Pinoy Boxing

AJ Banal Falls, Benabe Concepcion Triumphs

2008-07-28T08:30:00.000-07:00

Pinoy boxing has a taste of both sweet victory and bitter defeat this week. First let's take on the bad news first so that you'll feel better at the end of this post.

One of the brightest Pinoy boxing prospect has fallen. AJ Banal experienced his first defeat at the hands of Panama's Rafael Concepcion in front of the hometown crowd in Cebu City yesterday. According to reports Banal was in control during the entire match and was even leading in the scorecards by the ninth round.

However, the tough Concepcion was able to withstand Banal's attack and was able to outlast and finish the exhausted Banal in the tenth round. Banal was said to be extremely exhausted at he end of the fight that he had to be rushed to a hospital.

Now the question needs to be asked? Will Banal be able to bounce back from this loss? Some might question his stamina. I think this is his first time to fight in the late rounds. Perhaps he will end up like Z Gorres who performed well against Darchinyan and Montiel before losing steam and eventually losing or earning a highly controversial draw.

I mus admit that I was not expecting Banal to lose but this is a good lesson for him. He needs to work on his stamina. He has good power but he has to realize that he can't knock everyone out and he has to prepare to battle into the late rounds. Let's hope that he can recover and fully fulfill his potential.

Let's move on to some good news. Bernabe Concepcion another top Philippine boxing prospect and the current North American Boxing Federation (NABF) super bantamweight champion, defeated Adam Carrera in the third round. their match was part of the undercard for the Cotto-Margarito superfight.

Here's a video of the third round of the fight:

Bernabe Concepcion has been impressive in his international outings. His trainer Aljoe Jaro said that he is ready for a title shot. I agree with that but I would still like to see Concepcion domiunate a real contender before he challenges for a title.

Well, that's if for this post. i hope that our pinoy boxing prospects will have better luck next time.

Pacman Destroys Diaz in Nine Bloody Rounds

2008-06-30T12:38:00.000-07:00

Pacman just took the lightweight division by storm with his impressive performance against David Diaz. The Pinoy Boxing icon took the WBC lightweight Title with his first fight in the division.

The Filipino boxing icon used his superior speed, quickness and power to wrest the WBC belt from the defending champion. Pacquiao battered Diaz for nine rounds causing numerous cuts and bruises which erupted all over the champion's face. The fight ended mercifully at the ninth round when Pacquiao landed a short left that laid Diaz face first on the canvass. The referee did not bother with a count and announced Pacquiao the winner by TKO.

Although Pacquiao was favored to win this fight, many boxing experts did not expect a one sided beating. Many boxing predictions projected that Manny would win by UD and some by late KO. However, they did not foresee that Pacquiao would totally dominate Diaz.

I personally thought that Diaz would offer some form of resistance against the Pinoy boxing star. Well, he did last for 9 rounds which is a testament of his toughness. However, he was virtually a punching bag in those rounds. He was trying to land some punches but Pacquiao is just too quick and fast for his punches to do significant damage.

Some boxing pundits describe Diaz as a fighter who is willing to take two punches to land a single oner. However, against Pacquiao, it was more like five or six punches to a single Diaz punch. And it's a known fact that Manny hits hard so a even a two to one exchange may not have worked for Diaz.

With this win, Pacquiao became one of the best fighters to come out of Asia. He has won four world titles in different divisions. He won titles at flyweight, super bantamweight, super feather weight and light weight division. This success makes him the most accomplished Asian fighter of all time.

Now, what's next for Pacman? Well, recent boxing updates and news indicate that Bob Arum is trying to get Edwin Valero as next Pacquiao opponent. That fight will be one of the top fights that can be made for this year. Valero is feared for his power and all of his fights have ended in KO victories, most of them in the first round. Now that the V-nom ( Valero) has been cleared to fight in the US, a mega fight against Pacman has become possible.

There are also a lot of talks about a fight against Ricky Hatton in early 2009. Many observers point out that Pacquiao seems to be at ease at the 135 lb division and can easily make the transition to 140 lbs. I don't know if Pacquiao can carry his strong points to junior welter weight but a fight against Ricky Hatton will surely bring big bucks for the Filipino boxing star.

Well, I guess we all just have to wait and see what Bob Arum can come up for Manny's next fight. One things for sure. We'll all be cheering for Manny come fight time.

Pacquiao VS Diaz This Weekend!

2008-06-27T08:31:00.000-07:00

Its only two days before Manny Pacquiao meets David Diaz in his debut at the light weight division. The Pinoy boxing icon will challenge Diaz for his WBC title. I'm very excited to watch this fight and see if Pacquiao can make an impact on the light weight division. But there's one little problem.

Last Saurday, Typhoon Fengshen or Frank ravaged Iloilo and covered it in mud and water. As a result, power lines are down and many towns still do not have electricity including my hometown. We haven't had electricity for a week now which proves how devastating the effects of typhoon affected our region.

Well, the typhoon wasn't that powerful but the flood that came with it was really destructive. I witnessed the rising waters because I had been foolish enough to travel in the middle of a raging storm. I saw people frantically trying to escape the flood waters as I am being "rescued" together with others stranded by the deluge.

But I'm not here to talk about that tragedy. After all, this is a Philippine boxing blog. But that's my problem. If we still won't have electricity by Sunday, then I won't be able to watch Pacquiao-Diaz live (well, technically none of Pacquiao's international fights on national TV are live because of the delays).

Fortunately, I have heard rumors that the government will try their best to restore power to all the towns in my province. Maybe they know that the people's morale will be lifted by a Pacquiao victory. Well, I hope that they can fix this problem in time. Watching the fight as it happens is the best way to view a boxing match.

After surfing the web for predictions on this fight, I have noticed that Pacquiao is expected to win. Well, that's not a difficult prediction to make because people feel that Diaz is a hand picked opponent and the weakest among the lightweight titlists. However, I feel that Diaz is a live opponent who will not give up his title easily. As the bigger man with a good chin, he is capable of pulling the upset.

Filipino Boxing Updates:

I've just found out that another Pinoy boxing champ, Nonito Donaire, has signed a deal with Bob Arum. Apparently, Donaire decided to junk his contract with Gary Shaw because he is not getting any fights. His last fight was against Luis Maldonado last December and he needs a fight to keep him in top shape.

I think this is a good decision on Donaire's part. Arum is perfectly capable of setting up the fights he need to become successful in his boxing career. Inactivity can cost him his title just as in the case of Florante Condes.

June Pinoy Boxing Updates

2008-06-20T07:50:00.000-07:00

It's only a week before Pacquiao's next fight. And I'm obviously excited. I hope that we see another exciting and nerve racking fight like Pacquiao-Marquez 2.

Since, the fight is approaching, I heard that both fighters are in the final stages of their preparations. Both parties claim that their fighter is in great shape and are ready to go to war. Well, I hope that Manny Pacquiao and David Diaz are in their best come June 28. Two fighter at their best and giving it their all makes a great fight.

I also noticed that Pacquiao is being favored to win this fight. I guess thats a logical prediction because Manny is a pound for pound fighter while Diaz probably doesn't make it to the top 20 in the P4P rankings. But I think that Diaz is no push over. He's the bigger fighter and I'm not sure if Pacquiao's punches will be very effective against him.

Well, I guess we just have to wait and see. Now let's move o to Philippine boxing updates.

Sadly, Florante Condes lot his IBF miniflyweight title by decision to Mexican Raul Garcia in La Paz, Mexico. Condes won the title about a year ago but promotional squabbles left him inactive. Some say he lost due to inactivity and bad management.

Of course, Garcia also performed well to take the title away from the Filipino champ. He used his boxing skills to avoid Cnodes power punches to earn a decision. Condes was able to score a knockdown in the final round but he was unable to stop the Mexican challenger. Fortunately, Condes is talented and I think he will get another shot at a title.

Pinoy boxing prospect, AJ Bazooka Banal has been scheduled to face Rafael “Little Bull” Concepcion for the vacant WBA superflyweight title. This is a big break for Banal. he has been impressive in his recent performances. Reports say that he is working hard to prepare for the biggest fight of his career. Let's see if he be successful with his first try at a world title.

Meanwhile, WBO bantamweight champion Gerry Penalosa is facing a dilemma. H has yet to make a decision on fighting Nestor Rocha. This match is scheduled to happen on the undercard of the battle between lightweight champion Joel Casamayor and former WBC super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez on September 13 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Reports say that Penalosa is having problems with the purse for the fight. He is being offered a measly purse of $100,000. Rocha holds a fight record of 18-1 with 6 knockouts and the Pinoy boxing star is expecting a bigger purse against a decent challenger.

Penalosa has also expressed concern over running out of time. he is already at an advanced age and there is no clear possibility of him facing another high profile opponent. he was asking for a rematch against Daniel Ponce de Leon but that has become a remote possibility when De Leon suffered a KO loss at the hand of rising star JuanManuel Lopez.

Well, I hope that Pinoy boxing will have a good month. That means a victory for Manny Pacquiao. He is favored in the fight and he has to make up for Condes' loss. If Manny wins, then Philippine boxing will have 4 world titlists and a P4P champion.

Manny Pacquiao No. 1 Pound for Pound!

2008-06-13T08:17:00.000-07:00

With Floyd "Money" Mayweather announcing his official "retirement", the Ring Magazine, the recognized “Bible of boxing" elevated Pinoy boxing icon, Manny Pacquiao to the top spot of its pound-for-pound ratings.

Well, this is certainly a great achievement for Pacquiao. He is the first Filipino boxer to be ranked no. 1 of the P4P rankings. He is probably the first Asian to hold the coveted top spot. He has been ranked number two behind Floyd for some time now so it's logical that he'll take over now that Floyd has hung up his gloves.

Granted, the P4P rankings are subjective and every one can make a list of the top active boxers. However. the Ring has the respect of many boxing fans and the rankings are decided upon by boxing writers and experts. The list offers an alternative to the muddied rankings found on the different boxing organization.

Then again, since Golden Boy now owns The Ring there have been talks about the rankings being biased towards Pacquiao. Golden boy shares Pacquiao with Top Rank so marketing Pacquiao as the top P4P boxer certainly seems a good business move.

It's also important to consider the Pacman's top competitor for the top P4P spot. Joe Calzaghe is also a very good candidate for the top boxer in the world. he is undefeated and is coming off a string of high profile wins against Hopkins, Kessler and Lacy.

Well, I think Pacquiao's performance against Diaz will prove if he indeed deserves the top spot in the P4P rankings. If he can knock out Diaz then it will solidify his status. It will also bring him more high profile and lucrative fights.

Manny Pacquiao Stamps Mania!

2008-06-02T10:10:00.000-07:00

Getting your face on a stamp is a great honor. You need to be famous to gain the prestige of having your mug on a stamp. Of course, if you're a member of an endangered species then you probably won't have any difficulty in seeing yourself in the mail. Anyway, enough with the corny jokes. I just found out that postage stamps featuring Pinoy boxing icon, Manny Pacquiao, went on sale a few days ago.

The initial offering of four Manny Pacquiao stamps mounted on a cover and costing P7 each. This is a clear indication that Pacquiao will be known as one of the great sports heroes in Philippine sports. I think I need to find out where I can get these stamps. Someday I might be able to tell my children and grand children the story behind the stamps of a smiling guy with boxing gloves.

Manny Pacquiao Training Camp Updates

At the moment, the Philippine boxing hero is busy preparing for his lightweight debut against WBC champ David Diaz. This boxing event has been named “Lethal Combination” and will be held at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on June 28.

To promote this lightweight showdown, Pacquiao and Diaz held a free public workout at the West Wind Martial Arts School in Berkley. Both fighters captivated fans with their pugilistic skills and whetted their appetites for the showdown at Las Vegas.

Reports say that trainer Freddie Roach has recruited an aggressive southpaw to help Pacquiao prepare for Diaz. Diaz is a southpaw like Pacquiao so this will be an interesting fight. Most of Pacquiao's opponents have been orthodox fighters so it will be interesting to see how Pacquiao handles Diaz.

Some boxing experts say that that Pacquiao's southpaw stance has been a big advantage against his opponents. Indeed Pacquiao has been considered a rare breed among south paws because of his punching power. Powerful lefties are apparently a rare breed in boxing. Now the question is, will he lose this advantage against Diaz. I guess we'll have to see. Perhaps Diaz will also find difficulty in facing another south paw.

Then there is also the question of the new weight class. Will the Filipino boxing phenom lose all the attributes that made him successful when he steps up in weight? If Pacquiao loses his power and speed then he will find it difficult to be effective against Diaz. Pacquiao's strength has always been his offense. How can he win if he can't hurt Diaz? I guess we'll find out on June 28.

Pinoy Boxers Repel Invasion!

2008-04-29T13:45:00.000-07:00

Well, I know that this topic is late by a few weeks but I would like to blog about it anyway because it's a significant victory for Pinoy boxing. I am pretty busy lately so I was unable to post on this when it was fresh. This blog has now achieve Google's PR 4 so I'm now motivated to make a post.

Anyway, in the early part of this month, Pinoy boxing champions and champions displayed their pugilistic prowess against challengers from all corners of the world. The promotion was aptly named "Invasion: Philippines versus the World" to emphasize that our boxers were defending their belts and our country's honor against fighters from Uruguay, Mexico, Thailand, Indonesia and Korea.

As you probably know, the invasion turned into a massacre when our boxers defeated their opponents in impressive fashion. Ciso Morales stopped Korean boxer Yoo Shin Kim on the fifth round. Morales' performance may have earned him a fight in the US.

AJ Banal performed very well when he scored a technical knockout in the fourth round against Caril Herrera an undefeated fighter from Montevideo, Uruguay. Herrera was rumored to be suffering from the effects of a 30 hour flight and may have not performed at his best. However, Banal had no choice but to do his job and impress the Filipino boxing fans.

Bautista resumed his comeback at the world stage by going up against a Mexican fighter, Genaro Camargo. Rey Bautista displayed patience as he pounded his opponent into submission in the second round. Boom Boom may need to step up his competition and perform well to prove that he deserves another title shot.

In the main event, Gerry Penalosa successfully defended the WBO Bantamweight title against Thailand's Ratanachai Sor Vorapin of Thailand. This came as no surprise to me as
Penalosa knocked Vorapin out in their first encounter. The Thai did not come to lose but Gerry was simply too good for him. The question now is what's next for Gerry. I think he should retire if he can't get a high profile fight against Daniel Ponce de Leon, Israel Vasquez or Rafael Marquez.

Other Philippine boxing prospects also performed well after the big main event. Bert Batawang stopped Indonesian Henri Amol in seven rounds and Michael Domingo of the ALA Gym disposed Themimint Sor Chitapattana of Thailand in two rounds.

The success of our boxers in this promotion was a victory for Pinoy boxing. These promotions will attract promoters and open more opportunities for our fighters. We have to honor them for doing their best and taking advantage of the local crowd support to come up with the victory.

“Invasion – Philippines vs The World”

2008-04-04T13:19:00.000-07:00

This weekend, Pinoy boxing will once again showcase its pugilistic talent in a loaded promotion that features Philippine boxing prospects and champions. The promotion is headlined by WBO bantamweight champion Gerry Peñalosa who will face former world champion Ratanachai Sor Vorapin for the second time.

Peñalosa defeated Sor Vorapin by KO in their first meeting but will he able to to beat him again to defend his title? We'll find out this weekend. Sor Vorapin will not enter Philippine territory to lose. I expect him to be hungry and wary of committing the same mistakes against Gerry.

Filipino boxing prospect, AJ Banal will also face another test when he battles Caril “El Raton” Herrera. Herrera is an undefeated fighter out of Uruguay with an impressive record of 21-0, 13 KO’s. However, a quick look at the quality of his opponents show that Banal will probably be his toughest opponent yet. Nevertheless, on paper he seems like a fine opponent for AJ Banal.

Rey "BooM Boom" Bautista continues on his comeback journey when he faces Mexico’s Genaro Camargo. Bautista's opponent has a record of 13 wins, 3 losses with 10 KO's. It's not a very impressive record but it shows that Camargo can punch and hurt Bautista.

The other bouts included in this promotion include Ciso “Kid Terrible” Morales against South Korea’s Yoo Shin Kim, Bert Batawang against rugged Indonesian Heri Amol and Michael Domingo against Thepnimit Sor Chitpattana.

This looks like a very entertaining promotion. I hope our boxers can perform well and display courage on the ring. They will have the support of the local fans (and maybe the judges) so I think they will put on a good show.

PacMan Wins by Split Decision!

2008-03-18T12:45:00.000-07:00

After twelve rounds of hard fought rounds, two of three judges gave the nod towards Pinoy boxing icon, Manny Pacquiao. With this close win, Pacquiao solidifies his claim as the top 130lb fighter in the world.

Personally, I thought Marquez won. I thought that Pacquiao did not work hard enough to win the last two rounds to secure the victory. If he had been more active in the eleventh and twelfth rounds, then I don't think that a lot of people would argue that Marquez won. Then again, maybe I'm not just satisfied with Manny's performance so I came under the impression that he was not active enough in the last couple of rounds

It was a close fight so it's understandable that boxing fans have different opinions about who won. The knockdown scored by Manny in the fourth round probably won him the match but I admire Juan Manuel Marquez for getting up and surviving the fifth round. I really thought that Pacquiao would finish him off since he was very unsteady when he came out at round five.

I can also understand that Marquez felt that he was robbed again. The fight was close so I can't blame him for thinking that he won. I also know that he has a lot of pride so losing this fight is hard for him to accept.

I think the more important matter to think about now is a third bout between these warriors. Arum said that an immediate third fight between the two would not be profitable. That means the best we can hope for is that Pac-Marquez 3 will be at the final months of the year. Arum wants to match Pacquiao against David Diaz next so I'm not sure if a third match between Manny and Marquez will happen this year.

All we can do is hope that a third match between them will indeed happen. It might be at light weight but I'm sure that they will bring us another classic.

Last Man Standing

2008-03-14T12:31:00.000-07:00

The much anticipated rematch between Pinoy boxing icon, Manny Pacquiao and his rival, Juan Manuel Marquez is less than two days away. And I know all you boxing fans can't wait to see the fight.

Pacquiao certainly has a great influence in the Philippines. When he fights, everyone in the country are sure to be glued to the TV screen. Everything stops when Manny fights, even crime.

The Philippine National Police are predicting zero crime when Pacquiao fights this Sunday. It's an easy prediction to make. Virtually no crime occurred, when he fought his last few fights. Still, its a remarkable feat. The only other man who was able to bring crime in the Philippines to a halt is the late Pope John Paul II.

