Cebu Boxing in 2008
Bleacher Talk
January 13, 2008
Cebu Boxing in 2008
This early, it’s already obvious that 2008 is going to be great for Cebu Boxing. If there were to be a theme for the year, then it would be something along the lines of Cebu stamping itself as the country’s true hotbed of boxing and serving as the country’s top boxing “exporter” to the world. Cebu Boxing is no longer a local brand. It’s global.
Cebu Boxing is starting out the year with two Cebu-bred world champions in WBO bantamweight champ Gerry Peñalosa and WBO miniflyweight champ Donnie Nietes. Although many expected another set of names to become world champs in 2007, the two proved that they too, deserve our attention. They may not be as popular as the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Boom Boom Bautista and AJ Banal, but what counts most is that they have the belts that the others don’t. Both Gerry and Donnie should weather through all the storms in 2008 and finish the year unscathed. Gerry will defeat Ratanachai Sor Vorapin in his first title defense on March 2 and will most likely defend his title at least one more time towards the end of the year. As for Nietes, there were talks of a title defense this month, but it looks like bigger things are being cooked up. The twist for Donnie is if he can overcome his limited international exposure and hold up to the pressure that championship boxing brings with it.
Honorable mention here goes to IBF flyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. (and trainer/father Nonito Sr.). Although he isn’t strictly speaking one of Cebu Boxing’s products, he has now made Cebu his training base for his future fights, using no less than the ALA Gym as his gym of choice.
Among Cebu’s boxers, I expect AJ Banal’s star to shine the brightest in 2008. No, he isn’t going to win a world championship (not yet), but he’s going to plow right through all opponents who will be thrown at him here and in the U.S.. My only wish is that he be given top-quality foes who will push him to the limit. I hate to say this, but I don’t see Boom Boom doing anything dramatic this year unless he improves and matures as a boxer tenfold. It’s not that he isn’t good. He just happens to be fighting in a weight class with boxers like Israel Vasquez, Rafael Marquez and Daniel Ponce de Leon. I don’t see a world title fight for Boom Boom this year as he’ll be busy improving his stock.
Gorres will be facing one his toughest opponents in Vic Darchinyan two weeks from now. He’s going to squeeze through to a win by decision as long as he can box and use his superior skills to stay away from trouble. He should run away from the bombs of Darchinyan and just pepper him with an endless array of combinations. Chances of winning by knockout are slim, thus he must go out for a one-sided win to avoid any doubts about the decision. The career of Gorres is going to be determined by this fight. A win will mean a shot at champion Dimitri Kirilov, while a loss may mean the road to become a journeyman-boxer or even the possible end of a career.
Randy Suico and Rev Santillan will just be themselves. They’ll be the best in their weight divisions at the Asia Pacific level, but I’m afraid that’s how far they’ll get in their careers. It looks like their chances of winning a world championship aren’t too bright. They’re better off earning as much as they can defending their OPBF championships and if the chance is given, go for broke in a world title fight. Special mention goes out to former OPBF minimumweight champ and two-time world title challenger Rodel Mayol who’ll have one last shot at saving his career under the eyes of Manny Pacquiao. If he doesn’t seriously train and take care of himself, he can consider himself washed up.
Also standing out this year will be the likes of Milan Milendo, Along Denoy, Mark Jason Melliguen, Michael Domingo and Rocky Fuentes. Their careers will slowly but surely develop in preparation for bigger fights in 2009. Young stars on the rise include Joseph Omanz, James Bacon and Ciso Morales.
Among Cebu’s most talented boxers who’ll find themselves in limbo are Yuka Gejon and former world champ Malcolm Tuñacao. It’s really sad to see them in their current situation when you know they’re capable of doing so much more. I just hope they realize that they don’t have much time left in their careers, and that they either shape up or simply ship out for good.
From the promoter’s angle, we can expect the ALA Boxing Gym to be more aggressive both here and abroad. SGG Sports Promotions won’t be far behind as it prepares for more local and WBO activities that could include a World Cup. Rex “Wakee” Salud will be focusing his efforts on being a confidante of Pacquiao, and will be known more as a source of boxers for fights abroad.
Gone are the days when our annual forecast for Cebu Boxing was all about Cebu dominating the national boxing scene.
Like that “Island in the Pacific” of the 90’s, Cebu Boxing has zoomed past the national borders and on to the international boxing world.
**
Time-out: Happy birthday to my favorite dentist, Dra. Pinky Navarro! >>> You can reach me at bleachertalk@yahoo.com.
