Source: ABS-CBN News
-- Former world super flyweight champion Cristian Mijares is confident that he has the strength to knock out World Boxing Organization (WBO) super bantamweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire.
Mijares (45 wins, 6 losses, 2 draws) is reported to be the next opponent of “The Filipino Flash” for a fight that will be held on July 14 in Texas.
Although the bout is not yet finalized, Mijares told Boxing Scene that he is already looking forward to challenging Donaire, who is rated no. 4 in most pound-for-pound lists.
“I’ll be ready for 12 rounds, but I feel with my strength I can knock him out,” Mijares said. “The fight will be very hard, because the Filipino is left-handed, has a good hook and he’s a counter puncher.”
After a string of three consecutive losses in 2008 and 2009, Mijares has revived his career and is riding a 9-fight winning streak. In his latest bout, he knocked out Eddy Julio in just four rounds last weekend in Mexico.
“I felt powerful,” Mijares said. “I will rest for 10 days, and I will prepare for two and a half months in the city of Mexico for Donaire.”
Mijares acknowledged that Donaire was a “dangerous boxer,” but added that “no one is invincible.”
“I have my experience, intelligence and my boxing ability and I will deliver,” he said.
Donaire last fought in February, when he won the WBO super bantamweight strap after defeating Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. via split decision.
Source: ABS-CBN News
MANILA, Philippines - Just as Bob Arum had predicted, Top Rank will keep its hold of Filipino superstar Nonito Donaire Jr. At least for the meantime.
“This is a massive victory. A huge victory,” Arum, the chief of Top Rank, told boxingscene.com after arbitrator Daniel Weinstein yesterday ruled that Top Rank, and not Golden Boy, has the rights over Donaire.
The former judge also ruled in favor of Top Rank in a similar tug-of-war with Golden Boy over Manny Pacquiao in 2007. In this case, he said Top Rank is on the side of the law.
An email from Top Rank publicist Fred Sternburg said Weinstein has enjoined Golden Boy from promoting Donaire for the duration of Top Rank’s promotional deal with the boxer.
A couple of weeks ago, news broke out that Donaire, just on his way to superstardom, had signed a four-year promotional deal with Golden Boy, headed by Oscar dela Hoya.
Under the deal, Donaire is bound to receive much more than what he got from Top Rank, starting off with the scheduled May 28 defense of his world bantamweight crown.
But Arum contended that Donaire’s contract with Golden Boy won’t stand because the Filipino fighter still has a live contract with Top Rank up to middle of 2012 or early 2013.
Donaire said his contract with Top Rank had been breached because of the latter’s failure to give him three fights a year since 2008.
But Arum was firm that there was no breach, and that Donaire didn’t get the number of fights he wanted because of several suspensions due to injury.
Technically, Arum said Top Rank and Donaire are just entering the third year of their contract.
Based on Weinstein’s ruling, Top Rank “can promote Donaire’s next bout and continued career,” something that was being worked on until Donaire inked a pact with Golden Boy.
But Golden Boy said the battle over Donaire isn’t over yet, saying that their next move is to establish the fact that Donaire’s contract with Top Rank had been breached.
Because if it was, then Donaire can lay claim that he was already a free agent by the time he signed the deal with Golden Boy.
“They got a preliminary ruling, not that Top Rank’s contract is valid, but that pursuant to a term sheet between Top Rank and Golden Boy, that Golden Boy did not have the right to sign Donaire without a ruling that Donaire was, in fact, free,” said GBP lawyer Judd Burstein.
“That’s the only ruling. So now we’re going to be fighting over whether or not Donaire is free. It’s an open skirmish,” Burstein told boxingscene.com, adding that all that the arbitrator ruled is that because of the peculiar agreement between Top Rank and Golden Boy, neither can sign one’s fighter until it is determined that the contract is no longer binding.
“Our next move is to get a finding that the contract (between Donaire and Top Rank) is no longer binding,” Burstein added.
Still, the Top Rank side said it feels like winning round one of the heavyweight match.
“We are pleased with Judge Weinstein’s carefully considered decision. Top Rank hopes it can put the lawyers and legal fight behind it and return to doing what it does best -- promoting the most talented boxers and the most entertaining boxing matches in the world today,” said Top Rank lawyer Daniel Petrocelli of O’Melveny & Myers LLP in Los Angeles.
Donaire and his wife, Rachel, left Manila for the United States last Saturday to confer with his own lawyers but did not leave any word behind regarding his sticky situation.
Part 1
Part 2
Source: Jake Donovan, Boxing Scene
-- The message was sent loud and clear – Fernando Montiel, time to brace for Nonito Donaire.
There is still a bit of unfinished business before their February 19 superfight becomes a reality, as Montiel has a December 11 tune-up scheduled against fringe contender Eduardo Garcia.
But the unified bantamweight titlist can go into his fight knowing that future opponent certainly lived up to his end of the bargain.
In what was supposed to be the stiffest test of his young career, Donaire made it look easy in systematically picking apart former bantamweight champion Wladimir Sidirenko. The Filipino standout scored three knockdowns and beat his foe to a bloody pulp before stopping him in the fourth round of their televised co-feature Saturday evening at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA.
It was clear from the outset that Donaire had every intention of making good on his pre-fight promise to become the first to stop Sidirenko. The size difference was overwhelming enough; so too was the disparity in power – Donaire threw nearly every punch with mean intentions while Sidirenko punches like he’s apologizing.
Donaire took advantage, to the point of bulling the former titlist. A combination midway through the round rocked Sidirenko and drove him into the ropes. It was a lot better than what he would experience by rounds end. Donaire scored with a left uppercut, overhand right combination to floor the Ukrainian.
The knockdown came late enough in the round to where the bell spared Sidirenko from further punishment. Donaire tried to capitalize in round two, bouncing confidently and shooting his jab while trying to create an opening for something big.
It wouldn’t come at that particular moment, but it didn’t discourage Donaire from applying the very same formula in the third. His persistence paid off, as Sidirenko was floored for the second time in the fight, this time courtesy of a counter left hook.
Things wouldn’t get any better for Sidirenko, though the good news was that he would soon be put out of his misery.
Donaire closed the show in the fourth, butchering and bloodying his older, shorter foe before finishing him off with a classic one-two. Sidirenko staggered before dropping to a knee for a delayed reaction knockdown, Referee Marcos Rosales began his mandatory eight count, but recognized a finished fighter in front of him and waved off the contest.
The official time was 1:48 of the fifth round.
With the win, Donaire improves to 25-1 (17KO) and reasserts himself as one of the very best in the sport. The talent was always evident, but the competition was lacking.
Not the case here, as Sidirenko came with stellar credentials – a three year tour as bantamweight champ, though he’s falling on hard times. This was the third loss in his last four fights as the 34-year old falls to 22-3-2 (7KO).
Meanwhile, Donaire keeps rolling. The lone loss of his career came in his second pro fight, as he extends his current win streak to nine-plus years and 24 fights.
This win was by far his biggest since his breakout performance three years ago when he stopped Vic Darchinyan in five rounds for the flyweight crown.
Donaire now has a chance to trump both of those wins with the Montiel fight up ahead. Some fighters tend to fall apart when booking big fights too far in advance. Donaire never once took his eye on the prize, instead more determined to make a statement against Sidirenko.
“I’m really motivated for the Montiel fight,” states Donaire, who will finally make his long awaited HBO debut once that fight officially airs. “I wanted to win. I was motivated enough to know that I can dominate anyone.”
Though he pretty much won every second of the fight, it still took a little longer than Donaire expected. Though he didn’t predict an early exit going into the fight, the pace of the bout once the opening bell rang led him to believe it would be a quick night’s work.
It wasn’t exactly a grueling task, but Donaire insisted that it was a lot tougher than was perhaps suggested to be the case.
“He’s a tough guy. I looked in his eyes in the first round – I always know when I hurt someone, and I knew that I hurt him, but he kept coming.”