When the pope visited the country as part of the World Youth Day celebration, crime in the country dropped dramatically. That phenomenon happened more than a decade ago, but it is being duplicated whenever the Philippine boxing superstar performs. Even feuding politicians agreed to a truce so that all parties can give their attention to the fight.

Some boxing fans have declared that March 15 will be a sad day for the Philippines if Marquez emerges triumphant. I have agree with that statement. The outcome of this rematch will have a significant effect on the country. A loss for Pacquiao will make Filipinos feel bad.

However, Pacquiao will be able to come back, even if he loses. He is already one of the most widely recognized fighter and he can sell tickets. Their are still plenty of attractive fights that can be made in the case that he losses. Of course, winning will give him bigger opportunities and paybacks. Promoter Bob Arum has made announcements that Pacquiao will challenge David Diaz for his light weight title in June. That means Manny will be moving up in weight. However, Marquez is a huge hurdle to overcome.

I guess there's nothing more to say but to bid each fighter good luck. I hope that they will give us an exciting fight. All we can do now is wait for the bell to ring and find out who will be the last man standing.

PacMan vs Dynamita!

2008-03-11T12:05:00.000-07:00

In the last couple of weeks, boxing and Pinoy boxing fans witnessed great fights. Rafael Marquez and Israel Vazquez fought for a third time and gave every boxing fight a wonderful fight. Juan Diaz and Nate Campbell also gave us a memorable bout at the lightweight division. And less than a week from now, Pacquiao and Marquez will meet for some unfinished business.

To whet your appetite for the fight you should check out Pacquiao's most Significant Fights by Don Steinberg of ESPN. This will lead you into a journey though the Pacman's most memorable fights.

The article also provided a little history of Pacquiao's career including his losses and hiss greatest triumphs. Juan Manuel Marquez is already a part of Pacquiao's story and we will see another chapter this weekend. Many Philippine boxing fans are expecting this to be one of the greatest rematches of all time.

Both fighters fought a very entertaining and controversial bout and this rematch has been well anticipated. In fact, it may have gone too long that some people say that Marquez is no longer in his peak. He still has the skill to beat Pacquiao but he may not be in top form.

Marquez seems to have become more hittable in his last outings. however, that may also be due to his effort to attract more fans to his fights. Despite his considerable boxing prowess, Marquez has been unable to draw a large crowd. A victory against Pacquiao will certainly encourage boxing fans to watch his fights.

This fight is also very important for the Pacman's career.He has been training hard for this encounter because he realize that Marquez is very difficult to beat. If he wins against Marquez, then he will be the undisputed top fighter in the 130 lbs division. Some analyst say that Pacquiao is ready for the lightweight division. His size could prove to be an advantage against Dynamita and some think that he could simply overpower Marquez.

If Manny wins he could fight for a title in the lightweight division or schedule a bout against Hatton or Dela Hoya. Both of these superstars have expressed that they would welcome a bout against Pacquiao.

Well, I guess there is nothing we can do but wait. We only have a few days of waiting before these great fighters exchange leather in the ring. I hope that they will give us a memorable battle.

"Hurricane"

2008-03-05T11:53:00.000-08:00

I like to read. When I have nothing else to do, I usually look for a book to give me some entertainment. I went to a book sale a few days ago to look for a new novel. But a hard bound book caught my eye. It was a book entitled Hurricane.

Now, I know about a famous boxer nicknamed Hurricane, and so I decided to examine the book. To my surprise it was about the boxer that the book reminded me of. It was a biography of Rubin "hurricane" Carter, a top middle weight contender in the sixties who was imprisoned after being accused of a crime he did not commit.

I have been reading the book and I'm glad to say that I enjoyed it. It was inspiring to read about a man fighting to be free from a punishment that he did not deserve. Carter never gave up and fought for his freedom. I decided to look for videos on his fights to see him in action. The book described him as a scary, intimidating fighter with a vicious left hook.

Luckily, I was able to find some videos of Rubin Carter in action. I was glad when i found a video of Carter's biggest win. He was able to knock out Emile Griffith, a Hall of Famer and the reigning welterweight champion of the world at the time. Carter displayed the viciousness of his vaunted left hook in this bout. Here is the video:

Carter's life inspired the writing of books, documentaries and movies. Denzel Washington portrayed him in the latest movie about his life. I also found a video of Bob Dylan singing "Hurricane", a song written to help gather support for Carter's struggle towards freedom. Click here to watch the video. Let me end this post with a part of the lyrics of the song:

Rubin could take a man out with just one punch
But he never did like to talk about it all that much.
It's my work, he'd say, and I do it for pay
And when it's over I'd just as soon go on my way
Up to some paradise
Where the trout streams flow and the air is nice
And ride a horse along a trail.
But then they took him to the jailhouse
Where they try to turn a man into a mouse.

Pacman Mobbed in San Francisco!

2008-02-28T11:46:00.000-08:00

Hundreds of adoring fans mobbed Pinoy boxing superstar, Manny Pacquiao when he arrived at the Titanium Training Center. The boxing star is scheduled for a public workout at the venue prompting fans to flock at the location.

The Philippine boxing icon was moved by the reception that he expressed a desire to schedule a bout in San Francisco. Manny said, "I want to fight in San Francisco. It thrills me that so many people are here. I'm going to ask Mr. Arum to do a fight in San Francisco."

Manny Pacquiao also assured his fans that he will have no problems in making the weight limit for the super featherweight division. Even though he was reported to weigh in at nearly 140 lbs in the WBC-mandated 30-day weigh-in, Pacquiao said that he can slim down to 13o lbs in time for the showdown.

Nonito Donaire Begins Hard Training

Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire the IBF/IBO flyweight champion has began training seriously for his scheduled title defense in Dubai. He will face Australia’s Hussein Hussein, a tough fighter who has experience in big fights.

Donaire arrived in Las Vegas a few days ago. He decided to train in the gambling capital of the world after scrapping his original plan of making his preparations for his title defense in the Philippines. His manager has reportedly prepared some Mexican sparring partners to help him prepare for the fight in Dubai.

I hope that our Filipino boxing stars can train well for their upcoming battles. The pride of their country is at stake in these bouts. Let us hope that they can perform well and bring honor to their country.

Pacquiao-Marquez II Training Updates

2008-02-22T12:28:00.000-08:00

Pinoy boxing star,Manny Pacquiao and rival, Juan Manuel Marquez are deep into their training camps. Both fighters will put their boxing careers and pride on the line when they meet in less than a month for their much anticipated rematch.

Mexican star, Juan Manuel Marquez has reportedly hired a trio of Mexican southpaws to help him prepare for Manny. These tough Mexican sparring partners will help him cope with the speed and style of his left handed opponent. Observers of his public workouts say that he looks incredible. This is good news for fight fans because they want both fighters to be at their best on March 15.

Marquez began his fight preparations before Christmas and already weighs in at 132 which is well on target for the 130 pound limit. Marquez expresses his confidence at winning the fight with this statement. "I am 34 years old but I feel 25 and as far as experience is concerned I’m as smart as a 48 year old. The important thing for me is supreme conditioning and I’m in the best shape of my entire career because for me, this is the most important fight of my career." You can get an idea of Marquez's training routine in this article.

Meanwhile, Manny Pacquiao is also training hard for his upcoming fight. The Filipino boxing icon is fully focused while training tin the Wild Card gym in LA. Freddie roach seems to be satisfied with his progress and is confident that his ward will be ready on the big night.

A point for concern though is Pacquiao's weight. There were reports that he is having problems with passing the super featherweight limit in his lat few fights. The Philippine boxing star has also weighed at least 140 lbs at fight night and some people have expressed that it may be time for him to move up in weight. Some people have also pointed out that his bigger frame will be an advantage against Marquez.

Well, there is nothing we can do but wait for the opening bell come fight night.

Villoria Wins Comeback Fight !

2008-02-18T08:23:00.000-08:00

The Beginnings of a Comeback

Brian "the Hawaiian Punch" Viloria made another step towards making his come back by earning a unanimous decision victory over Cesar “Gallito” Lopez. The bout took place in the undercard of the “Revenge or Repeat” fight card featuring Kelly Pavlik and Jermain Taylor.

Viloria is a former light flyweight champion titlist who is now campaigning in the flyweight division. He is now among the Pinoy boxing prospects who is looking to bring another title to the Philippines.

He only took an eight rounder because the card was so loaded with great world title fights. He had to take this fight because it will bring him a lot of visibility that could possibly lead to another crack at a world title. Brian was able to score a knockdown in the fifth round but the durable Lopez was able to survive. Viloria won the bout with sores of 78-73 twice and 77-74 on the last score card.

I hope Viloria can continue this streak and compete for a world title again. he has good power but he lacked focus in the early part of his career. If he can focus totally in his boxing career and use his talent well then another title might be possible.

I can't find any video highlights of this fight yet but I will post a video of it as soon as I can find one.

Very Impressive Pacman Knock Out Video!

2008-02-12T10:54:00.000-08:00

Today I felt a bit disappointed when I heard that Pinoy boxing prospect, Rodel Mayol suffered a KO defeat because he took a fight on short notice. Luckily I found this great Manny Pacquiao video to cheer me up.

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Manny really looked like a monster in this video. he was still at the 122 lbs. division in this stage of his career. He was punching so hard at super bantamweight that you can hear his punches hit Julio.

Anyway, back to Mayol. I followed Mayol's career since he was still a young ALA boy in Cebu. He had great power but made some costly mistakes in his first two world title challenges. This third devastating loss will likely derail his career.

The was that he had no choice but to take this fight because he needed the money. apparently his wife just gave birth and his purse will take care of his wife's expenses. Since this fight was taken at short notice, Mayol was out of shape and ultimately lost the fight. The sad thing is that Mayol is supposedly being scheduled for a third crack at a world title. He can say goodbye to that chance now.

This does not seem to be a good start for Philippine boxing. Earlier this year, Z Gorres did not have enough stamina to outbox Darchinyan en route to a controversial split draw. The only consolation we have is that Bernabe Concepcion defended his NABF title and won by unanimous decision.

I hope our Pinoy boxers can put an end to the shaky start we have this year. And I also hope you'll enjoy the KO video! :)

Early February Filipino Boxing Updates

2008-02-08T10:29:00.000-08:00

The furor over the result of the controversial Now or Never main event still hasn't died down. There are still plenty of articles made by Pinoy boxing writers on that subject. However, I think its time to move on to other things. Anyway, these are some significant info on Philippine boxing for this month.

Manny Pacquiao

Pinoy boxing star, Manny Pacquiao is currently training hard for his well anticipated rematch against Juan Manuel Marquez. Unlike his training camp for his rematch against Barrera, his training in the US is quiet with no major controversies. The only significant info on his preparations is that he is looking good and is focused on his regimen.

While Manny is hard at training, boxing writers, analysts and enthusiasts are busy making fight predictions. Some think that Manny will win because Marquez has slowed down since there first meeting while others feel that Marquez still has enough skills to outbox Pacquiao. All these discussions are certainly whetting my appetite for this super fight.

Another significant piece of news i have picked up is that Manny has given a donation to aid the family of fallen boxer, Alex Aroy. Aroy passed away due to injuries sustained during a 10-round bout in Villaba, Leyte.

Bobby Paqcquiao

With far lees fanfare than his brother's training camp, Booby Pacquiao is trainign hard for a bout against Urbano Antillon a lightweight contender. After seeing his stack rise with a string of victories aginst well kniown but faded fighters, Booby's career i once again on the way down following his KO loss against Humberto Sotto.

He is facing an uphill battle against Antillon who is fihting at the lightweight division. This Mexican lightweight prospect is undefeated in 21 fights with 14 KO victories. I hope Bobby can give his Pinoy bosing fans a great performance in this one.

AJ Banal Update

Undefeated Philippine boxing prospect, AJ Banal might be fighting Uruguayan Caril “El Raton” Herrera. Herrera is currently ranked No. 5 in the World Boxing Council and No. 12 in the International Boxing Federation. The proposed venue for this bout is the Cebu Coliseum. Let's hope that the boxing fans can keep their cool if this fight will be held there.

This will be a test for Banal as Herrera is also undefeated. If he surpasses this test then perhaps Banal is ready to step up. However, he is still a growing fighter and there is no need to pressure him into taking big fights. He needs to polish his skills and train hard if he wants to be successful at the highest level.

The Donaire Brothers

Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire Jr. the current IBF/IBO flyweight champion has mnade a chance of plans. He has announced that instead of training in Cebu for his forthcoming title defense against Australian Hussein "Hussy" Hussein, he will return to the US for the preparations.

Donaire did not elaborate further on the reason of their sudden change of plan. Well, if he thinks that training in the US is the best way to go then I'm all for it. He needs to train well because he will be up against a very good and experienced fighter. The championship bout is the main event of the blockbuster April 4 card by Third Force Promotions of Noli Eala in Dubai.

Meanwhile, his brother, Glenn "The Filipino Bomber" will face Brazilian Olympian, Jose Albuquerque when he returns to the ring just two weeks away. Glenn and Albuquerque fought to a six round draw in their first meeting. The rematch between them will be scheduled for eight rounds.

Well, I have nothing more to say but good luck to our fighters. I hope that they will train well and give a good performance in their upcoming fights.

Now or Never Results in Controversial Draw!

2008-02-04T09:53:00.000-08:00

The match between Pinoy boxing prospect Z Gorres and former flyweight champion, VIc Darchinyan ended in a disappointing and controversial draw.

I have to admit that I felt that Darchinyan deserved the nod in that fight. Gorres had a great start and was even able to score a knockdown when he dropped Darchinyan in the second round. He was also able to deftly avoid Darchinyan's predictable lunging attack. However, by the eight round it was clear that Gorres was fading and he was losing his legs.

I thought that Gorres would focus on his stamina and conditioning for this fight. It was his stamina that failed him in his title challenge against Montiel. But, against Darchinyan it seems that he had less stamina. I've read that Gorres also came two pounds overweight at the weight-in and that indicated that he was not in shape for his match against Vic.

I was also very disappointed at the behavior of some Pinoy boxing fans during the bout. Some fans got carried away by their emotion when they pelted the referee, Darchinyan, and the visiting trainers with plastic bottles, coins and other debris. The visiting referee did an awful job and Darchinyan used dirty tactics at that fight but it was still wrong for some of the fans to throw things at them.

Throwing coins can be dangerous and any debris and the ring can also cause harm to the fighters. The unpleasant behavior displayed by some fans may also bring a negative image to our country. Foreign champions will feel reluctant in defending their belts in the country and promoters may be discouraged in investing in fights held at the Philippines.

I was also a bit disappointed with the referee when he made a mistake by scoring a knockdown against Gorres in the first round instead of a slip. But, I had nothing but pity for him when he was hit by a water bottle. I mean how can we expect him to be a fair umpire when he feels that the mob will lynch him if he makes a call against Gorres.

It was clear to me that his judgment was affected when he did not call the legitimate knockdowns against Gorres on the last few rounds of the fight. Gorres went down several times in those rounds because he had clearly lost his legs. However, I think he went down a cvouple of times due to the impact of Darchinyan's punches.

It was his first officiating job in foreign soil and the violent reactions of the crowd obviously had an effect on him. Had he scored the knockdowns for Darchinyan, it would have been a clear cut victory for the former champion.

Well, this is how I feel. I know that some Philippine boxing fans may feel differently towards the fight and I respect their views. I hope that Filipino boxing fans can control their emotions and never throw any debris in the ring again.

Now or Never: Gorres vs. Darchinyan

2008-02-01T11:34:00.000-08:00

The exciting bout between Z "the Dream" Gorres and Vic "the Raging Bull" Darchinyan is only about 12 hours away at the writing of this post.

Will this be a big win for Gorres or will this be the start of a come back for Darchinyan. I guess we'll see tonight.

I'm excited that's for sure. Of course I'm rooting for the Pinoy boxing prospect since I'm Filipino. But that doesn't min that I'm sure Gorres will win. Darchinyan is a very dangerous opponent especially because of his power. He is also a former champion who wants to get back to his former glory.

The Raging Bull has declared that,“If I catch him I will knock him out and twelve rounds is a long time to run.” That probably sums up Darchinyan's strategy for this fight. He will rely heavily on his punching power and attempt to knock Gorres out.

Gorres has his advantages in this fight. He probably has the advantage in speed and technical skills over Darchinyan. Then there is also his age. He is 25 years old while Darchinyan is 32 which is old for a super flyweight. Maybe Darchinyan's chin has still not recovered from Nonito Donaire's left hook. And of course, Gorres will have the support of Philippine boxing fans in Cebu.

I think the key to winning this fight for the Filipino boxing prospect is to box smartly, have enough stamina to avoid Darchinyan's bombs, and exploit his opponents leaky defense.

Well, i think I can say nothing more but good luck to both fighters. i hope that they will bring boxing fans an entertaining fight.

Pacquaio Training Updates and Other Pinoy Boxing News!

2008-01-28T11:25:00.000-08:00

Pacquiao Training Camp

It seems that Manny Pacquiao is training religiously for his rematch against Juan Manuel Marquez on March 15 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Well, he very well should kill himself in training. This rematch against is a very important fight at this stage of his career.

His training camp appears to be on schedule ans a set of sparring partners has been lined up when he begins sparring this week. Danny Cervantes, Roger Gonzales, David Rodela and Adrian “A-game” Gallon will be given the task of sparring against the Pinoy Boxing star.

Observers who witnessed Pacquaio pounding the mitts described his power as explosive. The sound of the Philippine boxing icon's fists striking mitts sounded like exploding firecrackers. Other writers also describe Pacquiao as "very dangerous" due to the power he displayed in the early part of training.

Well, Pacquiao always has reliable punching power. However, he needs more than power to beat Marquez. He put Marquez down on the deck thrice in their first encounter but it was not enough to give him the victory. He needs to develop other areas and skills if he is to defeat Dynamita.

Other Pinoy Boxing News

Darchinyan Lands in Cebu

Vic "Raging Bull" Darchinyan and his team has finally arrived in Cebu. Team Darchinyan is confident that their fighter can beat Z Gorres when they square off at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel in the 12-round main event this upcoming weekend.

Darchinyan is scheduled to hold a public workout to display his boxing prowess as well as to prepare himself for Gorres. Vic has plenty of time to adjust to the warm Philippine climate and is fully prepared to unleash his full arsenal against his Pinoy opponent.

Ganoy To Fight Julio Diaz

Ranee “KO Kid” Ganoy a Sydney-based Filipino boxing prospect will face a huge test in his boxing career as he is scheduled to exchange blows with former IBF world lightweight champion Julio Diaz.

The bout is one of the supporting matches of the IBF/IBO flyweight title fight between Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire and Australia’s Hussein Hussein. This boxing promotion will be held in Dubai on April 4 of this year.

