2012 Report Card: 3 Pinoys lead way in pro boxing

MANILA, Philippines - Three fighters combined for eight of 11 wins by Filipinos in world title bouts this year with WBO superbantamweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. showing the way with four victories and WBO/WBA flyweight king Brian Viloria and IBF lightflyweight ruler Johnriel Casimero contributing two apiece.

Donaire, Viloria, Casimero, WBO lightflyweight titlist Donnie Nietes and WIBA (Women’s International Boxing Association) minimumweight queen Gretchen Abaniel share the spotlight as the only reigning Filipino world champions with 2012 coming to a close.

In all, there were 26 world title fights involving Filipinos staged this year. The winning rate of 42.3 percent is considered below par. But the bright side is there are five Filipinos ranked No. 1 by different governing bodies – WBC minimumweight Denver Cuello (32-4-6, with 21 KOs, unbeaten in his last 11 bouts, 10 by KO), WBO lightflyweight Eduard Penerio (15-1, with 10 KOs), WBO flyweight Milan Melindo (28-0, with 11 KOs), WBC bantamweight Malcolm Tuñacao (32-2-3, with 20 KOs, unbeaten in his last 11 outings, eight in Japan where he is now based) and IBO welterweight Manny Pacquiao. As No. 1 contenders, they’re next in line for a mandatory title shot.

The rankings also show seven Filipinos occupying the No. 2 slot – IBO minimumweight Cuello, WBA flyweight Rocky Fuentes (35-6-2, with 20 KOs, unbeaten in his last 15 bouts since 2008), IBO flyweight Sonny Boy Jaro (34-11-5, with 24 KOs), WBO flyweight Froilan Saludar (16-0-1, with 11 KOs), WBO superflyweight Mark Anthony Geraldo (26-4-3, with 11 KOs), WBO bantamweight Diarh Gabutan (19-1-2, with 9 KOs) and WBO welterweight Pacquiao.

Additionally, there are four reigning OPBF champions – minimumweight Merlito Sabillo, flyweight Fuentes, superflyweight Arthur Villanueva and bantamweight Rolly Lunas. So the pipeline is loaded with future world title prospects.

Donaire, 30, notched four wins in world title fights this year, outpointing Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. for the vacant WBO superbantamweight crown in San Antonio last February, retaining the WBO title and claiming the IBF crown via a decision over Jeffrey Mathebula in California last July, halting former WBC champion Toshiaki Nishioka to keep his WBO diadem in California last October and defending his WBO throne on a third round demolition of Jorge Arce in Houston two weeks ago. Viloria, 32, halted Mexican archrival Omar Niño Romero to retain his WBO flyweight title at the Ynares Center last May then knocked out Hernan Marquez to unify the WBO and WBA crowns in Los Angeles last November. Casimero, 22, stopped Luis Lazarte in a riot-marred contest to claim the interim IBF lightflyweight title in Argentina last February then was elevated to regular champion with the inactivity of Ulises Solis due to injury. Casimero then scored a split decision over Pedro Guevara to retain the crown in Mexico last August.

Scoring a win apiece in a world title fight this year were Nietes who retained his WBO lightflyweight crown by outpointing Mexico’s Felipe Salguero at Resorts World last June, Jaro who stopped Thai legend Pongsaklek Wonjongkam in six to snatch the WBC flyweight title in Chonburi last March and Abaniel who halted Thailand’s Modthanoi Sithsaithong in the fourth round for the vacant WIBA minimumweight crown in Makati early this month.

Two Filipinos figured in draws in world title fights. Michael Farenas held WBA featherweight champion Takashi Uchiyama to a third round technical draw in Saitama last July while Saragani’s John Mark Apolinario battled Roberto Vasquez to a majority 12-round draw in an interim WBA bantamweight title fight in Argentina last November.

Losing in world championship bids were A. J. Banal who was stopped by Pungluang Sor Singyu in the ninth round for the vacant WBO bantamweight throne at the MOA Arena last October, Zamboanga del Norte’s Jonathan Taconing who was robbed in dropping a fifth round technical decision to defending WBC lightflyweight champion Kompayak Porpramook in Bangkok last May, Zamboanga Sibugay’s Silvester Lopez who was outpointed by defending WBC superflyweight champion Yota Sato in Yokohama last July, Farenas who survived two knockdowns but dropped Yuriorkis Gamboa once in bowing by a unanimous decision for the interim WBA superfeatherweight crown in Las Vegas early this month, Rodel Mayol who was halted by Juan Carlos Sanchez in an IBF superflyweight title bout in Los Mochis last September, Mercito Gesta who was outpointed by IBF lightweight champion Miguel Angel Vazquez in Las Vegas this month, Florante Condes who was decisioned by defending IBO minimumweight titlist Hekkie Budler in South Africa last September, Edrin Dapudong who lost a disputed split 12-round decision to Gideon Buthelezi for the vacant IBO superflyweight throne in South Africa last November, Roli Gasca who was outpointed by Alexander Bakhtin for the vacant IBO superbantamweight title in Moscow last September, Cotabato del Norte’s Lorenzo (Thunderbolt) Villanueva who was knocked out by Indonesia’s Daud Yordan in the second round for the vacant IBO featherweight diadem in Singapore last May and Abaniel who lost to Teeraporn Pannimit for the vacant WBO female minimumweight crown in Bung Nam Thao last April.

Three defending Filipino world champions surrendered their belts this year. Pacquiao lost his WBO welterweight title to Timothy Bradley on a controversial split 12-round decision in Las Vegas last June. Jaro yielded his WBC flyweight belt to Toshiyuki Igarashi on a split 12-round verdict in Saitama last July and Ana Julaton gave up her WBO female superbantamweight title on a decision to Yesica Marcos in Argentina last March. Julaton has since rebounded to score two wins in a row and is now itching to reclaim her world title.