Sidirenko eventually wilted, officially stepping out of the way and clearing a path for Donaire to truly prove his worth as one of the very best in the sport. He’s already regarded as high among the best little big men in the sport, though the only remaining dispute over were he ranks in the pecking order comes down to who he’s beaten.
Sadly, there was a considerable drop off in competition in the period in between the Darchinyan bout and Saturday evening’s contest.
His most notable win in that span was a fourth round knockout of Raul Martinez earlier last year – further proof that with the right fight and motivation, you get the best out of Donaire.
There’s no better opportunity for Donaire to showcase his A-game than what lies ahead in just over two months. To his credit, Donaire himself recognizes the fight as his chance to validate any praise that has already been heaped upon him.
“I still have to beat Montiel before I’m worthy of (pound-for-pound status), but I’m honored that anyone thinks of me in that regard.”
Source: AFP,
ANAHEIM - Filipino bantamweight star Nonito Donaire says that despite a 23-fight win streak over 9 1/2 years, only now is he finally motivated to produce his best boxing performances.
Donaire will fight for the interim World Boxing Association bantamweight crown on December 4 against former WBA champion Wladimiro Sidorenko of Ukraine with a showdown against Mexico's Fernando Montiel set for February if he wins.
"I want to make a statement of who Nonito Donaire really is," the "Filipino Flash" said Monday. "I've never really been motivated. I'm reaching the more fully me, the better me. This is finally the chance I have been looking for."
Former world flyweight champion Donaire, 24-1 with 16 knockouts, vows he will not be complacent when he faces Sidorenko, 22-2-2 with seven knockouts.
But Donaire made clear his desire to win and finalize a planned February 19 date with World Boxing Council bantamweight champion Montiel, 43-2-2 with 33 knockouts.
"When I have Montiel in my sight, as my target, I feel totally motivated. I have no fear," Donaire said. "They are going to see a different guy going in there. I'm motivated with Montiel on the horizon. This is where I want to be.
"I want to send a message to Montiel but I won't take Sidorenko lightly."
Sidorenko lost the WBA bantamweight crown to Panamanian southpaw Anselmo Moreno in 2008 and dropped a title rematch in 2009 but bounced back from his only defeats with an August decision over Tanzanian southpaw Mbwana Matumla.
"He's there to bring his name up in beating me," Donaire said. "It may be a different style than what I have seen but I have always been one to change my style to take advantage of my opponent.
"I'm really confident and working really hard. I'm in good shape. I want to be the first guy to knock this guy out and that's what I'm going to try to do."
Donaire trainer Robert Garcia has been impressed with his fighter's workouts.
"He's already sparring 12 rounds. He went 12 rounds on Saturday and I was surprised with his skills and conditioning," Garcia said. "He wasn't even breathing hard so I'm pleased with his fitness. We're not taking it easy.
"We're looking forward to getting that big date against Montiel."
Four bantamweight rivals will begin a tournament centered around the International Boxing Federation crown a week after Donaire fights Sidorenko, with semi-final bouts on December 11 at Tacoma, Washington.
Colombian Yonnhy Perez, 20-0 with one drawn and 14 knockouts, will defend his IBF crown against Ghana's Joseph Agbeko, 27-2 with 22 knockouts, in a rematch of the title fight Perez won by unanimous decision last year.
The other fight pits unbeaten Mexican Abner Mares, 20-0 with one drawn and 13 knockouts, against Armenian-born Australian southpaw Vic Darchinyan, 35-2 with one draw and 27 knockouts.
Mares, the fighter Donaire picked as the man to beat in the field, fought a majority draw with Perez last May. Donaire said he would welcome the chance to face the eventual tournament winner.
Source: Joaquin Henson, Philippine Star
-- The world’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter Manny Pacquiao renewed his commitment to bring honor to the country – in and out of the ring – as he vowed to support Filipino fighters with the potential to achieve greatness in a statesmanlike speech before a jampacked audience of over 700 at the 10th Gabriel (Flash) Elorde Memorial Boxing Awards Night and Banquet of Champions in the Sofitel Hotel off Roxas Boulevard last Thursday.
Pacquiao, 31, was named an Elorde Hall of Famer for earning seven consecutive Boxer of the Year honors and becoming the first fighter ever to capture seven world titles in seven weight divisions. Six others were cited for their reigns as world champions last year – Nonito Donaire Jr., Gerry Peñalosa, Donnie Nietes, Brian Viloria, Marvin Sonsona and Rodel Mayol – although only two – Nietes and Mayol – join Pacquiao as titleholders today.
Pacquiao spoke about leaving a legacy and how bringing honor to the country “echoes into eternity” in an emotional speech where he thanked the support of fans and media for his success.
The ring icon said he will always be grateful to the Filipino nation. “I know our people are behind me in every fight, praying for my victory,” he remarked. “I realize my responsibility to our country which is why I work so hard to win, why I try to sign every autograph and pose for every picture I’m asked for. I only wish there were three Manny Pacquiaos to accommodate everyone asking for autographs and pictures.”
Pacquiao, dressed to the nines in a black suit with a striped tie, said he draws inspiration from Elorde, who reigned as world superfeatherweight champion for over seven years, and acknowledged the contributions of former titlists like Peñalosa and Luisito Espinosa in also bringing glory to the country.
It was the night before Pacquiao launched his campaign for the lone congressional seat in Sarangani province and his sentimental message evoked speculation of a possible retirement from the ring, perhaps after a megabuck showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr. late this year. Although Pacquiao is at the peak of his career and experts insist he has at least three more competitive years left to fight at a high level, his mother Dionisia has expressed a preference for an early retirement.
Pacquiao and wife Jinkee were mobbed by fans as they entered the Sofitel tent where the Elorde family hosted not only the Awards Night and a sit-down dinner with a five-star P3,000 a-plate meal but also a six-fight boxing card.
Elorde’s widow Laura, 83, welcomed the guests, among whom were Rep. Bongbong Marcos and wife Lisa. Former world champions Dodie Boy Peñalosa and Rene Barrientos, Games and Amusements Board boxing chief Dr. Nasser Cruz, Monsignor Melchor David, US Embassy official and referee Gene LoBianco, former PBA coach Binky Favis and wife Ella, Thai promoter Naris Singwacha, boxing judge Alex Villacampa, Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz and international matchmaker Jun Sarreal. She was accompanied by her seven children – Malou, Bebot, Johnny, Teresa, Marty, Rita and Cucuy – 20 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Flying in from the US to attend the affair were Mrs. Elorde’s sister Lilia Lee, Malou and Bebot’s son Ivan and his family.
Wheelchair-bound Z Gorres arrived from Cebu to attend the festivities with wife Datches and received a thundering applause as program emcees Liza Elorde and Ted Lerner mentioned he was on the road to recovery after undergoing brain surgery in Las Vegas last year.
Pacquiao gave Gorrres a check for P1 million while Trainer of the Year awardee Buboy Fernandez, who could not attend, sent P50,000 in cash as his personal contribution for the fighter’s medical expenses.
Promoter of the Year awardee Michael Aldeguer also came in from Cebu and brought along his ALA stable stars, including Nietes, Milan Melindo, Rey (Boom Boom) Bautista, Michael Domingo and Jason Pagara.
Johnny Elorde, whose company organized the event, said the 10th edition was significant as it commemorated his father’s 25th death anniversary, the 50th anniversary of D’Flash’s knockout over Harold Gomes to win the world superfeatherweight crown at the Araneta Coliseum in 1960 and the late champion’s 75th birthday.
Johnny also mentioned that there was a “twist of luck” in the celebrations with the number 7. D’Flash held the world title for seven years from 1960 to 1967. Pacquiao has won seven world titles in seven divisions and was inducted as an Elorde Hall of Famer after seven straight Boxer of the Year awards. Seven Filipino fighters reigned as world champions last year and they ruled seven weight divisions.