Ganoy is a powerful puncher and has been on a roll following a string of successive wins. His biggest win so far is a KO victory over Robbie Peden. He is now being trained by former multi-division world champion Jeff Fenech. Fenech described him as the best pure puncher I have seen.”

Well I hope everything works out great for our Pinoy boxers. If they train hard then perhaps it will be another good year for Filipino boxing.

Marco Antonio Barrera to Make A Splash in Pinoy Ad Market

2008-01-25T12:04:00.000-08:00

It seems that the Baby Faced Assassin will grace the Filipino TV screen with his acting talent. Apparently, the Mexican boxing star will test his luck on the Filipino advertisement industry. You can check out this story and other boxing articles at Philboxing.com

The information about this bit of news came from Barrera's cutman, Tony Rivera. Rivera told a reporter that, "It's a done deal,we're just waiting for the paperwork. However, Rivera did not reveal the name of the company that will be promoted by the Mexican legend.

Maybe he wants to enjoy the same success as his compatriot, Erik Morales. El Terrible has starred in a few commercials in the Philippines including a San Miguel Beer commercial with Manny Pacquiao. Here is a video of one of Erik's commercials in the Philippines.

I think Erik looked good looked in that ad with Pinoy boxing star, Manny Pacquiao. Even Freddie Roach was given a break in that one.

Anyway, it seems that Barrera is not going to do ads in the Philippines. Barrera is also interested in investing in the Philippines. He is planning to establish gyms and discover Pinoy boxing talent. He knows by experience that Filipinos have great potential as boxers.

I hope that Barrera will be able to make a commercial in the Philippines. Pinoy boxing fans have a lot of respect for him and will surely welcome him into the country and give him a taste of our hospitality.

RJJ Triumphant Plus Pinoy Boxing Updates

2008-01-21T10:26:00.000-08:00

Roy Jones Junior emerged victorious over fellow faded superstar, Felix "Tito" Trinidad in their light heavyweight match up last weekend.

Jones proved to be the dominant fighter and scored two knockdowns during the fight. The final scored tallied 116-110 twice and 117-109 all for RJJ.

Well, I think the outcome was really no surprise at all. I was hoping Trinidad would win because I am a Tito fan but Jones was really to big for him. Tito was dominant at 147 while Jones managed to win a heavyweight belt.

Trinidad also had difficulty against P4P fighters who were heavier than him. He Hopkins, Wright ans now Jones has proven that Trinidad did not have the explosive power he possessed at welterweight.

So what does this mean for both fighters? For Roy Jone Junior, well this victory will probably open the possibility of another fight for Roy. He has a lot of fans and he has a big name so promoters will be willing to find a lucrative bout for him.

And for Tito? Well, retirement is probably the best option. He has lost his last two fights and he will not be able to attract promoters to set him up for another big payday. He should not surrender the spotlight to fellow Puerto Rican, Miguel Cotto.

Filipino Boxing Updates

Donaire to Help Gorres

There have been reports that Donaire will help Gorres as he train for his match up against Vic Darchinyan. I think this is a good idea because Nonito is the only fighter to have beaten Vic. His experience will be valuable in helping Z Gorres deal with Darchinyan.

Darchinyan's main weapon is his power while Gorres has superb boxing skills. If Gorres can dodge Vic's power punches, exploit his opponent's poor defense and use the hometown support then perhaps he will deliver Vic's second career loss. However, if Darchinyan can use his power to derail Gorres' game plan then he will probably win by knockout.

Gorres has been impressive in his workouts so perhaps he will be fully prepared in this fight. His conditioning failed him against Fernando Montiel and cost him a world title. Let's hope he will be able to avoid or deflect Vic'c bombs through out the fight.

Local Fights

The ALA gym continues to produce talented fighter as one of the vaunted ALA boys displayed his boxing prowess in the ring. Ala boy, Jomar Omaz passed his acid test when he tangled against tough veteran Pedro Malco.

Malco has the same number of wins as his losses but he has experience against world class competition. He has lasted the distance against top Thai fighters including, Terdsak Jandaeng and Ratanachai Sor Vorapin.

Omanz scored a knockdown in this match up but did not escape unscathed as Malco landed his own share of power punches. Omanz's skill and talent proved to be the difference in this fight and came out the victor with a unanimous decision victory.

Pacquiao-Marquez Two Press Conference Pics!

2008-01-16T11:07:00.000-08:00

The photos of the recent press conference for the Pacquiao-Marquez rematch have released. The two boxing superstars will clash for the second time on March 15 in Las Vegas. The Pinoy boxing superstar and "Dynamita" fought to an exciting draw during their first meeting and every boxing fan expect great action and drama from the anticipated rematch.

Here are the photos:

Manny Pacquaio and Juan Manuel Marquez pose for the cameras.

Promoter Bob Arum and Philippine boxing icon, Manny Pacquaio applaud JMM.

Arum selling the superfight to boxing fans around the world. This fight is an obvious sellout.

I am really excited to see both future Hall of Famers go at it again in the ring. Manny better come prepared in this one. Juan Manuel Marquez will surely do his best to claim the title as the best 130 pounder in the world. If Pacquiao will not focus in his training and on Marquez, then he might not be able to escape with a draw this time.

January 2008 Philippine Boxing Updates

2008-01-09T11:59:00.000-08:00

Pacman vs. Hitman

These past few weeks, there has been a lot of buzz about a possible super fight between Pinoy boxing star, Manny Pacquiao and British boxing star, Ricky Hatton.

Since Ricky Hatton is about the same height as Manny and has a two inch reach disadvantage, some people have argued that it would be a good match up. In terms of weight, Pacquaio had weighed in at around 140 lbs. at fight time, which is around Hatton's usual weight.

This is not a good match up in my opinion because even if both fighters are of the same height, I don't think that they are of the same size and weight. Hatton would be the natural bigger man and has a big advantage in size. Pacman weighed at about 140 at the night of some of his fights but I think Hatton for his part weighed over 150 lbs in most of his fights. hatton has also been known to balloon in weight before fight training.

Furthermore, Hatton has been fighting at 140 lbs and more for most his career and is used to taking shots from fighters in this weight class. On the other hand, Manny has fought from 106 lbs to 130 lbs, and fighting at 140 lbs would diminish his speed. Let's face it, Manny's speed is a huge factor in his success as a boxer.

Of course, this fight can bring a lot of money to both fighters because of their huge fan base and it is an exciting match up as both fighters love to mix it up. However, Pacquiao faces big disadvantages against Hatton so I don't think that this fight would happen. On the other hand, if Manny wins convincingly against Marquez, then anything can happen.

Gerry, Boom Boom and AJ

Gerry Penalosa is scheduled to defend his bantamweight title against Ratanachai Sor Vorapin on March 2 at the Araneta Coliseum. About seven years ago, Gerry knocked Sor Vorapin out in six rounds in a minor title defense. However, Sor Vorapin has stayed active since then and has manged to win the WBO bantamweight title. he lost the title to Jhonny Gonzalez who in turn lost it to Gerry last year.

Pinoy boxing prospects Banal and Bautista have been scheduled to fight in the undercard of this boxing event. Banal has kept his winning streak alive while Bautista is on the comeback trail after suffering his first lost. I hope our fighters can come up with victories this March and continue the success Philippine boxing has experienced last year.

Gabriel "Flash" Elorde

2008-01-02T12:34:00.000-08:00

Today, January 2 marks the death anniversary of the late Gabriel "Flash" Elorde. Now, I don't know a lot about Elorde because his career ended before I was born. However, I have heard a lot about him from Filipino and international boxing writers and analysts. He is also regarded by most as the greatest Filipino boxer of all-time.

Here is an article written in tribute of this great Pinoy boxing legend:

REMEMBERING 'FLASH' ELORDE by Ronnie Nathanielsz

Gabriel "Flash" Elorde was the youngest in a family of sixteen, born into a poor farmer’s home in the town of Bogo. His poverty served not as a burden but as a challenge.

Elorde walked off the streets of Cebu where he worked as a pier hand, a dishwasher on an inter-island cargo boat and a pinboy in a bowling alley to punch his way to the world junior lightweight crown, in the process winning international acclaim and the hearts of millions of his countrymen.

The Philippines has been blessed with a long line of remarkable champions from Pancho Villa to Ceferino Garcia and in more recent times the incredible Manny Pacquiao. But in the fascinating history of boxing, Gabriel "Flash" Elorde stands out as the greatest of all time, not merely for his incredible skill and raw courage but even more so for the exemplary human qualities that shone like a beacon among the heroes of our time.

One of the greatest fighters to ever come out of the Asia-Pacific region, Elorde was born on March 25, 1935 and turned professional when he was barely 16.

An excellent boxer, the famed southpaw became an oriental champion at all weights - from bantamweight to lightweight.
In an active career Elorde had 44 title fights, 15 for world titles, and was involved in at least one every year from 1952 to 1967.
Read the rest of this article at Philboxing.com

Elorde also has a great record and fought great fighters like Sandy Saddler. You can personally check his fight record People say that he was a great man inside and outside the ring. he also had the same electrifying and unifying effect as Philippine boxing icon, Manny Pacquiao.

I hope that we will have more boxing greats like Pacquiao and Elorde in the future. Boxing is currently enjoying a "golden age" as we have four world champions and an elite boxing icon. We should use this time to develop our country's boxing program so that we will have more boxing greats in the future. Let me end this post with a picture of Elorde in action against fellow Hall of Famer, Sandy Saddler.

The Manny Pacquiao of the 70's

2007-12-14T10:19:00.000-08:00

I found out about this great video from a boxing forum...

The star of that video is Ben Villaflor one of the former Pinoy boxing champions. He held the WBA world Junior Lightweight (now called Super Featherweight) championship during part of the 1970s. He won the wored championship belt by knocking out the champion Kuniaki Shibata in the first round (see the video above). The two combatants fought to a 15 round draw when they fought about seven months before the fight.

Some people describe him as the Pacman of the 70's because of his Southpaw style and his punching power. Of course, it might also be reversed it and we can also describe Manny as the Ben Villaflor of today.

Villaflor ended his career with a record of 54 wins (31 KO's) , 8 losses and seven draws. Six of his losses happened during the early part of his career. He fought for the last time when he lost the title to fellow 130 pound great Samuel Serrano by unanimous decision. Villaflor was never stopped in his career and stands among the best fighters in Philippine boxing history.

Pretty Boy KO's the Hitman

2007-12-12T07:48:00.000-08:00

This weekend, "Pretty Boy" Floyd Mayweather scored an impressive win over previously undefeated British boxing star, Ricky "The Hitman" Hatton.

Mayweather's KO win was a surprise as most boxing fans did not expect Mayweather to go toe to toe with Hatton. Floyd utilized slick movement, quickness and hand speed to earn convincing decisions over his previous opponents. I personally felt that it would be unwise for him to engage Ricky Hatton in close quarters. However, Floyd's talent and underrated toughness allowed him to overcome Hatton's attack en route to scoring a knock out.

This win solidifies Mayweather's standing as the top Pound for Pound fighter in the world. This puts him well ahead of Manny Pacquiao who is considered by many to be the second man in the P4P list. The Pinoy boxing star can still catch up with Pretty Boy if he pulls off an impressive performance against Juan Manuel Marquez next year. However, winning against Marquez will be a difficult challenge for the Philippine boxing icon.

The next question would be what's next for Mayweather. A possible bout against Miguel Cotto is a boxing fan's dream. However, that is up to Mayweather who might just make good on his decison to retire from boxing. He is 30 years old which is not too old for his weight class and he is obviously at the top of his game. I hope that he will fight Cotto next year in another mega fight.

Pinoy Boxing Stars Score Impressive Wins

2007-12-03T11:12:00.000-08:00

Philippine boxing was again in the limelight this weekend when three of its stars scored victories against Mexican opponents.

Filipino boxing star Nonito Donaire was out to prove that his KO victory over Vic Darchinyan was no fluke against Mexico's Luis Maldonado. Donaire, the reigning IBF and IBO flyweight ruler dominated mandatory challenger Luis Maldonado en route to a via eighth-round technical knockout victory at the Foxwoods Casino in Mashantucket,
Connecticut.

Donaire went off in an impressive start against Maldonado as he ripped the challenger with accurate and crisp left hooks and right crosses. Donaire's punches caused cuts in both of Maldonado's eyes and it seemed that the challenger would not be able to last the champions firepower. However, Maldonado was able to put himself together and scored with some big shots as Donaire began throwing wide punches in the hopes of finishing the bleeding challenger.

The challenger's hope were dashed when Donaire resumed his accurate counter punching barrage and neutralized his challengers attacks. Maldonado finally succumbed to the champions assault in the closing seconds of the seventh round. The brave challenger answered the bell for the eight round but was met with aggression and power punches from the champion. Donaire rained punches on his bleeding opponent as the challenger covered up along the ropes forcing the referee to stop the contest. This TKO victory proved that Donaire is no one punch wonder and has the talent to become successful in the flyweight division.

Filipino boxing prospects, Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista and AJ Banal also delivered wins for Pinoy boxing at a card held at he Araneta Coliseum. Bautista made the first step towards his comeback to contender status with a morale boosting unanimous decision win over Antonio 'Barrio' Meza of Mexico. The scores were 117-111, 116-112, and 118-110 for Bautista in his first win after being annihilated by Daniel Ponce de Leon.

AJ 'Bazooka' Banal, an undefeated Pinoy boxing prospect continued to impress with a brilliant performance against Mexican Jovanny Soto. The two fighters went against each other with desire to win but Banal's superior talent and power lead to a 9th round KO win for the Filipino boxer.

These victories will whet Pinoy boxing fans appetite for the super rematch between MNanny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez. The superfeatherweight stars produced a thriller in their first meeting and their long anticipated rematch has fight of the year potential.

Pacman Art Gallery!

2007-11-23T10:13:00.000-08:00

This is a Manny Pacquiao portrait collection. These works of art are made by the Pinoy boxing star's inspired fans.

I hope that this creative display of talent will also inspire you to create you own portrait. :)

Rare Double Knockdown!

2007-11-20T11:03:00.000-08:00

This is a very exciting video of a rare double knockdown:

A double knockdown happens when two fighters were knocked down at the time. Of course in this video the referee mistakenly ruled that both fighters slipped maybe because both fighters got back up so quickly after being down.

The fighters involved in this uncommon occurrence are "The Contender" participant, Cornelius K9 Bundrage and contender Sechew Powell. The fight was over after only about 20 seconds. It seems K9 was more affected by the double knockdown than Powell.

Pacquiao-Marquez Purse Squabbles

2007-11-16T10:15:00.000-08:00

I just read an interesting article from Michael Marley of boxing confidential.com. He wrote about the current fight purse negotiations for the rematch between Pinoy boxing sensation, Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez.

Here are the first few paragraphs of his article entitled No More Bargain Basement Deals

What’s fair is fair. Can Juan Manuel Marquez make a big purse with anyone other than Manny Pacquiao? I don’t think so, do you?

So let’s do the right thing if, indeed, this is going to be Megamanny’s March 15 fight. Let Pacman out of the financial strait jacket which says he can only get 57 percent of the total purse if his opponent is a Golden Boy fighter.

Let Oscar and his pals stretch what Manny gets to 70 percent and give 30 percent to the champ. Pacquaio is the name which will sell the PPV, not JMM’s. I mean even Stevie Wonder can see that.

You can read the rest of this article by clicking HERE

Personally, I don't really care about how much Marquez or Pacquiao will receive as the purse for this fight. As a boxing fan, all I want to see is for the rematch to happen. It's clear that this IS the best fight in the superfeatherweight/juniorlightweight division. Fans from both camps are begging for this fight to be made.

Of course, I understand that the percentage is important because it amounts to millions of dollars. However, we boxing fans do not want another canceled rematch between these excellent fighters because of disagreements over the purse. I guess Pacman will still be alright financially if the fight will not be made. He can still make great money by fighting at lightweight. But I don't think boxing fans will be satisfied with not seeing a rematch. I guess all we can do is hope that both parties can reach an agreement.

Darchinyan VS. Gorres on March!

2007-11-09T12:01:00.000-08:00

Pinoy boxing prospect Z :the Dream" Gorres will have his second chance in the spotlight when he takes on the very Dangerous Vic Darchinyan next year.

Golden Boy Promotions and Gary Shaw Promotions have finally managed to secure the elimination bout after hard rounds of negotiation.

The fight will be not be staged in either fighter’s home soil much to trhe dismay of the fighter's teams. Instead the bout will be on the undercard of Israel Vasquez vs Rafael Marquez contest for the WBC super bantamweight title.

This promises to be an exciting fight from the perspectives of styles. Gorres is a skilled boxer who uses his skills to outpoint his opponent while Darchinyan relies largely on his power to pound his opponent to the canvass.

This will not be an easy one for Gorres, as Darchinyan though old and has little defense is an experienced fighter. Vic has fought good competition when he defended his IBF title several times. Gorres also has a tendency to fade in the late rounds and I don't think he has the power to KO Darchinyan. Vic also wants to regain his honor after Donaire shamed him. And what better way to do that than to KO a Filipino boxing top prospect like Gorres.

Luisito "Lindol" Espinosa

2007-11-05T10:30:00.000-08:00

Many Pinoy boxing fans may not know that before Manny Pacquiao became world famous, Philippine boxing was represented by two time world titlist, Luisito "Lindol"("Earthquake")Espinosa. Espinosa was the face of Filipino boxing while the Pacman was still honing his fist at the flyweight division.

Here he is in action against former super banatamweight champ, Kennedy McKinney. This is probably Espinosa's finest performance in US soil.

Espinosa won the WBA Bantamweight title by knocking out Khaokor Galaxy in the first round. I watched the video of the fight and was perplexed as to why Khaokor fell down even though Espinosa was at least two yards away from him. It might have been a delayed reaction from a body shot but the video was in Thai so I couldn't be sure. Anyway, Luisito successfully defended his tile twice before relinquishing it to Israel Contreras.

Espinosa bounced back from that painful loss to win WBC Featherweight title by outpointing Manuel Medina in 1995. He held the title for nearly four years before he lost it to Cesar Soto. Before losing his title, Espinosa lost a lot of money from a promotional dispute. He challenged Guty Espadas hoping to regain his title but lost a technical desicion. He fought past his prime before retiring in 2005 with a record of 47 wins 13 losses with 26 KO's. You can examine his boxing record here.

THis is Espinosa disposing of former WBS bantamweight champion Raul Perez in a single round:

Funny Pacquiao Pics Collection

2007-10-23T12:33:00.000-07:00

Here is a collection of amusing Manny Pacquiao edited pics:

The new king of Pop

Pacquiao vs Tyson:

The Return of the Pacman

300

Pacquiao driving to the basket

Super Manny

Little Manny and Little Erik

The 2006 Fight of the Year!

