Cebu Boxing Check-up
It’s that time of the year when we take a look at Cebu Boxing and check on its vital stats. Is it alive? Healthy? Vibrant? Or is it struggling? Barely surviving? How I wish I had great news to share with you on the issue.
The country had a total of 54 fight cards since the start of
the year. Five of these were held in Cebu; that’s nine percent of all fight
cards. Three of these were promoted by Big Yellow Promotions, while Omega and
Naris/RWS took care of the others. We should still be thankful that these
promoters emptied their pockets to stage these fight cards. But did you say
that Cebu is the hotbed of Philippine Boxing? Sure looks like it isn’t anymore.
Among the five Cebu fight cards of 2019, none can be considered as “big time”
boxing, with the Pinoy Pride series as benchmark. All were small cards that
were held in different venues and where admission was free. It looks like gone
are the days when boxing fans looked forward to going to the Waterfront Hotel
for a night of boxing (and paid for their tickets). If that wasn’t possible,
the IEC Convention Center was another option. The fights were televised on a
one-day delayed basis over the S+A channel of ABS-CBN on a Sunday. But the
fights were aired live on a pay-per-view scheme on a Saturday night. Where are
these big-time boxing events today? Wala, Zero. Nada.
If we don’t have big fight cards, then where are Cebu’s top
boxers? Four-division world champion Donnie Nietes is idle and waiting for that
big break to face off against either of the super flyweight champions Juan
Francisco Estrada (WBC) or Khalid Yafai (WBA). Is this fight taking any place
soon? I sure hope so. Donnie isn’t getting any younger and he hasn’t fought
since winning the WBO belt on New Year’s Eve. Surprisingly, it’s been very
quiet at ALA Promotions and ALA Boxing. What gives? After exploding into the
scene, the Pinoy Pride series was the most-watched boxing event on TV. But it
has suddenly gone off the air, and there isn’t any news or even talks about
another Pinoy Pride taking place soon. I pray though that I’m wrong. They did a
great job in showcasing the talents of world champions Nietes and Milan Melindo
and their upcoming prospects in Jeo Santisima, Albert Pagara, Melvin Jerusalem
and KJ Catarja. What will happen to their careers now? I hope the ALA camp
doesn’t remain quiet for too long. Their silence is a serious setback for Cebu
Boxing.
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| Praying that four-division world champion Donnie Nietes gets to fight soon. |
One of the trends that has made local fight cards scarce is how Cebu’s top boxers are now campaigning overseas. Jhack Tepora and Marlon Tapales are now based in the United States. “King” Arthur Villanueva is due to fight for a world title in Astana next month. Fighting abroad is the more practical approach as this means zero expenses on the part of the boxer and his manager. In fact, it’s an instant source of revenues, thanks to the fight card’s promoter. WBO interim bantamweight world champion Johnriel Casimero may no longer be Cebu-based but he too, has made a living fighting abroad and winning, too.
But while this trend will dominate the boxing scene, where
and when will Cebu’s young prospects fight? Let’s face it. The silence of ALA
Promotions has reverberated throughout the boxing community with many surprised
at the situation. The mere fact that they didn’t put up a single fight card in
2019 is not a good sign, is it? I guess we were all spoiled by the Pinoy Pride
that we continue to search for more and don’t want to settle for anything less.
Meanwhile, Big Yellow has stepped up with their three fight cards (and
counting). These may not match up with what local fans are used to, but we’ll
take it. Better than none at all. Let’s also hope that both Omega Boxing and
RWS/Naris continue putting up fight cards for their stables.
As Cebu remains silent, Sanman Promotions of General Santos
has somehow stolen the limelight and is now making its presence felt in Pinoy
Boxing. Through its tie-up with ESPN 5, their fighters are now active fighting
here and abroad, getting to fight on national TV. Their boxers now hog the
headlines of Pinoy Boxing, much in the same way that the ALA boxers did before.
Another boxing endeavor that is worth watching
is the Ultimate Boxing Series: Kamaong Pinoy, a tie-up between Gerry
Peñalosa’s GerryPens Promotions and ESPN 5. This features young but tough
prospects in a tournament-type scheme with a nationwide network (including
Cebu). Another phenomenon stealing the limelight is MMA or Mixed Martial Arts.
One Championship is now a regular in the Philippines and is aired also over
S+A. Has this replaced Pinoy Pride? Hmm.
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| Popoy Navarro with Angela "Unstoppable" Lee, One Atomweight World Champion. At the rate they're going, MMA can overtake boxing in popularity and following soon. |
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