Other awardees included North Cotabato Vice Gov. Manny Piñol as Manager of the Year, Silvestre Abainza as Referee of the Year and Mark Jason Melligen as Most Promising Boxer. Amateur fighters Charly Suarez and Annie Albania were cited for bagging gold medals at the last Southeast Asian Games.
In the fight card, Vinvin Rufino defeated Adonis Aguelo on points to retain his Philippine featherweight crown and Gretchen Abaniel repulsed Thailand’s Fahpratan Looksaikongdin via a unanimous 10-round decision to keep her WIBA minimumweight title. Flash Elorde’s grandsons Juan Martin (Bai) and Juan Miguel (Mig) chalked up knockout wins. Bai, 25, disposed of Thailand’s Kan Hamonkol in a superfeatherweight bout to raise his record to 10-0, while Mig, 23, stopped Anthony Balubar in a bantamweight contest.
Source: ABS-CBN News
-- It looks like Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. will get his rematch with world super flyweight champ Vic Darchinyan as promoters have already penciled an August 7 fight date for the two boxers.
Boxing promoter Gary Shaw has confirmed to analyst Ronnie Nathanielsz that he and Top Rank promoter Bob Arum have already worked out an agreement for the rematch which could take place at the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles, California.
“Almost everything else between myself and Top Rank is done,” said Shaw.
He added that an offer was already sent to Darchinyan’s camp and that they are just waiting for the go ahead.
For his part, Arum said, Donaire will have to go through a tune up before facing Darchinyan, who holds the World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Association (WBA) super fly crowns.
“Donaire is going to fight a tune-up on May 15 and then he’s going to fight Darchinyan in Los Angeles at the Home Depot Center on August 7,” said Arum.
Donaire, the Ring Magazine’s 6th top pound-for-pound boxer in the world, shocked Darchinyan with a 5th-round knock out in 2007.
The Filipino Flash is coming off a successful title defense of his WBA interim super flyweight crown by stopping Manuel “Chango” Vargas last February.
Darchinyan, meanwhile, secured his titles by decision over Mexican Rodrigo Guerrero on March 6.
Source: Joaquin Henson, Philippine Star
-- No opponent has been named but interim WBA superflyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. yesterday said his manager Cameron Dunkin confirmed his next fight will be on May 8 in Mexico or Las Vegas in the 118-pound bantamweight division.
“I’ll be ready for whomever Cameron and Top Rank put in front of me,” said Donaire who arrived in Manila last Friday with wife Rachel and father-in-law Gerry Marcial from San Francisco. “I’m hoping it’ll be a title fight. For what title, I still don’t know. But it probably won’t be against (WBO bantamweight champion) Fernando Montiel who’s committed to fight mandatory challenger Eric Morel next.”
Donaire, 27, said he’s moving up to bantamweight unless there’s an opportunity to face either WBO superflyweight titlist Jorge Arce of Mexico or unified WBA and WBC 115-pound champion Vic Darchinyan of Australia. He admitted scaling five to six pounds over the limit the day before the weigh-in for his superflyweight title defense against Mexico’s Manuel (Chango) Vargas in Las Vegas last Feb. 13.
“It was tough going down to 115,” said Donaire. “But a fighter has to do what he has to do. I made it on my first try at the weigh-in. I hardly ate for two days. I’ll stay a superflyweight only if I fight Arce or Darchinyan.”
Donaire said his “wish” order of battle for the year lists Darchinyan, Arce and Montiel.
“My first target is Darchinyan who holds two titles then Arce to unify the WBA, WBC and WBO superflyweight championships and finally, Montiel for the bantamweight belt before the year ends,” said Donaire. “If that happens, I’ll be a three-division world champion this year.”
Donaire said there’s also the possibility of challenging WBC superbantamweight champion Israel Vazquez who’s due to defend his crown against Rafael Marquez in their fourth grudge match in Los Angeles on May 22.
“Vazquez has been calling me out,” said Donaire. “I’ll move up to superbantamweight if we can make it happen. Going up to 122 pounds is no problem. I could fight the winner of his bout against Marquez at the end of this year or early next year.”
Darchinyan, 34, is set to defend his twin crowns against Mexico’s Rodrigo Guerrero in Rancho Mirage, California, on March 6. Arce, 30, won the vacant WBO title on a seventh round technical decision over Indonesia’s Angky Angkota in Mexico City last Jan. 30. Montiel, 30, retained his WBO diadem on a first round knockout over Filipino Ciso Morales in the Donaire-Vargas undercard. Vazquez, 32, ended a 19-month layoff to halt Angel Priolo in Los Angeles last October and has beaten Marquez in two of three meetings so far.
Donaire disclosed that Vargas suffered a dislocated jaw in the second round and proved to be a tough customer. Vargas was pulled in three days before the fight as a late replacement for Gerson Guerrero who was scratched after doctors confirmed a detached retina in the right eye.
“He was tougher than I thought,” said Donaire. “Vargas was in shape because he was scheduled to fight in Mexico that night. I remember Raul Martinez went down when I hit him with a right but I did the same to Vargas and he took it standing up. I finally got him with a left uppercut. It took me two rounds to figure him out. I trained hard for the fight. In the gym, I built up my speed with plyometrics. I worked on my legs. I was confident of winning and confidence is the key to victory.”
Donaire said his cornermen Robert Garcia and Jonathan Peñalosa set him on track for the knockout over Vargas.
“Robert and Jonathan worked well together,” he said. “During the fight, Robert told me to go side-to-side, to let loose and relax. Jonathan told me to keep pumping my jab and take advantage of my length. I was too stiff in the first two rounds trying to go for a one-punch knockout. In the third, I went side-to-side and it opened up angles for my shots. I felt really strong using my speed and power.”
Donaire said the win over Vargas showed the wide range in his arsenal.
“I’ve got a lot of weapons now,” he said. “I stopped Darchinyan with a left hook. I got Martinez with a right. I finished off Vargas with a left uppercut. Both my hands are weapons. I can attack with an overhand right and a right straight, too. I can switch to southpaw if it’s necessary. I’m sticking with Robert, Jonathan and my conditioning coach Mike Bazzel in my corner.”
Donaire cited Garcia’s contributions. Garcia, who trains fighters at the converted firehouse La Colonia Gym in Oxnard, near Los Angeles, was once an IBF superfeatherweight champion.
“Robert is a great strategist,” said Donaire. “He came in last January to visit my camp at Undisputed in San Carlos. We worked on a gameplan with Jonathan. He gave me solid advice. Two weeks before the fight, we hooked up. His two world champions Brian Viloria and Steven Luevano had just lost so he was feeling down. He’s a super nice guy and he’s really close to his fighters like they’re brothers. He was very happy after I knocked out Vargas and gave me a big hug in the ring.”
Donaire said he will stay in Manila until March 2.
“I’ll attend the PSA (Philippine Sportswriters Association) Awards Night on March 1 for sure,” he said. “It’s an honor to join the country’s best athletes in an event organized by the PSA. But before that, I plan to visit Z Gorres in Cebu.”
Donaire provided Gorres, recovering from brain surgery, and his wife Datches ringside tickets to witness the “Latin Fury 13/Pinoy Power 3” sequel in Las Vegas and promised to give a share of his purse. Donaire will fly to Cebu to personally hand out the share to Gorres. He didn’t reveal how much is his contribution but said it comes straight from the heart. The amount is rumored to be in six figures.
Source: Oliver Suarez, Fight Hype
-- The Philippines always had a fondness for boxing, the reason that it has always been a hotbed for talented young boxers. The emergence of Manny Pacquiao as a major star in boxing has only added more talent to its boxing stable by influencing many of the country’s younger generation to participate in the sport.