2007-10-19T10:42:00.000-07:00

These are the highlights of the fight that was awarded as the fight of the year for 2006. It was a battle for the WBA super bantamweight title between French champion,Mahyar Monshipour and Somsak Sithchatchawal of Thailand.

This was Monshipour's sixth defense of the title that he won against fellow Frenchman, Salim Medjkoune. He had a record of 28-3-2 with 19 knock out victories. He is a known slugger as indicated by his nickname,Little Tyson. On the other hand, this was Somsak Sithchatchawal's first crack at a world title. Coming into this fight of the year, he has compiled an excellent record of 45-1-1 with 37 KO's.

Another KO of the Year Candidate

2007-10-15T07:37:00.000-07:00

The whole Round:

The Replay:

This KO of the year candidate for the year 2007 was caused by a devastating left hook from current IBF middleweight champion Arthur Abraham. This fight was Abraham's fifth defense of the IBF middleweight title he won from Kingsley Ikeke on December 10,2005.

The defending champion, Arthur Abraham had a record of 23-0-0 with 19 KO's coming into this great fight. He came into prominence following his battle against Edison Miranda. He won a unanimous decision despite suffering a broken jaw from the power punches of Miranda.

Ghevor on the other hand, had a decent record of 27-2-0 with 15 KO's before he challenged Abraham for the middleweight title. He had a winning streak of 16 straight wins but he hasn't faced any opponent of Abraham's level. He has also been knocked out by fellow contender Lukas Konecny so perhaps he has a suspect chin. But then again anybody who takes a shot like that will probably go down in a heap.

PacMan Victorious!

2007-10-08T09:47:00.000-07:00

Philippine boxing sensation, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao emerged victorious in his his long anticipated rematch with Mexican great, Marco Antonio Barrera. As most people predicted, Pacquiao came on top as he proved to be the busier and more accurate fighter. However, the fight was different than what most boxing fan expected.

In my observation, there were two main predictions for this long awaited rematch. The first scenario that people expected is similar to their first meeting, Pacquiao would overwhelm Barrera with his superior power and speed ending the fight via TKO. The second scenario was that a more prepared Barrera would use his superior boxing skills to use Pacquiao's aggression against him and earn a decision.

However, the fight was unlike what most boxing fans envision. The match was not the usual exciting and exhilarating Pacquiao fight. Barrera was unwilling to engage Pacquiao and he was waiting for the counter while Pacquiao seems to have abandon his usual attacking style and was more calculating. Pacquaio did not take a lot of risk and did not aggressively attack Barrera. In fact, he seems to be waiting for Barrera to attack. He was using feints and footwork to avoid Barrera's counter and win the decision with his aggressiveness and higher work rate.

In the end, Barrera's unwillingness to mix it up and the Filipino bosing icon's decision to not put a lot of pressure Barrera resulted in a fight that was fought in spurts. Except in a few of the rounds, the fighters would spend most of the round looking for an opening then exchange punches and clinch. Pacquiao was the more accurate and busier fighter in these exchanges and he was taking the fight to Barrera. Barrera seems to be in survival mode as he kept on backpedaling and gave most of the rounds to Pacquiao.

The last two rounds of the fight were probably the most exciting round of the fight. In the eleventh round both fighters opened up as if responding to the crowds hunger for action. Pacquiao manged to open a cut beneath Barrera's right eye. and the fighters end their furious exchange with a clinch. However, Barrera hit Pacquiao with a right hand as referee Tony Weeks was separating them. Pacquiao appeared to have been hurt with the foul as he walked into a neutral corner and one of his knees wobbled.

However, when I watched the replay, Barrera seemed to have only landed a glancing blow and that Pacquiao did a bit of an acting job. Pacquiao may have done a good job of appearing to be hurt because the referee deducted a point from Barrera. In the end, the deduction did not play a very important role other than convince some fans that Barrera can be a dirty fighter because Pacquiao was comfortably ahead in the judges scorecards. Judge Tom Schreck scored the bout 115-112 while judges Jerry Roth and Glenn Trowbridge scored the contest at 118-109 all for The Pinoy boxing star.

I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed with the fight. Perhaps it was because I was expecting Pacquiao to go after Barrera and I was waiting for the knock out in every round. Upon further reflection, I realize that Pacquiao made the smart choice by not rushing in against Barrera. The situation in this rematch is different than their first meeting. Manny is now a top fighter and does not need to take the same risks as he did before. He realized that he can probably win the fight by just being busier than Barrera since his opponent does not want to go toe to toe.

Most of his fans want to see the old Pacquaio who was willing to take the punishment in order to dish out his own. However, since he was against a dangerous opponent who wants to counter and survive, he has no choice but to choose the smart strategy. When the Philippine boxing start is up against an opponent who is willing to mis it up then we will see the old Pacmonster again.

4 World Champs for Philippine Boxing!

2007-10-04T12:26:00.000-07:00

Donnie "Ahas" Nietes' hard fought win last weekend over Pornsawan Kratingdaenggym of Thailand for the the vacant WBO world Minimumweight Title, the Philippines currently has 4 world boxing champions. Pinoy boxing stars Florante Condes, Nonito Donaire,Gerry Penalosa, and Donnie Nietes now hold world championship belts. Well, technically they are not world champions because boxing has been split up into various governing bodies (WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO, IBO, WBU, etc...)that recognize it's own champions for every division. The proper term might be world titlist because they hold a part of the World championship. Unless these Filipino boxing champs cannot unify the world titles in their divisions, then I think they cannot be declared as true world champions.

Let us relive how this Pinoy boxing heroes bought glory to their country through this videos:

Let us begin with Nonito Donaire's impressive KO win over Vic Darchinyan:

Then we have Gerry Penalosa's liver shot KO win over Jhonny Gonzalez

This is the third round of the Condes-Rachman fight in which COndes captured the title by split decision. This round was a big one for Condes as he was able to knock Rachman down on his back.

And finally this is Donnie Nietes in action against the very tough Pornsawan Kratingdaenggym. This is the fourth round in which Nietes scored a knockdown on his way to a unanimous decision win.

Let us hope that our Philippine boxing champions can defend their titles successfully follow in the footstps of Manny Pacquiao and other Filipino boxing legends.

Donnie "Ahas" Nietes' Chance for Glory

2007-09-27T09:04:00.001-07:00

This Sunday, ALA Boy, Donnie "Ahas" Nietes will attempt to join Gerry Penalosa, Florante Condes and Nonito Donaire as world titlists. This Pinoy boxing prospect will face the equally impressive Pornsawan Kratingdaenggym of Thailand for the the vacant WBO world Minimumweight Title.

This is a video of Donnie Nietes (21-1-3 with 13 KO's) in action against Saengpetch Sor Sakulphan also of Thailand. The video shows why this Philippine boxing rising star is nicknamed "Ahas" or snake. He knocked out his opponent with an uppercut that resembled a snake strike (well at least from my view).

Nietes won't find it easy to win the title for Filipino boxing as the talented Pornsawan Porpramook Kratingdaenggym of Thailand is standing in his way. Kratingdaenggym has an impressive record of of 20 wins without any losses or draws with 15 knock outs.

A quick look of their records shows that Kratingdaenggym has faced better opposition. The Thailander has faced Heri Amol (21-5-3), Benjie Sorolla (21-11-3), and Sonny Boy Jaro (22-4-3). On the other hand, Nietes has only faced two opponents with decent records namely, Heri Amol (21-4-3) and Abrin Matta 18-3-2.

Pornsawan is also condfident of winning as he expressed in his opening statement to the media: "I'm very excited in my first trip to the Philippines. But I'm also very confident of beating Nietes. I've prepared long and hard for this fight,"

Well' the only way to determine who will come out on top is by letting these fine athletes perform in the ring. I hope that with the crowd behind him, Nietes can pull out a victory.

Nike Immortalizes Manny Pacquaio's Crest!

2007-09-25T08:43:00.000-07:00

A Nike endorsement for Manny Pacquiao has added more glamor to The Pinoy boxing icon's superstar status. Pacquiao will be wearing a red-and-white robe with his personalized crest emblazoned at the back on Oct. 6 when he enters the ring to face Marco Antonio Barrera for the second time.

Mike Friolo designed the crest or coat-of-arms at the Nike Asia-Pacific headquarters in Beaverton,Oregon. The crest was then approved by Pacquiao. The conceptualization and execution process of the design took eight months. Nike also developed an identity mark or logo for the Philippine boxing superstar. The identity mark and crest are featured in Pacquiao dri-fit T-shirts.

Manny Pacquiao's crest is similar to Nike’s execution of the Michael Jordan anniversary shoe because it is full of graphic detail. The Filipino boxing star's 44 wins are depicted in the tattoo-style waves at the top of the crest. Pacquiao's national following is symbolized by six bare fists in arms and the left-handed gloved fist at the center that rises above the rest expresses his punching power. The Filipino flag is represented by the rising sun. The rest of the crest's symbols, as well as downloads,pics and more can be found at:

2006 KO of the Year Candidate!

2007-09-21T17:22:00.000-07:00

This is a KO video of a knockout of the year candidate for this year. This KO was delivered by The "Ding-A-Ling Man", Darnell Wilson while the unfortunate victim was Emmanuel Chukwu Nwodo. The bout happened on The 29 of June of this year at the St. George Theater, Staten Island, New York. Coming into this fight, Darnell Wilson had a record of 21-5-3 with !8 KO's while Nwodo had a record of 21-3-0 with 16 knockouts.

2006 KO of the Year!

2007-09-19T08:30:00.000-07:00

This is a video of another KO of the year. This time the KO is from in the heavy weight division and was awarded as the best knock out of 2006. The knockout happened on Feb. 25, 2006 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Calvin "The Boxing Banker" Brock connected with a left hook to Zuri Lawrence's jaw.

Calvin Brock had a record of 27-0-0 with 21 KO's coming into this fight. The notable opponents he had defeated before facing Lawrence include Terry Smith, David Bostice, Jameel McCline and Clifford Etienne. After his devastating victory over Lawrence, Brock defeated Timor Ibragimov. He then challenged Wladimir Klitschko for the heavyweight title but was stopped in the 7th round. He has won two fights since his KO loss to Klitschko and is waiting for another shot at the title.

On the other, Zuri Lawrence had a decent 20-10-4 record when he faced Brock. Although he lacked punching power (none of his wins are by knock out), he had beaten heavy weight contenders Jameel McCline and Darrol Wilson. He has also faced contenders like Sultan Ibragimov, Tony Thompson, Ray Austin, and David Bostice. After his loss to Brock, Lawrence suffered a second run knock out loss to heavyweight contender, Dominick Guinn. He has fought twice and won against low-level competition after his loss to Guinn.

2005 KO of the Year!

2007-09-17T07:52:00.000-07:00

This is the video of the Ring magazines' "Knock Out of the Year" for 2005. This brutal KO is more popularly called the "18 second knockout." It happened at the Buffalo Run Casino, in Miami, Oklahoma, during the bout between super middleweight contenders, Alan "Sweetness" Green and Jaidon "The Don" Codrington.

Coming into the fight, Green had a record of 17 wins no losses and draws with 11 knockouts while Codrington had a perfect record of 9 wins no losses or draws with all of his wins coming by way of knockout. Every one expected this bout to be exciting but no one expected it to end so brutally quick.

Fortunately, there seems to be no permanent damage to Codrington after his experience with the explosive fists of Alan Green. He has since recovered from the brutal knock out and has won 8 straight fights to improve his record to 17-1-0 1 with 13 knock outs.

On the other hand, Green's career experienced a few bumps after he victimized Codrington. For instance, he came in overconfident and careless against his former sparring mate, Donny McCrary. McCrary knocked down Green in the third round but Green managed to survived and went back and knocked McCrary out in the sixth round.

Green scored a big win by knocking out Olympian and fellow top contender Jerson Ravelo in the 8th round. However, he performed badly against Edison Miranda and lost by unanimous decision in ten rounds. Miranda was knocked down in the eight round but he dominated reen and knocked him down twice in the tenth round. Green has started his comeback with a first round knockout of journeyman Darrell Woods.

Manny Pacquiao's First Fight on Foreign Soil

2007-09-14T09:34:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in my previous post, I have been experimenting with posting videos in this Pinoy boxing blog. And so I decided to post another impressive Manny Pacquiao KO win. This video is a bit long because of the introductions but the fight itself was only one round. Pacquaio knocked his opponent with a left uppercut just as the bell sounded to end the first round.

This fight was Philippine boxing superstar Manny Pacquaio's first fight outside the Philippines. This fight was held at Korakuen Hall,in Tokyo, Japan. Pacquiao's record coming into this fight was 23-1 with 13 knockouts. He was the reigning OPBF flyweight champion having defeated Chokchai Chockvivat of Thailand for the title.

After this fight, Pacquiao traveled to Phuttamonthon, Thailand to challenge Chatchai Sasakul for the WBC world flyweight championship. He knocked out the highly skilled Sasakul in eight rounds and won thus winning his first world title.

His opponent was Shin Terao of Japan who held a record of 10-2-1 coming in to his nightmarish meeting with Pacquiao. After his loss to the Filipino boxing star, he went on to lose two more fights before ending his career with a record of 10-5-1 with a KOs. I observed that all of his losses were by knock outs so a boxing career was probably not meant for him.

Impressive Pacquiao KO Video

2007-09-13T08:27:00.000-07:00

I've just began experimenting with posting videos on this Philippine boxing blog. I thought it would be more exciting as boxing is best exemplified by action on the ring. And so I decided to post more videos of Pinoy boxing stars and prospects as well as other exciting boxing bouts that do not involve Filipino boxers. I know that boxing fans love watching KO's so I will also post videos of the best KO's in boxing on my my future post.

I think that it's fitting to begin with a Manny Pacquiao KO...

This is one of Pacquiao's most impressive KO. He knocked out Fahsan 3K Battery with a thunderous left uppercut which lifted the poor Thai's feet off the canvas.

As impressive as this knock out was Pacquiao was actually criticized for his performance. 3K Battery was meant to be a sacrificial lamb as Pacquiao wanted to perform in front of his country men. Perhaps it was because of this situation that he did not train seriously for this fight. Boxing analyst observed that Pacquiao was huffing and puffing by the third round indicating poor conditioning. Fortunately, The Filipino boxing icon was able to connect with power punches in the fourth round culminating with the perfect left uppercut that left 3K battery unconscious.

After his KO loss to Pacquiao, 3K battery has won fourteen straight bouts and has improved his record to 58-8-1 with 35 knockouts. His winning streak has allowed him to get a crack at the current IBF super bantamweight champion Steve "The Canadian Kid" Molitor in October. This will be a tough fight for Fahsan as Molitor is undefeated in 24 fights with 10 knockouts and is about six years younger.

Boxing Legends to Visit the Philippines!

2007-09-11T09:17:00.000-07:00

Games and Amusement Board (GAB) chairman Eric Buhain announced a few days ago that some boxing greats are scheduled to visit the Philippines to attend the World Boxing Council (WBC) Convention slated from November 11 to 17. Among those scheduled to come is former world heavyweight king, Mike Tyson.

Boxing icons Oscar “Golden Boy” de la Hoya, boxing great Muhammad Ali, Marco Antonio Barrera, Julio Cesar Chavez, Larry Holmes and Evander Holyfield are also participating in the country’s hosting of the convention.

Needless to say, the presence of these boxing superstars will make Pinoy boxing fans happy. They may not see some of their boxing heores in action but meeting them alone or seeing them in person will make any Philippine boxing fan's day.

OF course, the convention is not just all about the boxing stars, as the GAB hopes that some of it's proposal will be approved during this event. The proposal on the imposition of a drastic change in a boxer’s contract involving multiple managers is one of the important proposals that the GAB will make.

Pinoy boxing fans will also be treated to 60 rounds of exhibition matches lined up under de la Hoya productions and in coordination with GAB and “WBC Cares.” This matches are meant to drumbeat the event and raise funds for the various projects and community services of the WBC.

Let us hope that this event will be able to help Filipino boxing, benefit our boxers and provide happiness to the legion s of Philippine boxing fans.

More Filipino Boxing Updates

2007-09-07T08:07:00.000-07:00

Manny Pacquiao Training Camp

After reaching the halfway point of his training for his rematch against the great Marco Antonio Barrera, Pinoy boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao is on schedule with his preparations. Despite the minor distractions from his Philippine boxing fans and a bout of flu, Pacquiao's weight is now at 136 pounds. This means that he will be able to make the 130 lb. limit for the rematch with Barrera. Manny Pacquiao's current weight also places him way below the maximum 143 pounds or 64.864 kilos set by the WBC for a fighter to weigh 30 days before a fight under the super featherweight division.

According to WBC Rule 4.6, fighters should undergo compulsory "safety weigh-ins" 30 days and seven days prior to their fights. This rule was instituted in 1997 and was ratified during the 2nd WBC World Boxing Medical Congress last April 30 in Quintana Roo, Mexico. It addresses the safety concerns involved in a boxer losing too much weight during intense training.

Denoy Scheduled to Defend Title in Thailand

Reigning WBO Asia Pacific light flyweight Along Denoy will defend his title in a rematch with Kaichon Sor Vorapin that will be held in Bangkok on October 3. Denoy took the tile away from Kaichon last July 13 with a spectacular fifth round TKO win.

This will be the third meeting between Philippine boxing prospect, Denoy and Kaichon. Denoy lost by a sixth round technical decision in their first encounter on July 8, 2005. Denoy currently has a record of 15-6-1 with 8 knockouts while Kaichon who has a record of 25-10 with 9 knockouts.

Suico VS. Samejima Video

2007-09-04T08:24:00.000-07:00

This video shows Pinoy boxing prospect, Randy Suico retaining his OPBF lightweight title by impressively knocking out tough mandatory challenger Koji Samejima of Japan in the eighth round. The OPBF lightweight championship bout was the main attraction of the “Battle for Supremacy” promoted by Rex “Wakee” Salud in cooperation with MP Promotions of Filipino boxing idol Manny Pacquiao.

Many Philippine boxing analysts say that the pressure is on Suico to perform well after being stopped in his first world title challenge. Well he was able to finish off Samejima impressively and he has power but he has still to improve in terms of speed and movement. The current world lightweight champions are above the level of Samejima so he has to improve if he wants to capture a world crown at the lightweight division. This victory will boost his morale and inspire him to improve so he still has a chance at bringing back a world title to the Philippines.

Early September Filipino Boxing Updates

2007-09-03T08:40:00.000-07:00

Pacquiao Training Camp

Philippine boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao's training has hit another bump when he suffered flu like symptoms. As a result Pacquiao was unable to train for two days in order to recover from the flu and resume his training.