January 13, 2008
Cebu Boxing in 2008
This early, it’s already obvious that 2008 is going to be great for Cebu Boxing. If there were to be a theme for the year, then it would be something along the lines of Cebu stamping itself as the country’s true hotbed of boxing and serving as the country’s top boxing “exporter” to the world. Cebu Boxing is no longer a local brand. It’s global.
Cebu Boxing is starting out the year with two Cebu-bred world champions in WBO bantamweight champ Gerry Peñalosa and WBO miniflyweight champ Donnie Nietes. Although many expected another set of names to become world champs in 2007, the two proved that they too, deserve our attention. They may not be as popular as the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Boom Boom Bautista and AJ Banal, but what counts most is that they have the belts that the others don’t. Both Gerry and Donnie should weather through all the storms in 2008 and finish the year unscathed. Gerry will defeat Ratanachai Sor Vorapin in his first title defense on March 2 and will most likely defend his title at least one more time towards the end of the year. As for Nietes, there were talks of a title defense this month, but it looks like bigger things are being cooked up. The twist for Donnie is if he can overcome his limited international exposure and hold up to the pressure that championship boxing brings with it.
Honorable mention here goes to IBF flyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. (and trainer/father Nonito Sr.). Although he isn’t strictly speaking one of Cebu Boxing’s products, he has now made Cebu his training base for his future fights, using no less than the ALA Gym as his gym of choice.
Among Cebu’s boxers, I expect AJ Banal’s star to shine the brightest in 2008. No, he isn’t going to win a world championship (not yet), but he’s going to plow right through all opponents who will be thrown at him here and in the U.S.. My only wish is that he be given top-quality foes who will push him to the limit. I hate to say this, but I don’t see Boom Boom doing anything dramatic this year unless he improves and matures as a boxer tenfold. It’s not that he isn’t good. He just happens to be fighting in a weight class with boxers like Israel Vasquez, Rafael Marquez and Daniel Ponce de Leon. I don’t see a world title fight for Boom Boom this year as he’ll be busy improving his stock.
Gorres will be facing one his toughest opponents in Vic Darchinyan two weeks from now. He’s going to squeeze through to a win by decision as long as he can box and use his superior skills to stay away from trouble. He should run away from the bombs of Darchinyan and just pepper him with an endless array of combinations. Chances of winning by knockout are slim, thus he must go out for a one-sided win to avoid any doubts about the decision. The career of Gorres is going to be determined by this fight. A win will mean a shot at champion Dimitri Kirilov, while a loss may mean the road to become a journeyman-boxer or even the possible end of a career.
Randy Suico and Rev Santillan will just be themselves. They’ll be the best in their weight divisions at the Asia Pacific level, but I’m afraid that’s how far they’ll get in their careers. It looks like their chances of winning a world championship aren’t too bright. They’re better off earning as much as they can defending their OPBF championships and if the chance is given, go for broke in a world title fight. Special mention goes out to former OPBF minimumweight champ and two-time world title challenger Rodel Mayol who’ll have one last shot at saving his career under the eyes of Manny Pacquiao. If he doesn’t seriously train and take care of himself, he can consider himself washed up.
Also standing out this year will be the likes of Milan Milendo, Along Denoy, Mark Jason Melliguen, Michael Domingo and Rocky Fuentes. Their careers will slowly but surely develop in preparation for bigger fights in 2009. Young stars on the rise include Joseph Omanz, James Bacon and Ciso Morales.
Among Cebu’s most talented boxers who’ll find themselves in limbo are Yuka Gejon and former world champ Malcolm Tuñacao. It’s really sad to see them in their current situation when you know they’re capable of doing so much more. I just hope they realize that they don’t have much time left in their careers, and that they either shape up or simply ship out for good.
From the promoter’s angle, we can expect the ALA Boxing Gym to be more aggressive both here and abroad. SGG Sports Promotions won’t be far behind as it prepares for more local and WBO activities that could include a World Cup. Rex “Wakee” Salud will be focusing his efforts on being a confidante of Pacquiao, and will be known more as a source of boxers for fights abroad.
Gone are the days when our annual forecast for Cebu Boxing was all about Cebu dominating the national boxing scene.
Like that “Island in the Pacific” of the 90’s, Cebu Boxing has zoomed past the national borders and on to the international boxing world.
**
Time-out: Happy birthday to my favorite dentist, Dra. Pinky Navarro! >>> You can reach me at bleachertalk@yahoo.com.
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