It can be argued that Philippines is as great a boxing nation as Mexico and Puerto Rico. Mexico and Puerto Rico are only more recognized because before Pacquiao, Filipinos were not given the same opportunities to display their skills at the world stage.
But now the country is slowly gaining respect as more opportunities become available to Filipino boxers because of Pacquiao’s popularity and the magnitude of the Filipino market.
The Philippines now currently has four major title holders with Filipino descent: Nonito Donaire, Donnie Nietes, Manny Pacquiao, and Rodel Mayol.
Still, it’s still questionable if the success of Philippine boxing can be sustained after Pacquiao. Would promoters and others continue to invest on Filipino boxers after Pacquiao?
It depends if the most influential figures in Philippine boxing has already set a stable foundation to ensure its continued success after the current pound for pound king retires. Did they properly take advantage of all the opportunities provided by Pacquiao’s success?
They certainly had enough time to develop a stable foundation since Pacquiao has been a star of the sport for quite sometime
The truth is they have not because their priorities may not have been in the right place and thus affected the potential success of many Filipino fighters.
The problem is most of the Filipino boxers are not being provided the best chance to win. Success is great but it can lead to greed and questionable decision making.
Ciso Morales is a great example of a fighter of this questionable decision making. Now some are questioning his heart and courage because of his devastating loss to Montiel. But the question that should be put out is if he was given the best chance to win. Morales is a young kid who has not fought any notable opponent, yet was pitted against a world class fighter in Fernando Montiel. Not only that, he had to go down in weight to face him.
If they are not given the best chance to win, then they are destined to only attain mediocre type of success. Those who are responsible for these boxers’ careers must evaluate their priorities. Do they care more about immediate success and make money in the short term or do they care about the long term success of their boxers?
A great example of how to properly prepare a fighter is Andre Ward. For the longest time, his handlers and he were criticized for not facing elite fighters or fighting for a title. It was because his handlers wanted him to be both physically and mentally prepared before he stepped up in competition. Now, he just beat a world class opponent in Kessler and is now considered one of the best young fighters in the game.
Developing young fighters who can contend is a major factor in ensuring the success of Philippine boxing. This doesn’t only include that they are physically and mentally ready, but ensuring that they are provided the right strategies for their fights and choosing the right opponents that can help them prepare for future fights against elite opponents. Constantly pitting them against journeyman fighters to hype up their record only does more harm than good in the long term.
Filipinos are just like any other sports fans, they want winners and if they are constantly provided mediocre products then sooner or later they will stop supporting it.
If that happens, then Philippine boxing might again be on the outside looking in after Pacquiao. Filipino fighters once again will find it difficult to get those opportunities to fight for world titles against notable opponents.
Another factor that must be answered is if many of the Filipino fans who support Pacquiao are truly boxing fans or just fans of the Filipino icon.
It is a question that is still need to be answered. How many Filipinos who are ‘supposedly’ boxing fans know about other boxers such as Eden Sonsona, Marvin Sonsona, Aj Banal etc? The fact is a great number of Filipinos I’ve come across with are not familiar with any of the names mentioned above and only know Pacquiao.
Will they continue to support and have the same passion for the sport even after Pacquiao in order to entice promoters to keep investing on Filipino fighters?
Nonito Donaire Jr. is a great champion who just keeps on winning and it’s a wonder why he has not gotten the support of more Filipino fans. People are quick to judge him for failing to fight notable opponents. Some of that may be due to some fighters’ hesitancy to fight a fighter of Donaire’s caliber, but it’s also because the financial incentives might not be enough for them to face ‘The Filipino Flash.’
Filipinos need to support Donaire to convince promoters that the Filipino market in boxing is not dependent on Pacquiao. In fact, it might be necessary and not an option because if other Filipino fighters are only achieving mediocre success, then the responsibility of keeping the fire burning for Philippine boxing will all fall on Donaire’s shoulders.
So will Philippine boxing continue its current success after Pacquiao retires? Only time will tell.
What do you think?
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Source: Michael Woods, The Sweet Science
-- Nonito Donaire looked rock-solid in the main event of the Latin Fury-Pinoy Power PPV card from the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas on Saturday night. But he was a super flyweight in with a man who battled as a minimumweight/straw-weight boxer, so no one should lose themselves in exultation at the third round stoppage victory for the "Filipino Flash." For those of you unfamiliar with that weight class, that meant Manuel Vargas weighed in at 105 pounds for that September bout against Donnie NIetes. For this scrap, he was 114 pounds, but Vargas may as well have been 100 pounds, dripping wet with flop sweat as he readied himself to surrender to the heavy handed Donaire (115 pounds; 22-1; from General Santos City, Philippines).
The challenger Vargas (age 28; 26-4-1 entering; from Mexico; ex straw-weight champ) took the bout on just three days notice, after Gerson Guerrero failed an eye exam. He was in the gym training for a March 12 bout, against 108 pound champion Rodel Mayol, so he was keen to make more money, and fight on a bigger stage. This was a non-title affair. The official time of the finish was 1:33 of the third. Donaire landed 35 punches of 106 thrown, while Vargas landed just four of 45.
In case anyone out there was fantasizing about a PPV price markdown, what with the switcheroo of foes, let it be said that Guerrero may well not have made it past three himself. His record isn't built on the firmest of foundations...
In the first, the 27-year-old Donaire, whose sole loss came in his second pro outing, showed a height and reach edge, in a big way. There looked to be a two division gap between the men. The latecomer backed up, mostly to his left. When he came forward, he paid; a left hook clanked his head with a minute to go. Donaire is such a calm customer, and he looked to be totally non flustered by anything Vargas showed him. In the second, a right hand buzzed the underdog. Then another. It didn't look like we'd see the sixth, let alone a distance scrap. Vargas' mouth hung open, but he wasn't shy. He'd hurl the occasional overhand right that Donaire evaded with relative ease. In the third, Donaire dropped Vargas with a left-right-left-right-left combo, and he lay on his back, cooked. Ref Joe Cortez counted to ten.
Gerry Penalosa (age 37; from the Phillipines; , a 20 year pro; 54-7-2 entering; two time world champ; 118 pounds) took on Eric Morel (34; born in Puerto Rico; 1996 Olympian; ex fly champ; 117 pounds; 41-2 entering) in a fight for the vacant WBO world bantamweight crown. Morel used his legs to great effect, and came away with a split decision win (115-113 for Morel, 115-113 for Penalosa, 116-112 for Morel), a decision at odds with the announcers working the show. TSS agreed with the 116-112 Duane Ford card for Morel, liking his dialed in pugilism, while as always coming away with mad respect for Penalosa's cajones.
Morel looked the peppier of the two thirtysomethings in the first. He circled left, away from Gerry's left. The Filipino got the right hook to the body untracked in the second. Morel tried to take some steam out with a groinshot. Morel came out with a pile of power shots to start the third, sending a message. But really his legs spoke loudest; his mobility if used properly could give him an edge. Gerry's left eye swelled up by this juncture. In the fourth, Morel moved well but where was the O? It came at the end of the round actually, maybe enough to get the judges' nod. Morel didn't slow down in the fifth, but we wondered if he could stay energized and moving for the duration. In the sixth, the action stopped for a head clash. Gerry's right eye was cut. Then his left eye sprung a leak, again from an accidental head bump. The doc looked at Gerry, and he pronounced him fit to continue.
In round seven, Morel kept on keeping on, getting in, getting off, and getting away. That is, until a minute left, when Gerry landed a combo. The blood from the left eye bothered Gerry's vision in the eighth, but he kept chugging forward. He won the round, as Morel's dancing dropped off. In round nine, Morel was back on message, but Penalosa's body work was sharp. In the 10th, Morel's ring generalship looked to be the difference, if you are the sort who prizes that, even if there wasn't excessive offense to augment it. In the 11th, Morel didn't fade. He kept clear of Gerry's power launches, but was he throwing enough to win the rounds? He was on my card. In the last round, Morel kept on his Segway, maybe too much for what was almost certainly a megatight fight. We'd go to the cards. Steve Farhood had Gerry up big, Al Bernstein a bit less, and Nick Charles also saw Gerry the victor. TSS did not. The stats said: Morel went, while Gerry was.