Fortunately for Pinoy boxing fans, Pacquiao seems to have recovered well enough from the flu and was even able to play a game of basketball with some members of the media. Once again, this brought new criticism on Pacquiao for risking injury by playing basketball when he should be recovering from the effects of the flu.

However, the flu did not seems to cause any serious damage as the Philippine boxing icon felt good enough on Monday and was able to do some sparring. He sparred a total of six rounds with Mexican Raymund Beltran and Filipino Arnel Tinampay at the RWS Gym. Pacquiao was also able run the flatland of the IT Park in front of the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug before his sparring session.

Gejon Fails to Dethrone Niida

Pinoy boxing prospect Eriberto Gejon failed in his bid to win a fourth title for the Philippines when he lost by unanimous decision to reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) minimum-weight champion, Yutaka Niida of Japan.

This bout was the second meeting between the two pugilist as tthey met for the first time on September 2005. Niida defeated Gejon by split decision in this first meeting when the fight was stopped in the tenth round due to a cut in Gejon's head.

Niida improved greatly from the first meeting and was able to repeatedly connected with strong left hooks and overhand rights throughout the contest which gave him the win. He improved his record to 22-1-3, including eight knockouts while Gejon dropped to 23-2-1, with 14 KOs.

All is not lost for Gejon, as he is till one of the top Philippine boxing prospects. He is also a tall fighter so moving upon in weight to the flyweight division is a good option. He will still retian his height and reach advantage in that division.

Nietes to Fight for World Title

Donnie Nietes, another Filipino boxing rising star, will try to win the vacant WBO world Minimumweight Title on September 30. He will battle undefeated Pornsawan Kratingdaenggym of Thailand at the Waterfront Hotel in Lahug, Cebu City.

The 25-year-old Nieties hails from Bacolod City and holds a record of (19-1-311 KO's ) He is the No. 1 WBO minimumweight contender and this will be his first title shot. His opponent, Kratingdaenggym has an impressive record of of 20 wins and is the WBO No. 3 contender.

This promotion is loaded with Pinoy boxing talent as it includes AJ “Bazooka” Banal who will take on Mexico's Jovanny “Bambino” Soto for the WBO Youth super flyweight championship. Robert Allanic will clash with In-Suk Song of South Korea in a WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight title fight. Also insluded is Philippine flyweight champion Rocky Fuentes defends his title against former Olympian Danilo Lerio.

Trouble in Pacquiao Training Camp!

2007-08-29T09:02:00.000-07:00

Philippine boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao's training camp experienced a bit of trouble a few days ago. The cause of the trouble was the huge turnout of spectators who came to the gym to watch Pacquiao in training. Pinoy boxing fans numbering over a hundred flocked the Rex 'Wakee' Salud gym, raising questions as to why they were allowed inside the heavily-guarded gym while Pacquiao was training.

Understandably, highly respected boxing trainer Freddie Roach was not pleased with the distractions to Pacquiao's training. Roach was so frustrated with the lack of security in the gym that he has threatened to pull-out and return to Los Angeles. Although Roach appreciate the love and support of the fans, he has no choice but to limit the number of gym spectators.

In response to Roach's complaint, Gym owner Rex 'Wakee' Salud, promised to impose a "No Pass, No Entry" policy. Roach has expressed that Salud should keep his promise to prevent fans from jamming the gym and effectively distracting Pacquiao or he will go back to the US. He is also implementing a no-video camera policy when it comes to Pacquiao's sparring sessions.

Fortunately, Rex 'Wakee' Salud has made good on his promise to keep the fans away from Pacquiao's training. Those who were not part of Team Pacquiao were kept outside the gym when Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao started his 3PM workout with Freddie Roach.

This is exactly why many Pinoy boxing fans were concerned when Pacquiao decided to train in the Philippines. We know that Pacquiao couldn’t focus on his first fight against Erik “El Terrible” Morales and eventually lost when fans crowded the Wild Card Gym.

I am also concerned with reports that Pacquiao is playing basketball while in the midst of his training. He may suffer an unnecessary injury and this kinds of activities will divert his focus from his upcoming bout. Let us hope that Pacquiao will focus all his energies into his training and get into the best shape possible when he meets Marco Antonio Barrera for the second time.

Suico KO's Samejima to Retain OPBF Title

2007-08-28T08:38:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, Pinoy boxing prospect, Randy Suico retained his OPBF lightweight title by knocking out mandatory challenger Koji Samejima of Japan in the eighth round. The OPBF lightweight championship bout was the main attraction of the “Battle for Supremacy” promotion that was held at the sprawling Mall of Asia open car park. This boxing event was promoted by Rex “Wakee” Salud in cooperation with MP Promotions of Filipino boxing idol Manny Pacquiao.

A brutal left hook from Suico decked Samejima in the sixth round. In the eight round, the Japanese challenger was also nailed by another left hook that was followed by a vicious right straight that sent him flat on his back. It was clear to international referee Bruce McTavish that the Japanese was out cold and there was no need for a count.

In the other bouts, Philippine boxing prospect Jimrex Jaca retained his WBO super featherweight title over Japan’s Ryu Miyagi with a controversial technical draw. The fight was halted in the second round when the ring physician ruled that Jaca couldn’t continue because of two nasty cuts. However, the technical draw decision became controversial when the replays suggested that the second cut was caused by a punch.

This ending disappointed the Pinoy boxing fans as it was an action-packed bout. A perfect straight right from Miyagi dropped Jaca in the opening round. The challenger followed up the knock down with a flurry of punches which forced the referee to give Jaca a standing eight count. However, the Filipino boxing prospect gained control of the fight by connecting with a perfect left that decked the Japanese challenger. The referee stopped the action when he detected the cuts on Jaca's face which led to the end of the exciting bout.

I hope that the results of these bouts will help propel these fine Philippine boxing prospects to world title fights. Both of them failed in their first world title bids but if given a second chance, they will surely do their best to bring world titles back to the Philippines.

Philippine Boxing Prospects to Face Tough Japanese Opponents

2007-08-22T08:21:00.000-07:00

After witnessing the World Cup of boxing, Pinoy boxing fans will once again be treated to another boxing promotion that will feature our homegrown boxing talents. This weekend, Randy Suico the reigning Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) lightweight champion will headline a blockbuster 78-round card at the Mall of Asia.

This boxing event will include four fights between Filipino boxers against Japanese pugilists making it seem like the beginning of an Asian Cup. This boxing promotion is a project of MP (Manny Pacquiao) Boxing Promotions and is projected to be a regional version of the World Cup, which Philippine boxing dominated with a 5-1 score over Mexico in Sacramento.

In the main event, Randy Suico will stake his OBPF 135-pound crown against Koji Samejima. Jimrex Jaca will also be defending the WBO Asia-Pacific superfeatherweight championship against challenger Ryu Miyagi. Philippine boxing prospect Wyndel Janiola will faces Hirotaka Hisataka in a ten round bout while Jun Plasidad meets Noriyuki Komatsu in a six round match.

Boxing analyst sees Samejima as a major test for Suico as the lanky Japanese has won his last four bouts. The tall and lanky Samejima has dropped down to lightweight in order to battle Suico and avenge the setbacks of four countrymen who were defeated by the Filipino.

Miyagi will also be a handful for Jaca as the Japanese fighter has won his last four outings. His current record stands at 16-1, with 12 KOs. He seems to be a fast starter as 10 of his knock out victories were inside three rounds. Miyagi's only loss happened two years ago as he took a 20-month layoff before returning to the ring last year.

Hisataka is no pushover opponent for Janiola as he once stopped highly regarded Philippine champion Bert Batawang in two rounds. Hisataka is also hungry for a win as he is coming off two losses on points. Histaka’s record is 15-5-1, with 5 KOs.

Early August Philippine Boxing Updates

2007-08-21T08:25:00.001-07:00

Manny Pacquiao Training Update:

Pinoy boxing superstar, Manny Pacquiao has began the sparring phase of his training for his scheduled rematch against Mexican legend, Marco Antonio Barrera. Pacquiao sparred three rounds with David Rodela at the RWS Gym. The Philippine boxing hero is slowly picking up the tempo in preparation for his upcoming megabout against Barrera and weighed around 137 pounds after his workout.

Celebrated American boxing trainer Freddie Roach gave his brightest pupil a satisfactory grade in his first sparring session yesterday. However, he admitted that the Philippine boxing hero still has a lot of things to work out in order to emerge victorious in his upcoming match.

Roach commented that Manny, "got hit several times, but we're not rushing things for him. He'll get better. We've got a couple of guys coming in. I'm very happy though for the first day. He's very good."

However, Roach said that the game plan this time is to gog for the kill against Marco Antonio Barrera using body shots. He explained that, "Breaking fighters down is the key. I think that's how we gonna win this fight, with body shots"

I hope that everything works well with Manny's training and that he can finally focus on how to win his upcoming fight. There has been many delays with his training and holding his training in the Philippines may not be the best option for him. He still holds the advantage over Barrera but he needs to have a good training camp to ensure victory.

Pacquiao-Barrera II Undercard

It has been announced that two outstanding Pinoy boxing prospects from the Southern Philippine Island of Mindanao will see action in the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Marco Antonio Barrera rematch.

Glenn Gonzales and Jundy Maraon will be included in the preliminary bouts. Glenn Gonzales is a 22 year old featherweight prospect with a record of 6 wins, 1 draw, 4 KO's. He is the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight Asia-Pacific Interim champion. On the other hand,Maron is a 22 year old bantamweight with a record of 11 wins, 1 draw, and 9 KO's. Pacquiao wants to give these promising boxers a chance to get a break in the lucrative American boxing market.

Freddie Roach Arrives In The Philippines

2007-08-16T09:24:00.000-07:00

World Class boxing trainer Freddie Roach has arrived in the Philippines to supervise the training of Pinoy boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao. Pacquiao is currently training at Wakee Salud's gym in Cebu.

Roach was met by Wakee Salud at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport. He was then immediately whisked on a waiting SUV to the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel. Pacquiao and Buboy Fernandez are also housed at the same hotel. On Sunday, the two sparmates for Pacquiao are expected to arrive.

Battle for Supremacy

On August 25, OPBF lightweight champion Randy Suico and WBO Asia Pacific superfeatherweight title-holder Jimrex Jaca will face separate Japanese prospects. The promotion is called 'Battle for Supremacy: Philippines versus Japan' and will be held at the Mall of Asia in Manila.

Randy Suico will have defended his OPBF lightweight title against mandatory challenger, Koji Samejima. Japanese challenger Ryu Miyagi will attempt to wrest the WBO Asia Pacific superfeatherweight from Jaca in the other 12-round bout. I hope these two Philippine boxing prospects can retain their titles.

Wyndel Janiola will take on Japanese Hiroyuki Hisataka in a 10-round brawl, and Noriyuki Komatsu will go up against local boy Jun Piasidad in the undercard. The rest of the bouts include Marvin Tampos against Danilo Pena; Roel Laguna against Mervin Batolina; Jonathan Baat against Eric Rapada.

Pinoy Boxing Team Captures Boxing World Cup!!!

2007-08-14T10:31:00.000-07:00

The Philippine boxing team won five of the six bouts at stake at the 'World Cup' of Boxing held at the Arco Arena. The grand boxing event was held in front of a highly-partisan crowd of 4,469 screaming fans for both countries.

Pinoy boxing has solidified its position as the world's boxing superpower by snatching the title away from long-reigning Mexico. As you probably know, Mexico has been the breeding ground for great boxing talents for several decades.

Gerry Penalosa contributed the biggest win when he wrested the WBO bantam title from Mexican champ Jhonny Gonzalez with a come-from-behind knockout win. He hit Gonzales with a paralyzing body shot in the seventh round.

However, it was Z Gorres who sealed the Filipinos' victory. He stopped former WBC champ Eric Ortiz with an eighth-round technical knockout to earn the fourth win for the Philippine boxing team.

Diosdado Gabi of Davao City was the first winner for Team philippines by earning an eight-round unanimous decision over Mexico's Jose Angel Beranza. Michael Domingo then followed it up with a six-round masterful unanimous win over previously unbeaten Miguel Roman. The Domingo-Roman bout was considered one of the most exciting fight of the night and really excited the crowd for the main event.

Cebu's AJ 'Bazooka' Banal completed the five victories needed to secure the World Cup trophy by stopping Jorge Cardenas in the third round of their scheduled six-rounder. He dis[played great power and skill as he repeatedly hit his Mexican opponent with flushed shots culminating with an explosive counter that dropped Cardenas. Cardenas seems to have twisted his knee preventing him from standing up and continuing the fight.

However, the Pinoy boxing team did not sweet all six matches as Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista experienced a very painful first round KO defeat at the hands of Daniel Ponce de Leon. Bautista has expressed a desire to retire after this defeat so we have to wait and see if he decides to return to the ring. I hope he decides to continue his career as he is still young and this setback can make him a better fighter.

Marquez Wants Pacquaio After Juarez

2007-08-09T10:09:00.000-07:00

After WBC Super Featherweight Champion Juan Manuel Marquez's upcoming defense against Rocky Juarez, he wants to have a re-match against Pinoy boxing superstar, Manny Pacquiao.

Manny and Juan have unfinished business to revolve according to Ignacio Beristain, the manager of Marquez. According to Beristain, it shouldn’t be too difficult to arrange now that the problems between Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank are resolved. Interestingly, it was Beristain who refused the offer for a rematch between Pacquiao and Marquez after the boxers fought to a draw.

Of course, Juan has to defeat Rocky Juarez at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on September 15th, if he wants a rematch against Pacquiao. Rocky Juarez is the replacement for Jorge Barrios, who showed eye troubles after a medical examination and had to withdraw. Juan Manuel marquez will be on the United States until Sunday because he will be leading the Mexican team which will contest the Boxing World Cup against the Philippines.

Manny Pacquiao, on the other hand, has began his training at the famed Wild Card gym. He has finally arrived in Los Angeles last night to begin the 7 week training for his rematch against Marco Antonio Barrera.

Pacquiao started his first day of training with a short jogging stint around his apartment at the La Brea district in Los Angeles. Pacquiao and his trainers, Buboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri proceeded to the Wildcard Gym to begin his official training after the Pacman had a short rest and a light breakfast. His training sessions consisted of stretching, single and double speed bag, shadow boxing and body conditioning.

Manny's Arrival Relieves Freddie Roach

2007-08-08T09:57:00.000-07:00

Upon hearing that Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao will be in Los Angeles today, celebrated trainer Freddie Roach can now ease his worries. He is currently with Team Philippines in Sacramento as the Pinoy boboxing starts prepares for the World Cup showdown with Mexico at the Arco Arena this weekend.

According to Rob Peters, one of Roach’s assistants at the Wild Card Gym, he was going to pick up Pacquiao at the airport. Freddie Roach and all the people at the gym were reportedly "very happy" that Pacquiao was finally in Los Angeles and ready to begin training for the rematch with Marco Antonio Barrera on October 6 after so many postponements.

It is estimated that Pacquiao will be able to get in shape for Barrera in seven weeks. Since Manny works so hard when he is in training camp, seven weeks will be enough. Meanwhile, Barrera is said to have already begun training and was also "considering going up to Big Bear" where he used to train before. This is unexpected since Barrera had to abandon the training camp because of raging forest fires in the area prior to his first clash with Pacquiao.

"World Cup" of Boxing Update

It has been announced that the Bert Batawang-Gerardo Verde IBF eliminator has been canceled. Since Verde did not pass medical test due to detached retinas, he cannot compete in the event. This means that the World Cup will only have six fights.

Gorres Will Fight in the "World Cup" of Boxing

2007-08-07T09:39:00.000-07:00

Z "The Dream" Gorres has been cleared to fight in the World Cup this upcoming Saturday. Since, Gorres' injury has completely healed, Dr. Steinschriber, the eye specialist has given the go signal for him to fight this Saturday.

Gorres' participation in the World Cup was nearly canceled after it was found that his retina a minor tear. Gorres had been advised to return to Dr. Steinschriber's clinic today for a final clearance, after being examined and treated by the eye specialist.

Meanwhile, Team Philippines has arrived in Sacramento. The Pinoy boxing team members are confident of pulling off an upset when they challenge Mexico's dominance in the World Cup of Boxing to be held at the Arco Arena on August 11. Mexico currently holds the title after thrashing Thailand in the inaugural staging of the World Cup.

Manny Pacquiao Update:

Pinoy boxing superstar, Manny Pacquiao has finally left Manila for Los Angeles to begin training for his rematch against Barrera. Pacquiao's trainer, Buboy Fernandez is accompanying him on this trip. They are expected to land in LA Tuesday evening.

Pacquiao's departure for the US has been postponed at least four times. The scheduled press conference of his upcoming fight with Barrera at the plush Beverly Hills hotel jointly organized by Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank has been canceled due to these delays.

Mayol Losses, Conception Wins Impressively

2007-08-06T08:04:00.000-07:00

July was a lucky month for Pinoy boxing but August does not seem to be a very auspicious one for Philippine boxing. Rodel Mayol's painful KO loss to Ulises Solis is an example of the ominous boxing results fort this month.

It was a painful loss, as Mayol seems to be in control of the fight. However, he made one crucial mistake and paid a heavy price for it. IBF light flyweight champion Ulises Solis nailed Mayol him with a cracking right hook that sent him crashing to the canvas as he was going after the IBF champion.

Fortunately, there also some bright moments for Pinoy boxing in this early part of August. Bernabe Concepcion of the Aljoe Jaro stable shined in an impressive 4th round TKO win over Gabriel Elizondo (23-3 10KOs) at the All-State arena in Rosemont, Illinois. He dominated Elizondo and finally put him down in the fourth.

The brave but out matched Elizondo wanted to continue despite being hurt and even asked the referee for an eight count. However, it wss clear that he was being dominated by the much stronger Concepcion and would only get hurt if the referee allowed the fight to continue.

Elizondo now has a 23-3 10KOs record after his loss. One of his notable wins was against Glen Donaire the older brother of current IBF champ, Nonito Donaire. On the other hand, Concepcion improved his record to 22-1-1 with 12 KO's.

Pacquiao's Delayed Arrival does not Worry Freddie Roach

2007-08-02T08:55:00.000-07:00

Pinoy boxing superstar, Manny Pacquiao’s delayed arrival in Los Angeles to begin training for his rematch with legendary Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera on October 6, does not worry top boxing trainer Freddie Roach.

He revealed in an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that Pacquiao was scheduled to arrive in the US on August 4. This date appear to match the announcement that Pacquiao will depart on Sunday aboard a Philippine Airlines flight for LA with trainers Buboy Hernandez and Nonoy Neri.

Pacquiao's departure had previously been postponed no less than four times. He is said to be shooting a movie with sexy star Ara Mina. He was also seen playing pool at a Japanese-owned pool hall in Mabini, One Side.

