 31 Dec 2013
The local professional boxing industry continued to prosper in the second half of the year. The country?s fight capital, Cebu, even hosted a world title fight that did not involve a Filipino boxer. Manny Pacquiao made a successful return to the ring but had to grapple with his tax problems.
July 6 ? Sylvester Lopez L TKO 6 Thabo Sonjica of South Africa, IBO superbantamweight title, East London, South Africa
July 12 ? Australian police investigate trafficking of Filipino boxers who were treated like slaves
July 13 ? Merlito Sabillo W KO9 Jorle Estrada of Colombia, retains WBO minimumweight title, Solaire Resort and Casino, Para?aque City
July 15 - Ramon ?Moy? Lainez, fight analyst and long time pillar of Philippine boxing, passed at age 70
July 23 ? John Mark Apolinario L UD 12 Koki Kameda of Japan, WBA bantamweight title,Tokyo, Japan.
July 27 ? The Clash in Cotai : Manny Pacquiao vs Brandon Rios launched in Macau
July 27 ? Milan Melindo L UD 12 Juan Francisco Estrada of Mexico, WBA/WBO flyweight titles, Cotai Arena, Macau
August 1 ? Two unbeaten foreign boxers headline historic fight card in Cebu City: Tomoki Kameda of Japan dethrones Paulus Ambunda of Namibia by unanimous decision for the WBO bantamweight title, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel. Tomoki sets record for being the third Kameda brother to win a world title.
August 20 ? 17 year old amateur boxer Quinan Alvarez among the missing after a sea collision involving the MV St.Thomas Aquinas and MV Sulpicio Express Siete off the coast of Talisay City, Cebu
September 19 ? Pacquiao?s conditioning coach Alex Ariza joins camp of Brandon Rios
October 10 - Three members of a Filipino-Australian family - boxing promoter Herminigildo Bohol and his relatives Jeffrey Bohol and Michelle Bohol ? arrested and charged by Australian Federal Police with trafficking over alleged exploitation of Filipino boxers brought to Australia and allegedly forced to live and work as slaves.
October 21 - Manny Pacquiao, businessman-sportsman Anson Tiu Co, and former two division champion Gerry Penalosa form MAG Pacman Boxing International Promotions in Gensan. They stage their first fight card in December at the Solaire Resort and Casino.
October 26 ? Johnriel Casimero W TKO 11 Felipe Salguero of Mexico, retains IBF light flyweight title, Makati City.
October 26 ? Rafael Concepcion of Panama returned to Cebu after five years but gets knocked out in the second round by Genesis Servania in the main event of Pinoy Pride XXII, Waterfront Cebu City Hotel
November 9 ? Nonito Donaire bounces back with come from behind TKO win in the 9th round against Vic Darchinyan of Australia in Corpus Christi, Texas.
November 20 ? Alex Ariza kicks Freddie Roach in gym fracas in Macau
November 24- PACMAN IS BACK - Manny Pacquiao WUD 12 Brandon Rios, Cotai Arena,Macau
November 26 ? TAXMAN HOUNDS PACQUIAO - Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) in the Phils. issues order to freeze Pacquiao's bank deposits over a P2.2-billion tax case.
November 30 ? PINOY PRIDE XXIII:Donnie Nietes TKO 3 Sammy Gutierrez of Mexico, retains WBO lt.flyweight title, Merlito Sabillo vs Carlos Buitrago of Nicaragua ends in split draw, Sabillo retains WBO minimumweight title, Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City.
December 3 ? Vergilio Silvano LUD12 Katsunari Takayama of Japan, IBF minimumweight title, Osaka, Japan.
December 5 ? Court of Tax Appeals issues gag order for Pacquiao and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)
Dec 8 - WBC names Pacquiao as Floyd Mayweather's mandatory challenger
Dec 10 - TMZ reports Pacquiao owes the IRS $18,313,668.79
Dec 11 - 16-year-old high school student Jonas Garcia lapsed into a coma following an amateur boxing match in Iba, Zambales. He was pronounced brain dead and dies a few days later.
December 14 - Philippine amateur boxing team win three golds in Southeast Asian Games held in Myanmar - Josie Gabuco (women's lt.flyweight), Mark Barriga (men's lt.flyweight), Mario Fernandez (men's bantamweight)- in a tournament marred by dubious decisions
December 17 ? Floyd Mayweather quoted as saying that he would rather give up his WBC belt than fight Pacquiao
December 24 ? Mayweather pokes fun at Pacquiao with a ?Christmas card?
Pacquiao?s battle with the taxman continued to grab headlines till the end of the year; even eclipsed all speculation about his next opponent. Mayweather continues to taunt and ?fight? Pacquiao within the safe confines of the world wide web.
Armed conflicts, corrupt politicians and national disasters have failed to break the Filipino spirit. Pinoy fight fans look forward to a better 2014.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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