Champ Fernando Montiel (age 30; from Mexico; three division champ; 118 pounds; 39-2-2 entering) hooked up with Ciso Morales (118 pounds; 14-0 entering; from the Philippines), in a defense of his WBO 118 pound belt. Montiel likes to sweep with the left hook and voila. Morales ate one, to the gut, and went down with a minute left. He hit the deck, laying on his belly, and couldn't beat Robert Byrds' count. On replay, viewers saw that it wasn't a groin shot, but a belt-line crack thrown as Morales jabbed, which felled the kid. He didn't protest a crotchshot, for the record. The time: 2:06 of the first.
Filipino Bernabe Concepcion (age 22; 126 pounds; 29-2-1 coming in) won a UD10 from Puerto Rican Mario Santiago (age 31; 126 pounds; 21-1-1 entering) in the TV opener, and put himself ahead in the JuanMa sweepstakes. The lefty Santiago circled, and used his jab to good effect in the first. Bernie did get off a sharp right with Santiago's back to the ropes two minutes in. Manny Pacquiao sat in the audience, rooting on the fellow Filipino. Bernie got heated in the second, and his right hand touched up the Puerto Rican multiple times. Bernie fired after the bell in the third, showing distaste for a low blow earlier on. Santiago backed up, but it was hard to decipher his strategy in doing so. He didn't counter smartly, make Bernie pay if he got out of position. Why wasn't he using a heigh and reach advantage, his corner wondered. Bernie scored a knockdown off a right at 1:40 of the sixth. Could he finish? Santiago got his head, and his legs looked solid enough to stick around awhile. Santiago indeed got something done with body shots in the ninth. He knew he needed a late surge. That came in the tenth--he forged ahead, and got aggressive, and whaled away. A right uppercut was sharp, and he snapped with both hands. Where was this furor the rest of the way? He gestured at and screamed at Bernie, and won the last round by a wide margin. We'd go to the cards. 98-91, 96-93, 97-92, they said, all for the Filipino. He went 145-387 and Santiago was 149-789, supposedly, but this was a clear case of the stats giving a mistaken impression. So, how will Concepcion fare in a WBO featherweight title crack against JuanMa? He'll be the underdog, let's put it that way. JuanMa will like his lack of volume, his squared up style, his lack of pinpoint accuracy.
SPEEBAG Pacquiao took the mike and talked up his foundation, the Manny Pacquiao Foundation, which is accepting donations to help defray medical costs for the Filipino fighter Z Gorres, who suffered a brain injury in his last bout, against Luis Melendez on Nov. 13 in Las Vegas. TSS readers can send money to: The Manny Pacquiao Foundation C/O Top Rank Boxing, 3980 Howard Hughes Blvd Suite 580, Las Vegas, Nevada 89109.
---Afterwards, Donaire said he'd next like to fight Darchinyan next.
Source: Rene Bonsubre, Jr. PhilBoxing
-- WBA interim superflyweight champ Nonito 'The Filipino Flash' Donaire (22W-1L, 11KO’s) knocked out challenger Manuel Vargas of Mexico in the 3rd round. Donaire landed power shots with ease. A sharp left uppercut in the third round sent Vargas to the canvas and he stayed flat on his back for the full ten count. Official time: 1:33 of the third round.
The Mexican known as “Chango” gave up too much in height and reach. Vargas (26W-4L-1D, 11KO’s) last fought at 105 lbs. and lost a split decision to WBO minimumweight champ Donnie "Ahas" Nietes in a fight held last September in Nayarit, Mexico
Vargas was a late substitute for Gerson Guerrero, who was found to have a tear in his right eye retina during the pre-fight medical examination and was not allowed to fight.
WBO bantamweight champ Fernando Montiel (40W-2L-2D, 30 KO’s) of Mexico scored a first round knockout over Ciso Morales using a vicious left hook to the body. Official time: 2:06 of 1st.
This was only Morales’ 15th pro fight and his first career loss.
Former two time world champ Gerry Penalosa (54-8-2, 36 KOs) lost to former WBA world flyweight champ Eric “Hands of Steel” Morel (42-2, 21 KOs) in a bantamweight eliminator and the WBO interim belt. The 37 year old Penalosa had trouble catching the taller and fast moving Morel early in the fight.
Penalosa went to the body but suffered a swelling under his left eye. Penalosa found his range and started to rally in the 6th. Two headbutts opened cuts on Gerry’s face in the 7th. But Penalosa continued his rally and landed the cleaner punches.
From the ninth round onwards Morel was getting pummelled and retreating but still managed to win. The scores – 115-113 and 116-112 for Morel and 115-113 for Penalosa.
Bernabe “The Real Deal” Concepcion ( 28W (14 KO’s) – 3 L- 1 D) scored an impressive unanimous decision win over Puerto Rican Mario Santiago (21W (14KO’s) -2L-1D).
Concepcion used good lateral movement and textbook weapons against a southpaw – right hand lead and left hook. A well timed right sent Santiago crashing to the canvas in round 6.
Concepcion went on cruise control but Santiago tried to stage a late rally in the 10th and final round with low blows and tried to pin the Filipino on the ropes.The score cards read: 98-91, 97-92 and 96-93.
Concepcion has been promised another title shot against WBO featherweight champ Juan Manuel Lopez. Concepcion lost by disqualification against Steven Luevano last August in his first title shot. Luevano has since been dethroned by Lopez.
Mark Jason Melligen of the ALA Gym won by 6th round TKO over Raymond Gatica (11W (6KO’s) -1L -0) of the U.S. and handed him his first career loss. Melligen is now 17 wins with 13 KO's and 2 losses.
This fight card was held at the Las Vegas Hilton. Watching the fights and providing inspiration were Z “The Dream” Gorres and world’s best boxer Manny Pacquiao.
Source: ABS-CBN News
-- Peñalosa: I'm ready for Morel
World Boxing Association (WBA) interim super flyweight champion Nonito Donaire, Jr. was saddened when his foe, Mexican Gerson Guerrero, was declared out of the Pinoy Power 3 main event.
This came after Guerrero failed his eye exam because of a detached retina.
Donaire consoled Guerrero during the Pinoy Power 3 press conference at the Las Vegas Hilton on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila).
“I feel his pain... He's a true warrior,” said Donaire. “I know how he trained so hard... My heart aches for him.”
The WBA interim super flyweight titleholder will now defend his belt against another Mexican, Manuel “Chango” Vargas.
Donaire’s new opponent is expected to arrive in Las Vegas from Mexico on Thursday (Friday in Manila).
Vargas was defeated by Filipino Donnie Nietes last September via split decision in Latin Fury 11. He failed to win Nietes’ World Boxing Organization (WBO) minimum weight title in Nayarit, Mexico.
Vargas holds a record of 26 wins (with 11 knockouts), 4 losses and 1 draw while Donaire has a 22-1 (14 KOs) record.
Donaire earlier told ABS-CBN News that he is on a diet of soup with egg and vegetables so that he can make the weight during the weigh-in on Friday (Saturday in Manila).
Ready to rumble
The boxing event, which features Filipinos going against Latinos, is also called Latin Fury 13. It will take place at the Las Vegas Hilton on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
Ciso Morales will vie for the WBO bantamweight belt against titleholder Fernando Montiel of Mexico.
Gerry Peñalosa and Bernabe Concepcion, meantime, will take on Puerto Rican fighters. Peñalosa will fight Eric Morel while Conception will face Mario Santiago.
Peñalosa and Morel said during the press conference that they are ready to rumble.
“Handa siya, handa ako... Bugbugan na talaga,” said Peñalosa.