However, Roach indicated that Pacquiao having late nights playing pool and shooting a movie is not a big concern since he is the most dedicated athlete in the world when he gets into the Wild Card Gym.

It's also important to note that Top Rank promoter Bob Arum and Golden Boy Promotions was forced to re-set a news conference at the Beverly Hills Hotel which Pacquiao and Barrera were scheduled to attend last week due to Pacquiao's failure to leave for the US.

End of July Pinoy Boxing Updates

2007-07-31T08:58:00.000-07:00

World Cup of Boxing

The members of the Philippine team has stepped up their training with the Philippine vs. Mexico World Cup of Boxing just two weeks away. On August 11, the boxing special between top Filipino and Mexican boxers is set to explode at the Arco Arena in Sacramento.

Top boxing trainer, Freddie Roach of the Wildcard Gym said the Philippines teams training habits are great. According to him, all the Filipino fighters train over 110 percent so he has no worries over their upcoming bouts. He also describes them as very good, very disciplined, and very conditioned.

Gorres' Eye Injury

If eye specialist Dr. Steven Steinschriber finds that the tiny tear in Z Goress' retina has healed, then Gorres will go ahead with his IBF super flyweight eliminator against Gerson Guerrero in the Philippines-Mexico boxing World Cup.

It was discovered that Gorress had a tear in one of his retinasduring a routine medical checkup for the Filipino boxers deep in training for the classic showdown. Dr. Steinschriber subsequently performed laser surgery to correct the tear and said that depending on his checkup on August 6the flashy southpaw may still be able to fight.

Manny Pacquiao Update

Pacquiao has filed a P30-million libel case against sportswriter Nick Giongco of the Manila Bulletin. An article written by Giongco in the newspaper’s July 25 issue triggered the filing of the case in General Santos City.

The phrase, “he is reported to be a compulsive gambler and is known to bet hundreds of thousands in casinos, cockfighting and billiards” is just one of the items that caught the ire of the Pinoy boxing superstar.

Gorres may Still Fight on The "World Cup" of Boxing Despite Eye Injury

2007-07-30T09:11:00.000-07:00

After a routine medical check up conducted on the seven Filipino boxers scheduled to battle Mexican opponents at the Arco Arena in the eagerly awaited “World Cup” of boxing, it was discovered that Z Gorres has a small tear in one of his retinas.

This discovery prompted the California Commission to withhold approval of the IBF super flyweight eliminator between Gorres and Gerson Guerrero. The current plans for the event are for to trim the number of fights in the World Cup to six and former IBF flyweight challenger Diosdado Gabi to replace Gorres.

Top Pinoy boxing trainer Edito “Ala” Villamor described Gorres as being depressed after respected boxing patron Tony Aldeguer called up Gorres and broke the sad news to him. Since he was eagerly looking forward to the fight and a chance to help the Philippines win the World Cup, it was understandable that he is feeling depressed.

Fortunately, Z “The Dream” Gorres may still fight in the World Cup in Sacramento on August 11 according to the eye specialist who performed laser surgery to correct a tiny tear in his retina. However, indications are that the flashy southpaw will not fight.

The doctor said that the operation performed on Gorres “supposed to protect the eye and cure it in sixteen days but he would know if Gorres can fight on August 11 after checking him out on August 6.”

Blog Directory

"World Cup" of Boxing Updates

2007-07-26T09:57:00.000-07:00

According to Ed de la Vega, the Pinoy boxers that will be competing on the "World Cup" of boxing are all doing well with their training. Top Filipino boxing trainer Edito Villamor said, They" are all where they should be in terms of their preparation and weight.”

The Pinoy boxers are feeling less homesick because the heat wave in the Los Angeles basin is creating a muggy and humid weather. According to de la Vega, Michael Domingo shy and reserved since he is a first timer at the Wildcard Gym. However, he is keeping his focus on getting his job done at the bags and during sparring. Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista on the other hand, is eagerly looking forward to his title fight. Let us hope that his enthusiasm will translate into a win against Ponce de Leon.

There are a few changes to thebouts of the "world Cup" of Boxing. First Bert Batawang of Cebu will now take on Gerardo Verde in a 12-round IBF junior flyweight eliminator. Batawang was originally scheduled to face Francisco Rosas but that has been changed. Verde sports a record of 15-4, with 11 KO's.

It was al;so announced that Diosdado 'Prince' Gabi will face Mexican Jose Angel 'Pepe' Beranza in an 8-round encounter.The hard-hitting Beranza has a record of 30 wins, 9 losses, 2 draws with 25 KO's. He decisioned Filipino Vernie Torres in his last fight.

More on Amonsot

2007-07-24T10:07:00.000-07:00

Czar Amonsot will be released from the hospital later this day after a series of tests was conducted by specialists at the Valley Medical Center. Two CT Scans were conducted on Amonsot and one of those test showed that there was a little bit of bleeding.

This probably means that the Nevada State Athletic Commission won’t clear Amonsot to fight again. This is due to the stringent enforcement of regulations to protect fighters. Amonsot is currently being “indefinitely suspended” because of the medical findings and will not be licensed to fight again in Nevada.

However, the story does not end there. A few boxing writers have expressed their concern on the actions of Dr. David Watson, the ring side referee during the Katsidis-Amonsot fight. Richard Lois of Boxing confidential wrote about how Doctor David Watson set dangerous precedent in Katsidis’ bloody Saturday night victory and that improper boxing officials should be investigated.

Richard Lois has in fact taken it to another level by taking the liberty of starting an online petition asking the Nevada State Athletic Commission to investigate Watson's actions. If you want to support the petition, then just click here.

The brutal encounter between Amonsot and Katsidis has also triggered James Slater to compile a list of some of the worst cuts and facial wounds in recent boxing history in an article at Eastsideboxing.com. If you want to relive some of boxing's bloodiest moments, then feel free to read Mr. Slaters' Badges Of Honour article.

Update on Ala Boys' Training and Amonsot's Condition

2007-07-23T09:24:00.000-07:00

In preparation for the August 11 'World Cup' of boxing at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, California the ALA Boys are doing all the hard work at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood. As they want to bring honor to Pinoy boxing and world title back home to the Philippines, the Pinoy fighters are giving it their best.

For instance, Rey 'Boom Boom' Bautista and AJ Banal are doing daily rounds on the punchmitt and on the hitting the heavy bag. They are undoubtedly inspired the valiant display of courage by Czar Amonsot in his losing effort against Michael Katsidis. Amonsot showed great heart in getting up after two knockdowns and making Katsidis work hard for twelve rounds to keep his title.

However, he has to be confined in the ICU at a Las Vegas Hospital after a CT Scan detected what appeared to be a “little blood clot in his brain.” The doctors in charge of his care decided to administer three more CT Scans on Czar Amonsot following initial findings that he may have had a little blood clot in his brain.

Fortunately, Tony Martin, Amonsots' cut man said that Czar is in great spirits. He was also informed by the medical staff that Czar will have one more test and he will be released with a clean bill of health should the results all be well.

He also explained that Czar has had so many tests plus the hospital because the Nevada Athletic Commission are very strict. They need to be one hundred percent sure that Amonsot is well before they can release him so that they can comply with the legal side of things.

Goodluck Czar!

2007-07-20T09:18:00.000-07:00

WBO Asia Pacific lightweight champion Czar Amonsot will attempt to continue the Filipinos winning streak this upcoming weekend. He wants to add one more world title to the IBF crowns won by the classy Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire and the rugged Florante “The Little Pacquiao” Condes earlier this month.

However, Amonsot has to overcome the current WBO interim champion Michael Katsidis. Katsidis is regarded as one of the most exciting fighters today and a certified knockout artist who has an undefeated record of 22-0 with 20 KO’s. Furthermore, he has won thirteen fights in a row within the distance.

Despite his opponents fearsome record and reputation, Amonsot is very confident that fight fans can't ask for more from him during this fight. Amonsot has sparred more than sixty rounds and is in top condition. He also realizes that he can't afford to let his chance go by.

At the present, he weighs a very trim 134.6 lbs, a shade below the lightweight limit. this means that he is all set for the official weigh-in set tomorrow at the Mandalay Bay.

Well, there is nothing more we Pinoy boxing fans do but pray and hope for Amonsot's victory. We know that he will give it his best and showcase the courage and determination of Pinoy boxers.

Amonsot and Katsidis Plus Other Boxing Updates

2007-07-18T10:08:00.000-07:00

The reigning champion Michael Katsidis of Australia and Filipino challenger Czar Amonsot of the ALA Boxing Gym are making their final preparations for their upcoming bout. The fighters have both arrived at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

The pugilists will battle it out for the WBA interim lightweight title in a 12-round war underneath the Bernard Hopkins-Winky Wright superbout. According to reports, both of them are in top shape for their upcoming battle. Let us hope that Amonsot can sustain this month's run of big wins of Pinoy boxers.

Pongsaklek Losses Title!

In another shocking upset, Pongsaklek Wongjongkam of Thailand lost his WBC flyweight title with a decision loss to Japanese Daisuke Naito. This is truly shocking as Pongsaklek has defeated Naito twice and knocked him out in record time during a title defense. In fact, many journalist have criticized this match up as a mismatch based on what happened in their previous meetings. This just shows that anything can happen in boxing.

Judges Bruce McTavish and Stephen Blea both scored the bout 116-113 while Hubert Minn saw it 115-113 all for the now champion Naito. Wongjongkam loses the chance for a possible unification duel with IBF flyweight champ Nonito Donaire of the Philippines because of this unexpected loss.

Santillan KO's Marumoto to Regain OPBF Crown

2007-07-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

It seems that July is really a great month for Pinoy boxing as Rev 'Gentle Giant' Santillan has just regained the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) welter title. He did it impressively via a in the sixth round one-punch technical knockout victory over defending champion Taesei Marumoto at the Archaic Hall in Amagasaki, Hyogo, Japan.

Marumoto was conveniently ahead on all the three judges’ scorecards entering the sixth round of the 12-round championship when Santillan unleashed a lethal left to the jaw. The punch sent the Japanese champion down, the ropes protected him from falling out the ring.

Australian referee-judge Brad Vocale administered the mandatory count as the defending OPBF champion struggled to his feet. However, Matsumoto couls not regain his balance fell to the canvas flat on his back for good. Santillan improves to 24 wins, 3 losses, 1 draw, 17 KO's with this very impressive win.

I am very proud of Rev, since I am also from Iloilo. I have also monitored his boxing career when i was still studying in Cebu. I also met him twice in person. The first time was aboard a ship bound for Iloilo when he was apparently accompanying a relative who was going home. I also meet him at inside one of the shops in Iloilo city when i was buying glass beads. However, I did not have the courage to approach him.

Well, he is a very physically imposing person. He stands nearly six feet tall and has bulging, rock hard muscles. They call him the "Gentle Giant" but he does not look very gentle in person. Anyway, I am happy that he has regained his title and I hope that he will continue to dominate the welter weight division in the Orient.

Mid July Pinoy Boxing Updates

2007-07-13T10:13:00.000-07:00

This is a continuation to the last I made yesterday. It was meant to be an update but I decided that the story on Nonito Donaire and Wonjonkam's possible bout was enough.

This seems to be a great month for Pinoy boxers as ALA Boy Along Denoy took the WBO Asia Pacific light-flyweight crown with a shock l knockout victory over Kaichon Sor Vorapin in Thailand just a few hours ago. Denoy stopped Vorapin at the 2:40 mark of the fifth round to snatch the title away from Vorapin.

The ALA boy drew first blood early, knocking down Vorapin in the second round. He then continued his domination when he knocked Vorapin down twice in the fourth stanza. The fight was over when he scored two more knockdowns against Vorapin in the fifth round.

Meanwhile in japan, OPBF welterweight champion Taesei Marumoto and Filipino challenger Rev Santillan tipped the scales easily at 66.6 and 66.65, respectively for their 12-round championship fight. Their bout will be held tomorrow at the Amagasaki in Hyogo. Let us hope that Rev can regain the OPBF title and add to the success of Pinoy in this month. He has a good chance as he has beaten Marumoto three years ago.

Wonjongkam Willing to Fight Donaire for the Right Price

2007-07-12T09:41:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the current updates on the Pinoy boxing world. Most of these are the result of the impressive wins of Florante Condes and Nonito Donaire.

Let us begi8n with the "Filipino Flash." It seems that things are starting to heat up between him and WORLD Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam of Thailand. The Thai World flyweight champion has also expressed his willingness to defend his crown against fellow titleholder Nonito Donaire Jr. in the Philippines.

Piyarat Vachirarattanawongse, the manager of Wonjongkam, told the Bangkok Post that a lucrative offer may lure Wonjongkam to fight outside of Thailand and challenge the General Santos City-born Donaire in a unification bout.

Well, this will be an exciting one as undoubtedly pinoy boxing fans want to witness the demise of Wonjongkam. Wonjonkam took the title by knocking out Malcolm Tunacao in Thailand so seeing him beaten by a Filipino would be very sweet.

Newly-crowned Filipino IBF Minimumweight Champion Agrees to Rematch

2007-07-10T09:44:00.000-07:00

Florante Condes, the newly-crowned IBF minimumweight champion has declared that he will agree to a rematch with former champion, Indonesian Muhammad Rachman, regardless of where the fight is held. Of course, the price has to be right, which is fair since he is now the champion.

The champion’s manager Aljoe Jaro, explained that, “There was no option clause in our contract because Condes was the mandatory challenger but we’ll do a rematch depending on the offer.” He added that, “We don’t care if we fight in Jakarta or anywhere else. Condes will beat Rachman again and again.”

Meanwhile, the champion is now preparing himself for his new found fame. He realizes that he needs preparation to face the media and numerous interviews after he steps out of a Philippine Airlines flight. He also know that this is a good time for him to improve his English speaking skills because he knows would be very useful especially when he meets the international press.

Two New Pinoy World Boxing Champs!

2007-07-09T10:10:00.000-07:00

This is a great time for Pinoy boxing because we have two new world boxing champions. Florante Condes and Nonito Donaire won their title fights impressively to bring world titles home.

Nonito Donaire pulled a big upset over highly respected champion, Vic Darchinyan to bring home the world IBF flyweight championship. A "massive" left hook in the fifth round floored Darchinyan. The champion who bravely staggered back to his feet halfway through referee Eddie Claudio's count but he wobbled into the ropes and his trainer, Billy Hussein, entered the ring to spare him further punishment forcing Claudio to stop the fight.

On the other hand, Florante 'The Little Pacquiao' Condes won the IBF 105-lb crown with a split decision by showing tremendous power and fighting heart. He knocked down the champion Muhammad Rachman twice en route to a winning verdict. Judges Salven Lagumbay and Montol Suriyachand both scored 114-112 for Condes, while Muhammad Rois saw it 117-113 in favor of Rachman.

Latest Pinoy Boxing Updates

2007-07-06T09:38:00.000-07:00

These are the weights from the weigh ins of fights involving Pinoy boxers.

In the upcoming IBF minimumweight world championship bout, Muhammad Rachman of Indonesia and challenger Florante Condes of the Philippines made weight during today's weigh-in and both appear to be in great shape. The champion, Rachman came in at 104.3 lbs while Condes tipped the scales at 103.8 lbs. To impress the spectators, Condes flexed his muscles ala Manny Pacquiao.

During today's weigh-in at the Waterfront Hotel & Casino in Cebu City, Donnie Nietes, the defending WBO Minifly title-holder of the Philippines made the required weight of 105 lbs on the second try after stepping in at 106 lbs on the first try. The challenger, Thailand's Seangpetch sor Sakulphan, came in at 105 lbs on the first try.

Rocky Fuentes of the ALA stable and Benedict Suico of the Wakee Salud stable both made weight at 112 lbs for their battle for the RP Flyweight Championship. The battle between knockout artists Fuentes and Suico is expected to steal the thunder from tomorrow's headliners.

Let's wish our Pinoy boxers good luck in their upcoming bouts. I hope that they can bring glory to our country.

Pinoy Boxers Fighting in Mismatches Overseas Continue

2007-07-05T10:36:00.000-07:00

I want to post this today because I am disgusted with the ongoing practice of sending Pinoy boxers in mismatches against Thai boxers. In this article, veteran boxing writer, Ronnie Nathanielsz, writes about the mismatches in Thailand that are still happening after the ban against importing Pinoy boxers to Thailand was lifted.

It seems that we have not learned from the tragic death of Lito Sisnorio who died after fighting an obvious against former world flyweight champion, Chatchai Sasakul. I thought that the GAB will keep a tighter control in importing our fighters in Thailand but it seems that we are still sending our fighters to deadly mismatches.

I can understand that Thai matchmakers want to impress Thai boxing fans by letting their boxing superstars win against International fighters but they should understand that obvious mismatches are very dangerous. In addition, what good is a fight if one of the fighters has no chance of winning. Imagine pitting a fighter with a record of 6-7-3 with 5 knockouts against an experienced boxing star with a record of of 38-1 with 16 knockouts. They should at least let their fighter fight an opponent who has a chance of beating their fighter.

I hope The GAB can put a stop to this mismatches. The death of Lito Sisnorio is enough to wake us up. We don't need another tragedy to remind us that boxing is a dangerous sport and fighters can die due to the injuries they incur in the ring.

The First Pinoy World Champion

2007-07-04T13:15:00.000-07:00

For today's post, I decided to feature the first Filipino World Champion. Francisco Guilledo was best known as Pancho Villa, the legendary World flyweight champion. He stood only five feet tall and never weighed more than 114 pounds but he is now considered as one of the best boxers to ever coma out of Asia. However, he is also remembered for the strange circumstances that surrounded his death when he was at his prime at the young age of twenty three.

Francisco was was born in Negros Occidental, in a little town called Ilog. He sailed to Iloilo City to work as a bootblack, to support his family after his father abandoned them. He befriended a local boxer while he was working in Iloilo,, and together they migrated to Manila, settling in Tondo.

He soon attracted the attention of local boxing promoters after he was seen occasionally sparring with friends. He fought his first professional fight in 1919 and became the Philippine flyweight champion within two years.

Pancho Villa received an invitation from famed boxing promoter Tex Rickard to fight in the United States in May, 1922. He accepted the invitation, and sailed to America to seek boxing glory.

On June 7, 1922, he won his first overseas fight against Abe Attel Goldstein in Jersey City. After more impressive performance in the ring, he was slated to fight against the American flyweight champion Johnny Buff on September 15, 1922.

He defeated Buff by knocking out the champion in the 11th round to win the American flyweight championship. Despite losing the championship in his next fight on a controversial decision, Pancho villa was chosen to fight Jimmy Wilde, the reigning Wold Flyweight Champion.

