By Salven Lagumbay
Inquirer
MANILA, Philippines–Manny Pacquiao’s looming fight against Mexican rival Marco Antonio Barrera has been overshadowed by recent world title conquests by a pair of unheralded Filipino boxers.
And if plans don’t miscarry, five more Filipino pugs will show that there is more to Philippine boxing than just Pacquiao, the top-grossing pound-for-pound king.
Bohol’s Czar Amonsot is scheduled to face Michael Katsidis on July 21 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. Amonsot will be trying to unseat Katsidis as World Boxing Association interim lightweight king.
Amonsot, the Cebu-based fighter from the ALA stable, holds the World Boxing Organization Asia Pacific crown. He has been working out at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym in preparation for Katsidis.
On Aug. 4, another Cebu-based fighter, Rodel Mayol, takes a crack at International Boxing Federation junior flyweight champion Ulises Solis at the All-State Arena in Chicago. The Mayol-versus-Solis bout will be in the undercard of the Erik Morales-David Diaz World Boxing Council lightweight showdown.
Two popular names will gun for world titles on Aug. 11 at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, California.
Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista will try to wrest the WBO super bantamweight title from champion Daniel Ponce De Leon. Gerry Peñalosa, on the other hand, takes on WBO bantamweight titleholder Jhonny Gonzalez.
Yet another Cebu fighter, Eriberto “Yukka” Gejon, will go up against WBA minimumweight kingpin Yutaka Niida on Sept. 1 at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
This will be a rematch of their 2005 showdown which was won by Niida via a highly-disputed 10-round technical decision in Yokohama, Japan.
The fights come on the heels of victories by Florante Condes and Nonito Donaire, who won world crowns less than 24 hours apart.
Condes, nicknamed “The Little Pacquiao” due to his southpaw stance and tremendous punching power, was the first to become a world champion when he decisioned Muhammad Rachman in Jakarta last Saturday to take the latter’s IBF minimumweight crown.
Less than 24 hours later, Donaire, born in Gen. Santos City but now based in the US, shocked the world with a fifth-round knockout of the erstwhile unbeaten Vic Darchinyan to take the latter’s IBF and IBO flyweight crowns.
“I know they can also make us all proud,” Condes said in Filipino of his five countrymen who will seek world championships this year.
July 28th, 2007 at 4:39 am
Czar lost but he gave a valiant effort.
I’m glad that he is alright after suffering a career threatening injury. He gave it his all and tried his bet to give glory to Pinoy boxing or Philippine boxing. I hope he recovers completely and fights again in the future.
July 12th, 2007 at 11:40 pm
Of those 5 boxers only 2 has a great chance and that is Boom2x and Mayol. Czar has not proven himself yet after the 1st round KO he suffered and Gejon must KTFO out of his oponnent for when it comes to decision he will lose. Gerry’s training will be the key if he ever wants to win another title.
July 12th, 2007 at 5:32 pm
[...] Sports Aficionado: 5 RP pugs eye more titles [...]
July 11th, 2007 at 11:27 pm
mabuhay ang pinoy..
July 11th, 2007 at 4:13 pm
[...] Sports Aficionado: 5 RP pugs eye more titles [...]