Morel, for his part, boasted, “I’ve got reach, speed, movement, power.”
In the undercard, Filipino Mark Melligen will fight Raymond Gatica.
Pinoy Power 3 will be aired live on ABS-CBN on Sunday, February 14 at 10:30 a.m. Replays will be shown on the same day on Studio 23 at 8 p.m. and ABS-CBN’s “Sunday’s Best” at 10:30 p.m.
Pinoy Power 3 replays will also be shown on February 16 at 4 p.m. and February 18 at 9 p.m. on SkyCable TV’s Balls Channel.
Source: Joaquin Henson, PhilStar
-- Defending interim WBA superflyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. said yesterday he’s ready to go to war against Mexican challenger Gerson Guerrero in their 12-round bout headlining Top Rank’s “Latin Fury 13/Pinoy Power 3” sequel at the Hilton in Las Vegas on Feb. 13.
Doniare, 27, relinquished his IBF flyweight throne to annex the interim WBA 115-pound crown at Panamanian Rafael Concepcion’s expense last year and is gearing for a shot at a second world title. He realizes holding an interim championship is only a stepping stone but his immediate concern is to dispose of Guerrero, considered a dangerous foe with a 34-8 record, including 26 KOs – 65 percent of which came inside three rounds.
Guerrero, 32, is an experienced veteran who once knocked out former WBO lightflyweight titleholder Hugo Cazares. He’s coming off a 10th round stoppage of Enrique Quevedo for the vacant North American Boxing Federation superflyweight crown in a WBC title eliminator in Mexico City last June.
What makes Guerrero even more dangerous is his resiliency. Early last year, he survived a knockdown in the first round to halt Darwin Zamora in the second. He has lost to champions Daniel Ponce de Leon, Cristian Mijares and Maurico Pastrana but came back to remain a strong contender for the world title. Guerrero, who turned pro in 1995 – six years before Donaire’s debut, is ranked No. 3 by the WBC and No. 10 by the WBA.
“I’ve never underestimated anyone,” said Donaire in an e-mail to The Star from his San Mateo home in northern California. “Look at the odds against me when I fought Concepcion. No one thought he’d come in that much overweight but still I didn’t care. That weight made him a larger ‘bull’ for me to take down. Guerrero has everything to take from me and I know he’ll come to the ring fully prepared. He’s a tough opponent.”
Donaire logged over 90 rounds of sparring in training for Guerrero. He brought in sparmates Eric Manriquez from Texas and Randy Caballero from Palm Springs.
“Both have a lot of energy and different styles,” said Donaire. “They really made me think and be aware of what’s going on in the ring. I sparred with them for the last time at the Undisputed Gym in San Carlos City last Friday. I plan to get four or five more rounds of sparring in Vegas just to maintain. They’ve been around since Jan. 3 and we’ve sparred every other day. I’m now about 125 pounds so I should be fine.”
Donaire said he noticed that promoter Gary Shaw has started talking to the press about the possibility of a rematch with WBA and WBC superflyweight champion Vic Darchinyan whom he knocked out for the IBF flyweight diadem in 2007.
“I’m not looking past Guerrero,” said Donaire. “I’ve heard talks about a rematch. But I’ve heard that for two years now. After Guerrero, anything can happen. They just have to talk to my manager Cameron (Dunkin) and get everything straightened out. I’m ready for whomever Cameron puts in front of me.”
Darchinyan, 34, is slated to stake his WBC and WBA belts against Mexico’s Rodrigo Guerrero in Rancho Mirage, California, on March 6.
Donaire said he can’t wait to get rid of Guerrero.
“My entire camp was sitting in front of the TV watching Juanma Lopez, Steven Luevano and Yuriorkis Gamboa last week,” said Donaire. “I was really excited and watching these guys go at it – it just makes me wish my fight day was tomorrow. Man, I’d be honored to fight any of those featherweights. But first things first. I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do on Feb. 13, get more titles and move up. I’m sure the day will come when we’ll all meet in the ring.”
Lopez stopped Luevano in the seventh round to wrest the WBO featherweight crown at Madison Square Garden in New York City last Jan. 23. Gamboa knocked out Rogers Mtagwa to retain his WBA featherweight title in the undercard.
Four other Filipinos are fighting in the card at the Hilton, which hosted its first pro boxing card featuring Sonny Liston in the main event and George Foreman in the undercard in 1969. The Las Vegas Hilton was also the venue where Leon Spinks upset Muhammad Ali in a Top Rank promotion in 1978.
Source: Brad Cooney, Examiner
-- Usually when either I or some other boxing scribe writes an article about Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao, someone out there will ring in with some sort of racial comment and sooner or later someone always takes a cheap shot and says something to insult someone, or to insult anothers country of origin.
This writer has read several comments made by Pacquiao fans that speak about how Americans do not respect Asian fighters etc... With the arrival of the great Manny Pacquiao, and several other successful Filipino fighters, it's hard not to give respect to the Philippines.
America has a long history of great boxers that spreads across several weight divisions. For many years it was the American fighters that got most of the media play, and held most of the belts. This has changed over time, and with the explosion of Filipino fighters that have surfaced do to Pacquiao's success, one must respect the talent that comes out of the PI.
Recently while attending the fights in Tunica, Mississippi I was able to get some thoughts from some of the fans on how they view the fighters coming out of the Philippines. Most of them only heard of a few Filipino fighters, Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire. When I asked boxing fan Mike Kaplan of Jackson, MS what his thoughts on Filipino fighters was, he replied, "The only one that I heard of from The Philippines is Manny Pacquiao. He seems to be a great fighter, and seems pretty humble."
When I asked Felix Pace to share his thoughts on fighters from the Philippines, he replied, "I don't know much about Filipino fighters except for Manny Pacquiao. Manny sure can fight, and he seems like a down to earth person. When I saw him fight Miguel Cotto, he reminded me of that face hugger thing in that movie "Alien" where it launched across the room and attached to that dudes face. Pacquiao just launched across the ring and beat up Cotto's face something terrible."
Throughout my stops inside the casino in Tunica, I did not come across one American boxing fan that had anything negative to say about fighters from the Philippines. True enough that not many of them knew many Filipino fighters in the first place, but for those who knew Manny and Donaire, they had positive attitudes.
Source: ABS-CBN News
Pinoys in Vegas raise $8,000 for Gorres
-- Fallen boxer ZC Oliveros “the Dream” Gorres declared his all-out support for his fellow Filipinos who will take on Latino foes in Pinoy Power 3 in Las Vegas next month.
“Good luck talaga, good luck sa kanila. Dapat hindi magkumpiyansa at panalangin sa Panginoon,” he told Bev Llorente of ABS-CBN North America News Bureau.
Gorres is currently undergoing rehabilitation in the United States after undergoing 2 major brain surgeries.
He was scheduled to fight for a world title in Pinoy Power 3 before his injury during his 10-round bout against Colombian Luis Melendez last November.
Although he won via unanimous decision, Gorres suffered a left straight punch to the temple in the 10th round which caused a blood clot in his brain.
Despite this, Gorres said that watching the fight ringside is almost as good as being in the ring.
Fellow boxer Mark Jason Melligen, meantime, stated: “Sa ngayon na laban na ‘to ibubuhos ko talaga babawiin ko ang nangyari sa kaniya at yung talo ko.” Melligen will face Raymond Gatica in the undercard, according to Sun.Star Cebu.
Pinoy Power 3, which features Nonito Donaire, Jr., Gerry Peñalosa, Bernabe Concepcion and Ciso Morales, will take place on February 13 at the Las Vegas Hilton. The event will be telecast live on ABS-CBN on February 14.
Donaire will face off with Gerson Guerrero, Peñalosa will fight Eric Morel, Concepcion will battle Mario Santiago, and Morales will challenge Fernando Montiel.