At the Polo Grounds in New York, Villa was cheered on to victory over Wilde by over 20,000 fans screaming "Viva Villa!" a crashing right to Wilde's jaw in the 7th round gave the belt to Villa buy way of a knockout. Those who witnessed the fight, described Villa as relentless as he pummeled Wilde with both hands en route to the KO victory.

He defended his world flyweight champion successfully several times and never relinquished it until his death just two years later. Villa returned to a heroes He welcome in Manila in September 1924, feted with a parade and a reception at Malacañan Palace. He also returned to his old haunts in Iloilo and his hometown in Negros.

He returned to the United States to prepare for his next match, against Jimmy McLarnin. This was a a non-title fight scheduled for July 4, 1925, at Ewing Field in Oakland. However, Villa's face became swollen due to an ulcerated tooth a few days leading to the fight.

Villa went to a dentist to have the tooth extracted on the morning of the fight, according to contemporary newspaper accounts, on the morning of the fight. He insisted on going ahead with fight with McLarnin despite suffering from the pain and swelling. Villa managed to stay the distance and lost by decision ven if he spent most of the fight using one hand to protect his afflicted face.

Villa had three more teeth extracted after an infection was discovered a few days after the McLarnin fight. However, he a spent the next few days carousing with friends against his dentist's prescription of bed rest. His condition worsened thereafter to the point that he had to be rushed to the hospital on July 13, 1925.

It was then discovered that the infection had spread to Villa's throat, resulting in Ludwig's angina. He was rushed into surgery, but he lapsed into a coma while on the table, and died the following day, July 14, 1925.

Thus ended the life of the first Pinoy World champion. In October of 1961, Villa was added by Ring Magazine to its own boxing hall of fame. He was also inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1994 becoming the second Filipino boxer so honored after Flash Elorde.

Barrera: I Know What to do to Win

2007-07-03T13:13:00.000-07:00

I(n anticipation of his rematch against Manny Pacquiao, Marco Antonio Barrera vows to show everybody what he is really capable of in the ring. The two super feather weight super stars will have their highly anticipated rematch at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on October 6.

In their first encounter, Pacquiao demolished Barrera in eleven rounds by Pacquiao. Barrera claimed that he was distracted because of forest fires that forced him to move his training camp in Los Angeles. The medical tests he had to undergo following claims he had a metal plate inserted to protect his brain several years before also disrupted his training.

However, Barrera has told Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer that, “I am going to show everybody now. The time I was distracted and had issues and so on but this time I know what to do to win.”

Well, we will find out if Barrera has what it takes to take out Pacquiao, when they meet again on October 6. I expect it to be an interesting fight, as Barrera wants to prove that he can beat Pacquiao while manny wants to prove that his win over Barrera was no fluke.

Pacman vs. Baby Faced Assasin 2!

2007-07-02T12:23:00.000-07:00

Manny Pacquiao is all set for tuning up for another super fight now that all the lawsuits have been settled. The Filipino junior lightweight superstar is set to leave the Philippines for the US this week to start training at the Wild Card Gym. He is scheduled for a rematch against Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada in Oct. 6.

Now that he has no major distractions, Manny can focus on his training for a big money fight. As for his motivation, he could earn between $6 million to $10 million in purse prize alone for the upcoming super fight and plenty more if he can win it in impressive fashion.

All I can say with this matter is, "lets get it on!!!" This fight is winnable for Manny, basing on their first encounter, where he destroyed Barrera in eleven rounds. However, that was a few years ago and things have changed. Maybe Barrera can pull it off or maybe Pacquiao will destroy him in fewer rounds. I guess we can only truly tell when the two fighters meet and slug it out inside the ring.

Finally! Peace Pact Between GBP and Top Rank

2007-06-29T13:40:00.000-07:00

It seems that Golden Boy Promotions and Top Rank have finally reached a settlement of the various legal disputes including that pertaining to Manny Pacquiao. This entails that bouts between Manny Pacquiao and marquee fighters under contract to Golden Boy will be co-promoted by Golden Boy and Top Rank.

Top Rank will promote fights between Manny Pacquiao against fighters other than Golden Boy fighters with Golden Boy retaining a promotional interest. The Manny Pacquiao vs. Marco Antonio Barrera II super fight on October 6, 2007 at Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas will be the first fight which will be presented under this arrangement.

The CEO's agreed that the settlement will be great for boxing as Top Rank fighters will be taking on Golden Boy fighters in the months and years ahead. There is not much else to report as all other details of the settlement remain confidential.

Ruy Salud, the founding secretary general of the WBC welcomed reports of a settlement reached between former bitter rivals Golden Boy Promotions and Bob Arum of Top Rank.
Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao’s former business manager Rod Nazario joined
Salud this great news. Nazario helped steer Pacquiao to two world titles before they parted ways amicably when Pacquiao signed up with Shelly Finkel.

I think boxing fans are also relieved by news of the peace settlement between both camps. Finally, we will be able to see the super fights that we have been hoping for and Pacquiao will finally be free to let his fist go.I just hope that this pact works out and that Manny resist the temptation to foolishly sign any contracts that will jeopardize his career.

Pinoy Boxing Updates: Mayol to Challenge for World Title

2007-06-28T10:06:00.000-07:00

Filipino minimum weight prospect Rodel Mayol 23-1-18 KO’s) has a chance to wrest the title from Edgar Sosa. Their bout is scheduled on August 4 as one of the undercard bouts of the Erik Morales-David Diaz WBC lightweight title fight.

Joy Ouano who handled Mayol’s career in the past along with American Terry Carter said in an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today, that the fight was arranged by Michael Koncz and Top Rank promoter Bob Arum.

Mayol is currently living with Carter and Ouano at their home in Georgia. He has been jogging daily, working out at a nearby gym punching the bag, doing weights. However, he is only getting some light sparring since there were hardly any fighters in the gym. Fortunately, Mayol will fly to Las Vegas on Friday to step up training at the Top Rank Gym.

According to Mayol, he is comfortable at 108 pounds and won’t have any problems making the weight. He suffered his only defeat in a WBC minimum weight title fight against reigning champion Eagle Kyowa. This was due to the lack of proper training which caused him to fade in the second half of their fight on May 6, 2006.

I hope that Mayol will not commit the same mistakes in his upcoming bout. He is a very promising boxer who has great power and potential. He should train very well so that he won't run our of gas. I wish him Good Luck.

Pinoy World Title Challenger Updates

2007-06-27T11:33:00.001-07:00

Amonsot is Working Hard at Wild Card Gym

In preparation for his challenge of undefeated WBO interim lightweight champion Michael Katsidis on July 21, ALA Boy Czar Amonsot is now training at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles. He includes daily uphill runs at the Griffith Park in the morning during non-sparring days, and runs on flat terrain on days when he has to spar.

He has also sparred with American David Rodela who is a constant spar mate of superstar Manny Pacquiao. Amonsot's big fight will happen underneath the Bernard Hopkins-Winky Wright super bout at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

Meanwhile, the other Filipino fighters seeing action on the August 11 'World Cup' of boxing have also started training at Freddie Roach's sweatshop. Led by Boholano boxing sensation Rey 'Boom Boom' Bautista, the group arrived last Sunday in Los Angeles accompanied by assistant trainer Jeremiah Quijano.

Condes Chaleenges Rachman to Stand and Fight

Filipino challenger Florante Condes has issued a statement, saying that Rachman 'should not run when they face off' after hearing to a report indicating that IBF minimumweight champion Muhammad Rachman had sent a sparmate to a hospital in Indonesia.

On this coming July 7th,Condes will challenge Rachman for the latter's title at the Indoor Tennis Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia. According to Fightnews,Rachman had reportedly sent spar mate Boy Suga to a hospital after absorbing a shot to the jaw in their sparring session in Blitar City, Indonesia.

Condes is currently wrapping up training, and will spar for the last time on Friday.
Team Condes flies to Jakarta on July 2. Joining him in the trip are his manager Aljoe Jaro, trainer George Sol and lawyer Joaquin Mendoza.

Ceferino Garcia: Master of the Bolo Punch

2007-06-26T11:38:00.001-07:00

Since there seems to be no interesting piece of boxing news today, I decided to feature one of the greatest Pinoy boxers. I chose Ceferino Garcia because I have heard a few things about him and I would like to know more about him in the process of writing this post.

Ceferino Garcia was born on the twenty sixth of August, 1906 in Tondo, Manila, Philippines. He fought at welterweight (147 lbs. ) and was considered one of the best fighters in his time. He is best known for being the fist user of the bolo punch. According to Boxrec.com records, he fought a total of 142 fights. He won 102 of his bouts, 67 of them by knock out, he lost 28 fights and had 12 draws.

Among many the interesting things about him is that he had a few uncredited Hollywood movie roles in the 1940s. Interestingly, he also worked as a driver and bodyguard for actress Mae West. And surprisingly, he was inducted to the Boxing Hall of Fame twice!

Now that I've given you a few interesting tidbits about this legendary Pinoy boxer, I'm going to give you the chance to learn more about him and his life. You can do that by reading this great article called the Caferino Garcia story that was written by Rolando Borrinaga. Enjoy!

Rubillar KO's Opponent in First OPBF Defense

2007-06-25T10:54:00.000-07:00

In his first defense of the Orient Pacific Boxing Federation light flyweight title, Juanito Rubillar performed exceedingly well with a smashing fifth round knockout victory over challenger Ken Nakajima of Japan. After training for some three months in a determined effort to put on an impressive showing and hopefully earn a world title shot, Rubillar came into the fight in the best shape of his life

Rubillar hurt Nakajima with vicious body shots and dropped him twice before putting him away for good at 2:42 of the fifth round. Rubillar improves his record to 42-10-7 with 19 knockouts with this while Nakajima dropped to 16-5 with 10 knockouts. The Filipino southpaw won the OPBF title with a seventh round TKO over tough young Indonesian Irfan Ogah on October 13, 2006 in Trece Martires City, Cavite.

Finkel Goes After Arum, Top Rank, and Manny

in the latest twist to the Manny Pacquiao saga, Shelly Finkel, Pacquiao’s former manager, is seeking unspecified damages that could amount to a tidy sum in filing a suit against the boxing icon, Bob Arum and Top Rank, Inc. The suit is for allegedly concealing vital information resulting in a breach of contract. Judd Burstein, Finkel’s lawyer submitted the case before the New York County Clerk’s Office last Friday. He also asked the defendants to reply to the complaint within 20 days.

Finkel was said to have met with Pacquiao in a New York City restaurant for about 30 minutes a few weeks ago. He was supposedly reviving talks of renewing his management contract that ended last Aug. 11. Allegedly, Finkel said Pacquiao’s promotional deal with Top Rank was not to his advantage. He explained that there were no specifics on a minimum purse, no time frame and no minimum number of fights on that contract. He then offered to relieve Pacquiao of the relationship with Arum’s group. The suit was filed , when it became apparent Pacquiao would not heed Finkel’s advice.

More Philippine Boxing Updates

2007-06-22T11:45:00.000-07:00

Condes vs. Rachman

Despite the confusion regarding the promotion in Jakarta, the IBF minimum weight title fight between Indonesia’s Muhammad Rachman and mandatory challenger Florante Condes of the Philippines will push through.

Former boxer Aljoe Jaro, the manager of the the Philippine champion announced that he had already received the money due for the airline tickets of the Condes contingent. The money is an reimbursement since he had already advanced the money to buy the tickets.

Amonsot Arrives in LA for Intensive Training

Czar Amonsot, the current WBO Asia Pacific Lightweight champ arrived ion LA yesterday after a long trip from Cebu and an overnight stop in Las Vegas. He will begin training in order to bring home a world title for his family and most especially for his benefactor, Antonio “ALA” Aldeguer of the famed ALA Gym in Cebu.

He surely needs alkl the training he can get since battle for the WBO Interim Lightweight title against Michael Katsidis of Australia who sports a record of 22 wins with 20 KO’s is an uphill climb. However, team Amonsot believes that he has an excellent chance to dethrone the Australian world champ.

Since Amonsot was supposed to defend his regional WBO title on July 7 at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu, he has already been in training for several weeks. However, an opportunity came about when the Katsidis’ fight at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California was cancelled last month due to a hand injury to his opponent. Team Amonsot took advantage of it. and they dumped the July 7 WBO regional title fight and accepted the world title fight with Katsidis on July 21st.

Rubillar Departs for First OPBF Title Defense

2007-06-21T07:49:00.000-07:00

Juanito Rubillar, the current OPBF light flyweight champion leaves for Osaka, Japan today to make the first defense of his title. He will defend it on June 24 against Japanese Ken Nakajima.
To prepare for his title defense, Rubillar had trained for almost three months and is looking forward to an impressive win and a possible crack at the world title.

Rubillar won the OPBF title by a seventh round TKO over tough Indonesian Irfan Ogah last October 13 in Trece Martires City, Cavite. He is coming off a sixth round technical decision over Larry Mede in Baguio City last February 25. He has a record of 41-10-7 with 18 knockouts to his name while Nakajima who lost a ten round decision to countryman Takashi Kunishige on November 7, 2006 has a record of 16-4 with 10 knockouts.

He is currently rated No. 4 by the WBC and often laments the fact that despite being the No.1 contender on two occasions he was denied a crack at Brian Viloria. He battled the Mexican warrior Jorge Arce for the WBC title twice. however, he lost on both occasions by a unanimous twelve round decision.

He is just one pound over the light flyweight limit and should have no problem making the weight after sparring 108 rounds against WBO Asia Pacific flyweight champion Drian Francisco and minimum weight champion Ryan Bito.

Noel Tunacao Returning to the Ring?

2007-06-20T09:18:00.000-07:00

Noel Tunacao, the one-time WBA light flyweight title challenger, one-time WBO minimumweight title challenger and former IBO minimumweight world champ is gearing up for a ring return on July 10. His 8-round comeback bout will be against Jagna terror Carlo Magale in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

Tunacao's bout will on the undercard of the titular defense of RP junior welter king Mark Jason Melligen. Melligen will face challenger Jury Noda in a 12-round war. A few years ago, Tunacao was considered as one of the finest boxers in the country. He is nicknamed 'The Eel' for his exemplary ability to elude opponent's punches. Pinoy boxing fans will see if he still has the goods to even give him a chance to get noticed once again on July 10.

Condes Rarin' to Go

Dynamite-fisted Florante Condes weight just 107 lbs after doing his usual morning roadwork. As he still has almost two weeks before flying to Jakarta, Indonesia he should not find shedding the extra two pounds too difficult.

Condes is expected to reach 150 rounds of sparring this week, and said that he hasn't lost focus despite the fight getting postponed again. Condes is expected to do his final sparring on June 29, which will be a four-round session. He will have done a total of 164 rounds under him for the Rachman fight if plans don't miscarry, .

The promotional obligations for this fight have been taken over by Ndondo Sugiarto in partnership with Tourino Tidar. This is a result of original promoter Albert 'Mr Tom' Papilaya reported disappearance following a string of unfulfilled promises. The new promoters then petitioned the IBF to move the fight from its original schedule of June 16 to a new date on July 7.

Happy Birthday Boom Boom!

2007-06-19T09:52:00.000-07:00

Today, rising Pinoy boxing star and undefeated ALA Boy Rey 'Boom Boom' Bautista turns 21. However, he cannot afford to spend a lot of his time in celebrations as he continues to train for his August 11 challenge of WBO superbantam king Daniel Ponce De Leon.

We Pinoy boxing fans don't have to worry as the birthday boy seems to be foceused on his mission. In fact, he placed 8th among thousands who participated in the annual DYAB 10-Kilometer Run in Cebu last Sunday. He even bested some professional runners on the way to a 37-minute clocking. The decent finish in the 10-K event is a welcome sign that the young boxing phenom is well on his way to being ready for De Leon.

Pacman Update

Yesterday, Games and Amusement Board (GAB) chairman Eric Buhain revealed a plan to make Pacquiao's next fight as main attraction of the 45th World Boxing Council Convention which the country will host from November 11 to 17 this year. The next fight of Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao against either Humberto Soto or undefeated Joan Guzman will be held in Manila if this plan pushes through .

Buhain said, "we have ongoing series of meetings with MP (Manny Pacquiao) Promotions about the possibility of bringing Manny's next fight in the country during the boxing convention and Manny is considering that proposal."

He also added that, "whoever will be the next opponent of Manny would remain a big attraction during the World Boxing Convention and, hopefully, we can bring his next fight here in Manila again.

Buhain and his staff will have another meeting on Tuesday morning. However, this time it might be with Pacquiao himself who returned on Monday from the United States where he received the prestigious Boxer of the Year award from a group of American boxing writers.

The big boxing match will be held at the Araneta Coliseum, if Pacquiao's handlers, including Arum, agreed to GAB's proposal.Pacquiao defeated Mexican Oscar Larios on July 2, 2006 at the same venue.

Philippine Boxing Updates

2007-06-18T09:49:00.000-07:00

Respected boxing trainer Edito Villamor and WBO Asia-Pacific lightweight king Czar Amonsot are scheduled to depart for the US on Tuesday. They hope to continue Amonsot's training at Freddie Roach's Wild Card Gym. They will take the Cebu-Manila-Las Vegas route, and will take the almost six-hour drive to the City of Angels.

On July 21, the ALA Boy Amonsot is to challenge WBO interim lightweight king Michael Katsidis. Their clash will happen before the Bernard Hopkins-Winky Wright superbout. The unbeaten Australian, Katsidis, was supposed to fight Joan Guzman last May 26. However, Guzman claimed injury causing the fight to be cancalled.

Many boxing fans thought he simply chickened out of the big fight. This speculation may well be true as Katsidis brings an extraordinary reputation as a boxer who fights with breath-taking pace and power into the fight.

Asian Boxing Cup?

Sammy Gello-ani, Cebu’s prime boxing promoter is now on the finishing touches of the “more realistic” Asian Cup Boxing. This comes after his failure to bag the multi-million dollar Boxing World Cup. The Asian Boxing Cup will feature upcoming fighters from active boxing countries in Asia.

The Asian Cup is only for boxers under 23 unlike the pricier World Cup, where the best fighters from the Philippines and Mexico would have slugged out for glory. However, the Philippines youthful and rising stars AJ Banal and Rey Bautista will not be a part of this project since they are participants in the "World Cup" of boxing.

" World Cup" of Boxing Updates

2007-06-15T09:33:00.000-07:00

In an interesting twist, the battle between Z “The Dream” Gorres’ battle and Mexican Gerson Guerrero has been elevated to an IBF title eliminator. This bout will be among the six fights on the much-awaited “World Cup: showdown between the Philippines and Mexico. This means that should Gorres win this fight, he will have a good change of having a title shot against the IBF title holder.

Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today was informed by respected boxing patron Tony Aldeguer that Golden Boy Promotions had verified that the fight will be a title eliminator with the winner getting a crack at the IBF crown.

RP bantam champion Michael Domingo has also just been given his American visa at the US Embassy in Manila. The Filipino champion immediately warned Mexican Miguel Roman of a tough night ahead when they tangle in an 8-round showdown in one of the under cards of the "World Cup" of boxing .

The “World Cup” will take place at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, California on August 11. It will be headlined by what promises to be a classic between undefeated Filipino ring sensation Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista and reigning WBO super bantamweight king Daniel Ponce De Leon. Former world champion Gerry Penalosa will challenge WBO bantam champion Jhonny Gonzales in the other world title bout, .

Bert Batawang will then take on Francisco Rosas also in a 12-round IBF eliminator under the junior flyweight category. The sixth match features unbeaten youngster AJ 'Bazooka' Banal against ex-WBC light flyweight champion Eric Ortiz.

Wakee to Pacquiao: Look Long Term

2007-06-14T08:27:00.000-07:00

After arriving from Los Angles where he was at ringside for the Miguel Cotto-Zab Judah fight in New York, popular boxing manager and promoter Rex 'Wakee' Salud, advised Pinoy boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao, to look at his career from a long-term perspective in terms of legacy and financial stability. he also advised him that he should carefully weigh the options available to him, as these only come once in a lifetime and to a very select people like him.

Since two of the world's top promotional outfits--Oscar De la Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions and Bob Arum's Top Rank--are feuding over who is the rightful promoter for the Filipino icon, Pacquiao has to think over whatever decisions he will make.

In other news, hard punching Florante Condes of the Aljoe Jaro Stable is expected to reach 150 rounds of sparring as he prepares to challenge IBF minimumweight champ Muhammad Rachman. The date for this oft-postponed card is now slated on July 7.

Juan Martin 'Bai' Elorde, Flash Elorde's grandson will return to the ring on July 14 against a soon-to-be-named foe at the family's Elorde Sports Center or at one of the malls in Manila. Like his famous grandpa, Bai is a southpaw and is campaigning at super-featherweight. He is hoping to continue his winning ways following his decision victories over Joseph Mateo and Leo Albao since turning professional.

Gorres vs. Guerreo Added to World Cup of Boxing

2007-06-13T08:30:00.000-07:00

After his failed bid for the WBO super flyweight world title in the classy presentation of “The Moment of Truth” at the Cebu City Sports Complex last February, Z “The Dream” Gorres wants to gets back into contention for a shot at the IBF title. However, he has first to get over Gerson Guerrero of Mexico on August 11 in Sacramento, California.

According to respected boxing patron Tony Aldeguer, Golden Boy Promotions had informed him that the fight contract had been signed and the bout will be part of the “World Cup” of boxing between the Philippines and Mexico.

Gorres' oponent, “El Nene” Guerrero has a record of 33-7 with 25 knockouts. He is coming off back-to-back KO victories over Julio Grimaldo and Lupillo Sanchez. He is known to be a tough fighter who could give Gorres problems. However, Gorres should prevail and set himself up for an IBF title shot if he demonstrates the superb skills he showed against WBO champion Fernando Montiel .

Included in the "World Cup" of boxing card is the eadly young southpaw AJ “Bazooka” Banal. He will fight former WBC light flyweight champion Eric Ortiz on the undercard. The WBO super bantamweight battle between undefeated emerging ring sensation Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista and reigning champion Daniel Ponce De Leon will be the main bout of the World Cup.

Former WBC super flyweight champion Gerry Penalosa clashes with WBC bantamweight champion Jhonny Gonzales in the other title fight on the six-fight extravaganza for the $500,000 trophy studded with diamonds. World-rated Bert Batawang will also slug it out against Francisco Rosas in an IBF light flyweight eliminator while Philippine bantamweight champion Michael Domingo will face Miguel Roman in a super bantamweight bout in the " World Cup" of boxing.

More Pinoy Boxers to Fight in High Profile International Fights

2007-06-12T10:26:00.000-07:00

Pinoy boxer, Czar Amonsot has been named as the challenger of WBO lightweight king Michael Katsidis in a 12-round showdown on July 21 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada. This is a major development for Philippine boxing as it is uncommon for Pinoy boxers to get a title shot.

Originally, Katsidis was slated to face Joan Guzman last May 26, but the fight was canceled because Guzman suffered an injury while he was in training. On the other hand, Amonsot was slated to defend his WBO Asia-Pacific lightweight crown against Hero Katili in Cebu on July 7. However, in view of this more promising bout, he has too pull out from the fight.

However, this will be an uphill climb for Amonsot as Katsidis, an Australian named 'Rocky,' holds a perfect record of 22 wins with 20 KO's. He gained world prominence following his bout with Graham Earl last February. It was a give-and-take bout now considered by many as a possible Fight of the Year candidate.

AJ 'Bazooka' Banal, an unbeaten young Filipino boxing sensation will get the toughest test in his career when he faces former WBC light-flyweight king Eric Ortiz. The upcoming clash is one of the bouts for the August 11 'World Cup' of boxing at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, California.

This bout is a great stepping stone for Banal and he needs to capitalize on this opportunity. A big win over Ortiz will certainly boost his stock and will give him more opportunities and possibly a world title shot in the future.

No Rematch Against Barrera or Marquez for Pacman

2007-06-08T10:39:00.000-07:00

Richard Schaefer, the CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, said that despite the pronouncements of Top Rank promoter Bob Arum that he was working on a rematch between Manny Pacquiao and legendary Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera on September 15, either of the fights can't happen.

He explained that on September 15 the current WBC super feather weight champion Juan Manuel Marquez (47-3-1, 35 KO’s) will fight the exciting Jorge “La Hiena” Barrios of Argentina (47-3-1, 34 KP’s) at the plush MGM Grand. He also informed Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that Barrera wants to do “an easy fight next” coming off his tough and classic battle against Marquez.

Schaefer also made it clear, despite claims to the contrary by Arum who is remembered for his classic statement - yesterday I was lying, today I am telling the truth – that Barrera has “several fights left with us (Golden Boy)” although Arum has spread the word that Barrera is tied down for only one more fight and wanted a rematch with Pacquiao to avenge his November 2003 demolition in San Antonio, Texas.

Well, that means Pacquiao may face Edwin Valero, Joan Guzman or Humberto Soto on September 15. As he has had a tune up fight against Jorge Solis, it's a big possibility that Pacquiao will not fight another tune up opponent. However, I'm not giving up on a rematch yet. After all, a Manny Pacquiao rematch with either Marquez or Barrera is what we boxing fans want.

Bobby Pacquiao to Go For the KO Against Soto!

2007-06-07T09:26:00.000-07:00

The game plan for Bobby pacquiao's upcoming fight against the very tough Humberto Soto would be to go for the knock out. The younger brother of Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao takes on the No. 2 WBC super featherweight contender at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Sunday, Manila Time. Freddie Roach says Bobby Pacquiao has the power to knock out Humberto Soto so they will definitely go for it.

The celebrated trainer said they will look “to close the distance and get this guy out of there” in an interview with Brad Cooney of Boxing Talk. Even Manny Pacquiao himself expressed confidence that his younger brother would win. Booby had been training hard for the past two months at Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles so he has the capability of finishing the fight early.

Additionally, Pacquao is “more hungry than ever” besides training very hard. Roach also pointed out that Bobby is a good puncher and can defintely KO Soto if he catches him with a solid punch. Boobby has “great power” even if he doesn’t have the speed and combinations like his brother Manny. Of course, Roach realizes that it would be “tough” for Bobby to win on points against the very tough Soto so he will do his best to go for the knock out.

I personally think that Bobby will not be able to defeat Soto as he was very disappointing in his past fights. However, should he succeed in winning against Soto in a convincing manner, he will earn my respect and the respect of other boxing fans.

Manny Pacquiao Update

The are runors that a fat purse awaits Pacquiao if he will agree to fight Marco Antonio Barrera in a rematch. Reportedly its a fat eight-digit amount, which could refill his depleted bank account. Manny could earn more than 400 million pesos since the lowest eight figure amount is $10 million.

However, this deal would only be possible if the rematch will be promoted by Golden Boy Promotions. Since Bob Arum's Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions are fighting over who owns the right to Pacquiao's fights, the rematch is not really a big possibility. But then again, given Pacquiao's fickleness he might just make another crazy decision to defect to Golden Boy Promiotions.

The Philippines Greatest Boxers

2007-06-06T08:57:00.000-07:00

I found another great boxing article. It gives a top ten list of the the Philippines' greatest boxers and was written by John Gregg.

The article also included a brief summary of the fighters' greatest achievements and other details such as the weight class they competed on and the length of their title reigns. Among the top ten are active fighter such as Manny Pacquiao and Gerry Penalosa. The list also included fighter who have long since hang up their gloves like, Gabriel "Flash" Elorde, Francisco "Pancho Villa" Guilledo, Ceferino Garcia and Ben Villaflor.

Randy Suico Update

Randy “Kumo’ng Bato” Suico is scheduled to defend his Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) lightweight belt in Cebu on July 21. He is expected to have his hands full against Japanese challenger Koji Samejima. The venue of the fight has yet to be announced.

Suico holds a 26-3 (22KOs) while Samejima, who is on a four-fight winning streak, including three straight by knockouts, parades a 15-1-1, 6KOs record.

This will be Suico’s second reign defense after taking the title over Pongpetch Chuwatana of Thailand in October 2006. Last April 23, he had difficulty catching up with the quick-footed Tomonori Nakagawa. Fortunately, he held on to a unanimous win over the Japanese challenger in his first defense with the help of his great heart.

A Great Article and Pacman Update

2007-06-05T08:45:00.000-07:00

I just read an excellent boxing article written by Manny Pinol on why Philippine Sports suck. The article compares the sports program of Cuba and the Philippines and how can the sports program in the Philippines can be improved.

Cuba like the Philippines does not have a big budget for sports development yet it is the top producer of Olympic quality amateur boxers. Ingenuity and dedication on the part of Cuba's sports officials as well as an excellent sports program is the key to their amateur boxing success. Joel Casamayor is probably one of the best known professional fighters who was trained as an amateur in Cuba.

Anyway, the point is that we we can also duplicate Cuba's success if can apply the same principle in our Sports program. We need more dedicated sports officials whose main concern is the development of our athletes. We need to cleanse our Sports program of corrupt officials who are siphoning funds that are meant for Sports development.

On to Manny Pacquiao...

Next week, Manny Pacquiao is expected to face a crack legal team of Golden Boy Promotions when his deposition in Los Angeles. The deposition is in connection with the case filed by Golden Boy against Top Rank promoter Bob Arum for “tortuous interference” in their seven fight contract which Pacquiao signed in mid-September last year.

This was because Arum signed Pacquiao to a four-fight contract some two months later and the popular and exciting fighter turned his back on the Golden Boy contract. Pacquiao then fought under Arum after receiving $1 million as bonus which was twice as much as he received from by Golden Boy.

Pacquiao is expected to have trouble answering questions about the signing of a contract with Golden Boy and then signing another contract with Arum. This is because he received $1 million as compared to the $500,000 he took from Golden Boy.

Schaefer: We Can Help Make Manny a Legend

2007-06-04T15:00:00.000-07:00

Richard Schaefer, the CEO of Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer feels confident that Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao can “the legend he wants to be” and could also make “the big fights in the big venues” with their help. Hmmmm.... What would Bob Arum feel upon hearing this statement?

In a Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today interview, Schaefer said that this could only be done if Pacquiao whom he claims is “totally misguided” will eventually recognize this fact and do the right thing which is ”to honor the contract he signed with us.”

The CEO also claims that he was sure that everyone would agree with him that Pacquiao’s career has been “mishandled ever since he left Shelly Finkel” his last manager. He also noted that Finkel “got him out of the mess he was in, got him the biggest fights and purses and he was at an all-time high.”

He also noted that Pacquiao was on the cover of Ring Magazine. The magazine is generally considered by many as the “Bible of boxing, won awards from the Boxing Writers and is on some lists as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. He also added that, “a few more (Jorge) Solis or (Humberto) Soto like opponents and his (Pacquuiao’s) fame will start to fade.”

The CEO challenged Manny to “wake up and take control and be outside the ring, the man he is in the ring. A man who takes charge, who is the boss and does not let anyone push him around. Do what Oscar De La Hoya did several years ago. Stand up and say enough is enough!.”

And so the tug of war between Top Rank and Golden Boy promotions for the rights to Manny Pacquiao continues. Will his ever end? Not in the near future I think as a fighter of Pacquiao's talent and charisma is too valuable to give up. And how will this affect Pacquiao's chances of fighting the fighters that are under contract with Golden Boy? Only time will tell....

Jose Sulaiman: Pacquiao is Ill- Advised and Misguided on Declining Marquez Fight

2007-06-01T10:31:00.000-07:00

Filipino boxing superstar, Manny Pacquiao, is “ill-advised and misguided” in turning down the opportunity for a mandatory title shot at WBC super featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez, according to WBC president Jose Sulaiman.

The respected WBC chairman revealed that the WBC Board of Governors was contemplating supporting a 50-50 split of the purses of Marquez and Pacquiao if there were no successful free negotiations and it went to a purse bid set for June 18 at the WBC headquarters in an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today.

According to him, the usual 75-25 split in favor of the champion would not be followed since “nobody can deny that Pacquiao is the top super featherweight fighter of today and we all believe that they both deserve equal purses.”

Sulaiman is clearly disappointed over Pacquiao’s rejection of the mandatory challenge offer.
He said winning the WBC gold and green belt was “the dream of most fighters in the world” and it would have helped establish “who is better between Marquez and Pacquiao” following their controversial draw in 2004.

A few days ago, Pacquiao asked the WBC to name someone else as mandatory challenger in a three-paragraph letter prepared by Michael Koncz who is reportedly an adviser but is believed to be Top Rank promoter Bob Arum’s eyes and ears in Team Pacquiao.

While neither fighter can think that “he is superior to the other” Marquez holds the world championship and Pacquiao does not, the WBC chairman explained. He also added that, “while his ill-advisers might tell Manny the belt is not important the records of boxing in the future will show who is more and who is less as a boxer by the world championship records that are stated forever in history.”

Pinoy Boxing Updates

2007-05-31T09:35:00.000-07:00

On June 8, Ranee Ganoy is scheduled to defend his IBF Pan Pacific lightweight title against Indonesia’s Joey de Ricardo in Brisbane, Australia. The hard hitting 27 year old Ganoy is based in Sydney is managed by Dido Bohol who migrated to Australia several years ago. Ganoy is being trained by Dido's sons, Jeffrey and Hermie Bohol. He now has a record of 22-10-2 with 19 knockouts.

Ganoy knocked out former WBC super featherweight title challenger Robbie Peden in eight rounds to win the IBF regional title. The bout happened at Peden’s hometown of Brisbane last March 9. Peden lost a twelve round decision in a title fight against Marco Antonio Barrera on September 17, 2005 and was favored to beat Ganoy.

However, the rugged Filipino had Peden in trouble with some big shots several times in the fight. When Ganoy nailed the Australian with a series of vicious blows in the eighth round, Peden’s corner threw in the towel.

His opponent, Joey de Ricardo, has a record of 11 wins and 2 draws with only one defeat and 7 knockouts. He is coming off a 5th round TKO over Richard Sandikal last October 12. On March 22, 2005, he fought Filipino, Philippines Czar Amonsot to a controversial draw in a ten round bout in Jakarta.

The GAB selected WBO Asia-Pacific minimumweight champion Donnie Nietes of the ALA Boxing Gym as the Boxer of the Month. This was announced in the GAB's latest rankings released yesterday by the government agency.

Nietes' impressive titular defense over Thailand's Thongthailek Por Vorasing last April 21 in Victorias City, earned him he award. It also allowed him the to gain the top-ranking in the WBO latest ratings.

Nietes, who hails from Murcia, Bacolod City, holds a fearsome record of 20 wins, 1 loss, 3 draws with 12 KO's. He is awaiting for his crack at the WBO title vacated by Puerto Rican Ivan Calderon.

Finally, here is an interesting list of the worst boxing judges that are still active today.

Thailand Fight Ban Lifted

2007-05-30T09:57:00.000-07:00

Philippine Games and Amusements Board (GAB) Chairman Eric R. Buhain practically lifted the ban in the sending of fighters to Thailand during the meeting of boxing managers and promoters. The event was held at the spacious ballroom of the Elorde Sports Complex in Sucat, Parañaque City.

The ban was recently imposed as an aftermath of Lito Sisnorio’s tragic death. The unfortunate boxer's mismatches in Thailand, South Korea and back to Thailand immediately prior to his death were not sanctioned by the GAB.

During the event, Mr. Buhain also declared that requests for fights of Filipino boxers in Thailand will be evaluated and approved on a case by case basis. After hearing justifications foremost of which is that the ban unduly deprives legitimate fighters from availing fight opportunities opened to them in Thailand, Mr. Buhain decided to lift the ban. Fighters of other countries like Indonesia are now taking advantage of these opportunities.

I think that the decision to lift the ban was good for Philippine boxing because it gives more opportunities for our local fighters. However, the GAB should make sure that another tragedy will not occur. We should learn from Lito Sisnorio’s tragic death and protect our fighters from abuse.

Is Pacquiao Getting the Wrong Advice On Marquez?

2007-05-29T10:46:00.000-07:00

Manny Pacquiao is ill-advised on his recent media pronouncements telling the World Boxing Council (WBC) that he is letting go of his mandatory status to WBC super-featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez in the opinion of boxing promoter Rex 'Wakee' Salud. The popular boxing promoter also said that Pacquiao must be getting pointers from people who do not know their boxing, and the art of the deal.

Salud said that, "telling the WBC that he is not interested in being the mandatory challenger smacks of ill-advice. I don't know who is behind this, I'm not even sure if Manny understands this situation."

He added that, "they should not have issued that letter to the WBC. That's a wrong move. They should have let the WBC pressure Marquez to defend his title instead. I know that Sulaiman understands Pacquiao's situation that he cannot accept a smaller purse in case of a purse-bidding as he is the more popular fighter." Under this scenario, a Pacquiao- Humberto Soto clash would have been more feasible because there would have been a strong chance of Marquez getting stripped of the title .

In other news, Filipino lightweight Ariel “King Kong” Omongos moved up in weight to battle WBF Asia Pacific light welterweight champion Jed Syger in a six round non-title bout in Sydney, Australia late Monday. He surprised the champion and the audience with a second round TKO win.

This is a big, morale-boosting victory for the 20 year old Omongos who had a record of only two wins against seven losses and one KO. On the other hand, it was only the second loss for Syger whose record dropped to 9-2 with 2 KO’s.