Larry Merchant: The Philippines is a treasure trove of boxing
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 13 Apr 2014
Las Vegas, Nevada -- Larry Merchant shares his historical perspective on Filipino prizefighters.
?I?m not a book of knowledge about Filipino fighters. I do know of an outstanding flyweight/bantamweight almost a century ago [Pancho Villa] who beat a guy named Jimmy Wilde to win the world flyweight championship by knockout. Later in in his short career, he fought a much heavier fighter Jimmy McLarnin who went on to be welterweight champion.?
?Ceferino Garcia, who fought in the 1940?s, was another great middleweight who drew with hall-of-famer Henry Armstrong; thus, preventing him from a fourth title in as many weight classes.?
?Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde I saw in the later part of his career fighting the great featherweight Sandy Saddler beating him in Manila. In a rematch in San Francisco, California, Saddler stopped Elorde on cuts. At Madison Square Garden, I saw one of the greatest lightweight fighter I ever saw Carlos Ortiz stopped Elorde in the later rounds.?
?I have dim recollections of Luisito Espinosa fighting in an outdoor venue in Manila in front of hundreds of thousands of people. You called it ?Battle of Manila Bay, I believe.?
?So to me, Manny Pacquiao may have appeared out of nowhere. You know in boxing terms, he came from somewhere. There is a rich history there.
Tonight, the tradition continues for the Filipino fighters as Manny Pacquiao battles Timothy Bradley for the WBO welterweight crown at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Emmanuel Rivera, RRT.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
The Past Week in Action 20 May 2024: Big Day for Ukraine: Usyk Defeats Fury for Undisputed Heavyweight Title; Berinchyk Wins WBO Lightweight Title Over Navarrete; Papin, Chukhadzhian Victorious
By Eric Armit, Tue, 21 May 2024Espere Defends PBF Title Against Bravo on June 23 in Cagwait
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 21 May 2024ALI AKHMEDOV TO FACE ENCARNACION DIAZ IN WORLD-CLASS SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT DUAL ON THIS THURSDAY’S “BIG TIME BOXING USA,” EVENT, PRESENTED BY SALITA PROMOTIONS
Tue, 21 May 2024Marc Kevin Labog emerges as champion in the 9th leg of the PCAP Champions League Open chess tilt
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 21 May 2024Boxers await qualifying draw
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 21 May 2024Boston Holds Edge in East Finals, NBA Championship Series
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Tue, 21 May 2024TWO TITLE SHOWDOWNS ROUND OUT STACKED DAVIS VS. MARTIN & BENAVIDEZ VS. GVOZDYK TOPPED PBC PAY-PER-VIEW EVENT ON PRIME VIDEO SATURDAY, JUNE 15
Tue, 21 May 2024The Heat Is On: Miami Fight Night Headlined by Teofimo Lopez-Steve Claggett Junior Welterweight World Title Showdown June 29 at James L. Knight Center LIVE on ESPN
Tue, 21 May 2024Undefeated Faizan Anwar fighting for his future this Saturday in Abu Dhabi on a loaded “Rising Stars Arabia 4” pro boxing card
Tue, 21 May 2024It's Boston Versus Indiana in the East; Minnesota Against Dallas in the West
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Mon, 20 May 2024SPORTS FACTS AND FIGURES 69: OLEKSANDR USYK BECOMES THIRD MALE TWO-DIVISION UNDISPUTED CHAMPION
By Maloney L. Samaco, Mon, 20 May 2024Wunderkid Arca Earns 2nd International Master Norm In Vietnam Tourney; pockets chess title
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 20 May 2024U2: Denys Berichyk Gives Ukraine Another World Champion
Sun, 19 May 2024Dallas Mavs Nip OKC Thunder 117-116 Advance to Western Conference Finals
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sun, 19 May 2024The future is bright for Dasma Cavite Spartans
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 19 May 2024