Significant improvement
Meanwhile, Gorres’ attending physician, Dr. Benito Calderon, said his ongoing comprehensive rehabilitation has seen significant improvement with his ambulation. Gorres can now walk with a walker up to 50 feet with assistance.
“Ang target lang natin dito is makalakad muna siya kung maka fully recover siya, I think maganda ang future niya, kahit na he can work as a trainer siguro, pero as a fighter again I don't think he can do that,” noted Calderon.
Gorres and his wife, Datches, are hopeful that the rehabilitation will lead Gorres to a full recovery so that he may live a functional life.
Moreover, they are thankful for the support of the Filipino-American community in Las Vegas.
Fundraiser
Hundreds of Filipinos and Filipino-Americans in Las Vegas congregated to help raise funds for Gorres. The local Pinoy community raised more than $8,000.
“Malaki talaga ang pasasalamat ko dahil sa pinakita nila. Talagang ang mga Pilipino nagsusuporta walang iwanan talaga,” said Gorres.
Datches that even though she was a stranger in “Sin City,” her kababayans’ overwhelming support helped her a lot.
“Hindi lang po ako nag-iisa lalo na sa lugar na ito na wala kaming kamag-anak, at least, may mga taong nagbigay ng tulong at suporta sa amin,” she stated.
Local entertainers donated their time and talent for the injured boxer. Some even sang “Habang May Buhay” by After Image.
“Ang nangyari kay Z Gorres ay puwedeng mangyari sa ibang boksingero kaya nandito kami para damayan siya, the Filipino bayanihan spirit,” said one of Gorres’ supporters, Filipino business owner Mimi Lim.
Source: Oliver Suarez, Fight Hype
-- Paul Williams has been coined “The Most Avoided Fighter” and for good reason. He’s had to fight in multiple divisions since none of the top fighters in the welterweight division were willing to fight him.
Still, he’s been able to step into the ring with respectable and recognizable fighters such as Carlos Quintana, Sergio Martinez, Antonio Margarito, and Vernon Phillips. Also, other top fighters such as Kelly Pavlik and Joshua Clottey have been vocal about their willingness to face him.
Nonito’s list of recent victims on the other hand includes the following names: Luis Maldonado, Raul Martinez, Darchinyan and Rafael Concepcion. They are solid and respectable fighters but with the exception of Darchinyan, none of them are considered elite fighters. Donaire has always had the attitude of a champion since he’s been vocal about his desire to fight the best, but it takes two tango and so far none of the best fighters in his division has been willing to share the ring with him.
Nonito Donaire seemed to be destined for stardom after destroying Darchinyan considering the rising numbers boxing fans within the Filipino community.
Unfortunately, he’s been avoided like the plague consistently by the top fighters in his division.
Darchinyan’s team never seriously tried to get a rematch with Donaire and instead the ‘Raging Bull’ moved up to the Super Flyweight Division.
He’s called out fighters such Daisuke Naito and Takefumi Sakata but neither showed any inkling on sharing the ring with Donaire. Forget the excuses about Japan’s unwillingness to recognize IBF, WBO and IBO as legitimate world titles. The fact is Naito and Sakata never wanted to fight Nonito. A true champion should want to fight top fighters in their division and it doesn’t necessarily have to be for a belt.
There were talks about a Nonito Donaire vs. Fernando Montiel bout a few months ago but it fell apart, when Fernando decided to move up to bantamweight for the reason that he can no longer make the weight for the super flyweight division.
Fernando is a great fighter and I don’t think he’s avoided Donaire, but it seems that whenever a fight with Nonito is within reach; his opponents suddenly have the inkling to move out of the division or find other excuses to not fight Donaire.
Paul Williams was forced to fight in multiple divisions to get notable fights. Nonito forces fighters out of the division.
Nonito has moved up to the Super Flyweight division, but still has not found success in luring any of the top fighters to meet him in the ring.
Darchinyan has been vocal recently about facing Donaire again. But that’s because he needs Donaire again to gain credibility as he was exposed by Agbeko. Same as it was for Rafael Concepcion when he lost to Jorge Arce.
Have you ever wondered why fighters in the lower weight division often call each other out, but Nonito’s name is almost never involved? Sure Israel Vasquez has called him out, but he’s currently fighting at featherweight, which three divisions higher than Donaire.
There are good reasons why Donaire has been avoided. He’s a solid technical fighter with speed and great power. He’s also probably one of the most complete fighters pound for pound.
Top Rank has been hesitant to put Donaire on a Pacquiao undercard, because of economic reasons. It’s more profitable for Top Rank to keep putting Donaire as the main feature for boxing events such as ‘Pinoy Power’.
But the incentives that Donaire will attain from being on a Pacquiao undercard is well worth it. It will introduce Donaire to the casual boxing fans and the lure of being in one of Pacquiao’s last few fights will probably be too much for the top fighters in his division to turn down since it’s nothing but big fights for the true pound for pound king from now on.
Donaire has a fight coming up against Gerson Guerrero in February of next year, but that fight can easily be put off for a better opportunity. It’s often done in boxing.
Donaire is the top candidate to take the mantle from Pacquiao as the best ‘Filipino’ boxer. There is no better time and place for Donaire to have another signature fight and display his package of skills than in an undercard for one of Pacquiao’s last few fights.
Source: Joaquin Henson, philstar.com
-- Seven-time world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao was the undisputed headline-maker in the sport this year and his status as the universal No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter paved the way for the most ever title bouts involving Filipinos during a 12-month period in history.
Pacquiao, 31, figured in only two bouts in 2009 but both were monumental. He knocked out England’s Ricky Hatton in two rounds to wrest the IBO lightwelterweight crown in Las Vegas last May then halted Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto in the 12th to capture the WBO welterweight title, also in Las Vegas, last month.
When the smoke cleared, Pacquiao emerged as the only fighter ever to win seven world titles in seven weight divisions, breaking out of a tie with Oscar de la Hoya, Tommy Hearns, Hector Camacho and James Toney who collected six.
For the year, there were 16 world championship bouts with Filipino protagonists. Filipino fighters won nine, lost five and drew two. Six Filipino world titlists reigned during a highly productive year – Pacquiao, WBO minimumweight Donnie Nietes, IBF lightflyweight Brian Viloria, WBC lightflyweight Rodel Mayol, IBF flyweight Nonito Donaire and WBO superflyweight Marvin Sonsona.
Today, only four Filipinos remain on top of the world – Pacquiao, Nietes, Viloria and Mayol. Donaire relinquished his IBF crown to annex the interim WBA superflyweight diadem while Sonsona lost his belt on the scales and was held to a draw by Mexico’s Alejandro Hernandez in what would have been his first title defense.
The Filipinos who won in world title fights were Pacquiao (over Hatton and Cotto), Nietes (over Erik Ramirez and Manuel Vargas, both in Mexico), Viloria (over Ulises Solis and Jesus Iribe), Mayol (over Edgar Sosa), Donaire (over Raul Martinez) and Sonsona (over Jose Lopez).
The losers were Juanito Rubillar (to Giovanni Segura for the WBA lightflyweight title), Mayol (to Ivan Calderon on a technical decision for the WBO lightflyweight title), Sonny Boy Jaro (to Segura), Eric Barcelona (to Simpiwe Vetyeka for the IBO bantamweight title) and Bernabe Concepcion (to Steven Luevano on a disqualification for the WBO featherweight title). Recording draws were Mayol (with Calderon) and Sonsona (with Hernandez).
At the end of the year, 26 Filipinos were listed in the WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO world ratings. In the minimumweight 105-pound division were WBO champion Nietes, Denver Cuello (No. 4 WBC, No. 10 WBA, No. 12 IBF, No. 13 WBO), Milan Melindo (No. 1 WBO, No. 3 IBF, No. 3 WBA, No. 5 WBC) and Florante Condes (No. 6 IBF, No. 8 WBO, No. 15 WBC). The lightflyweights were IBF champion Viloria, WBC champion Mayol, Johnriel Casimero (No. 4 WBO), Jaro (No. 3 WBC, No. 7 WBO, No. 13 WBA, Juanito Rubillar (No. 7 WBC), Bert Batawang (No. 9 IBF) and Edren Dapudong (No. 3 WBO, No. 6 IBF, No. 11 WBA).
Richie Mepranum was the only Filipino ranked flyweight as the No. 8 WBA contender. The superflyweights were Z Gorres (No. 8 WBC, No. 10 WBA), A. J. Banal (No. 14 WBC, also No. 5 WBA, No. 5 IBF and No. 7 WBO bantamweight), Drian Francisco (No. 4 WBA, No. 6 WBO, No. 8 IBF), Fernando Lumacad (No. 9 IBF) and Federico Catubay (No. 12 IBF). The bantamweights were Michael Domingo (No. 7 IBF), Gerry Peñalosa (No. 2 WBO) and Jundy Maraon (No. 5 WBO).
Ranked in the superbantamweight 122-pound ladder were Ramie Laput (No. 4 WBO), Ciso Morales (No. 9 WBO) and Balweg Bangoyan (No. 11 WBC).Concepcion was the only Filipino rated featherweight at No. 4 by the WBO. Michael Farenas was ranked No. 15 superfeatherweight by the WBO and Mark Jason Melligen, No. 15 superlightweight by the WBA. Pacquiao is recognized as the welterweight titleholder by the WBO. Curiously missing in the ratings were Donaire and Sonsona.
Interim world champions by year-end were Donaire and WBO lightflyweight Casimero.
Pacquiao’s influence opened the window for Filipino fighters to display their wares in the undercard of his two Las Vegas bouts this year. In the Pacquiao-Hatton undercard, Concepcion pounded out a six-round decision over Colombia’s Yogli Herrera. In the Pacquiao-Cotto undercard, Eden Sonsona stopped Israel’s Eilon Kedem while Mepranum outpointed Colorado’s Ernie Marquez.
Pacquiao also provided the push for Top Rank to stage “Pinoy Power 2” at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas last August where Donaire beat Panama’s Rafael Concepcion, Mark Jason Melligen knocked out Mexico’s Ernesto Zepeda and Concepcion lost to Luevano. In another Las Vegas card last month, Z Gorres lost consciousness after decisioning Colombia’s Luis Melendez, Melligen bowed to Mexico’s Michel Rosales and Catubay was trounced by Mexico’s Juan Alberto Rosas.
Boxing enjoyed a renaissance on Philippine shores. Solar Sports produced “Pinoy Power 1” with Donaire and Viloria as the main eventers in separate encounters at the Big Dome last April then got its new series “Boxing at the Bay” off to a strong start with Francisco mowing down Panama’s Roberto Vasquez at the Cuneta Astrodome last October. There were also major shows in Cebu, Tagbilaran City, Zamboanga City, Cagayan de Oro, Ozamiz City, Davao City and Kidapawan.
Additionally, Pacquiao perked up even more interest in local boxing by training for Cotto several weeks with Freddie Roach and Colombian conditioning coach Alex Ariza in Baguio City. While in the City of Pines, Pacquiao drew hordes of visitors – including Top Rank chairman Bob Arum.
Among future world champions, ALA Boxing Gym’s Banal and Rey (Boom Boom) Bautista continued to make headway in their rise to the top. Banal, 20, chalked up three wins this year, trouncing Nouldy Manakane, Mbwane Matumla and Jose Beranza to raise his record to 20-1-1, with 16 KOs. Bautista, 23, ended almost a year’s layoff to recover from hand surgery and stopped Indonesia’s Maragin Marbun for the vacant WBC International featherweight title to improve his record to 27-2, with 20 KOs.
On a sad note, Gorres underwent surgery to remove a blood clot in his skull after the Melendez fight in Las Vegas. He will no longer be able to fight. And last September, Pacquiao’s former business manager Rod Nazario passed away at the age of 74.
Next year, more Filipinos are expected to see action in world title fights. On Jan. 23, Viloria will defend his IBF 108-pound title against Colombia’s Carlos Tamara and Nietes will stake his WBO 105-pound crown against Mexico’s Ivan Meneses at the Cuneta Astrodome. Morales will challenge WBO bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel of Mexico on Feb. 13 in Las Vegas and Marvin Sonsona is likely to take on Puerto Rico’s Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. for the vacant WBO superbantamweight crown in San Juan in March. Pacquiao will be back in the ring, maybe against Floyd Mayweather Jr. or WBA superwelterweight king Yuri Foreman, in March. Eden Sonsona, Melindo, Francisco, Donaire, Casimero and Banal are close to sealing title shots in what promises to be another successful chapter in Philippine boxing history next year.
Source: gmanews.tv
-- Nonito “The Filipino Flash" Donaire, Jr. has hooked up with the trainer of compatriot Brian Viloria for his defense of the World Boxing Association interim super flyweight title against Mexico’s Gerson Guerrero on Feb. 13 in Las Vegas.
Donaire (22-1, 14 KOs) said Garcia, a former IBF super featherweight champion turned trainer, will help prepare his “mental game" against Guerrero (34-8 26 KOs).
The Peñalosa brothers, Jonathan and Dodie Boy, who trained Donaire when he won the WBA interim crown over an overweight Rafael Concepcion of Panama last August, will still be around and will join hands with Mike Bazzel in whipping Donaire into shape for the bout.
“I added Robert Garcia to the team as the mental part of my game," Donaire wrote in his latest blog posted on his official website.
“The Peñalosas are still with me and I respect them very much. But they will be working on my boxing conditioning, as well as Mike Bazzel working on my conditioning. I know people got confused. But Garcia is a very smart coach and I believe we can take my game to the next level together," he added.
Garcia, who also counts Steven Luevano, Victor Ortiz and Joan Guzman among his fighters, is credited for guiding Viloria back to the boxing elite. Under Garcia, Viloria managed to rediscover his competitive fire and snag the IBF light-flyweight strap from long-time champ Ulises Solis last April via 11th round KO last April. He retained the strap with his unanimous decision disposal of Mexico’s Jesus Iribe four months later in Hawaii.
Donaire will topbill Pinoy Power 3 at the Las Vegas Hilton, a power-packed card that also features veteran Gerry Peñalosa against Eric Morel in a WBO bantamweight eliminator; Ciso Morales against WBO bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel; and Bernabe Concepcion against Puerto Rico’s Mario Santiago in a 10-round featherweight showdown.
Source: gmanews.tv
-- After knocking out Mexican challenger Tomas Rojas in two rounds to retain WBC and WBA super flyweight belts, Vic Darchinyan declared his strong desire to face off with old rival Nonito Donaire, Jr.
“Every night when I go to sleep or I’m preparing for a fight, I’m dreaming of a rematch with Nonito Donaire," Darchinyan said after disposing of Rojas with a sidewinder left at 2:54 of the second round Saturday at the Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage, California (Sunday in Manila).
“It's all up to my promoter Gary Shaw," added the “Raging Bull," whom the “Filipino Flash" shamed the first time they tangled in December 2007 with a fifth round TKO that won Ring Magazine’s “Upset of the Year" and “Knockout of the Year" plaudit.
Shaw, incidentally the estranged promoter of Donaire, said his group is currently negotiating with the Bohol-born Filipino’s current promoter Top Rank to make the fight happen.
Donaire, the reigning WBA interim super flyweight holder, has time and again said he’s game for a second gig with Darchinyan .
“I’ve been waiting for that fight. I’m here and I hope he’s got enough confidence for him to step up into the ring with me again," Donaire said Sunday in an interview with PhilBoxing.Com’s Ronnie Nathanielsz.
The 27-year-old Donaire said he’s been seeking a rematch with Darchinyan since their first clash but lamented that the Armenian-Australian’s camp has been stalling initial talks.
