Loreto joins cast of world champs

MANILA, Philippines - There’s a new kid on the world championship block and unexpectedly, Rey Loreto has joined WBO minimumweight king Merlito Sabillo, WBO lightflyweight titlist Donnie Nietes, IBF lightflyweight belt keeper Johnriel Casimero, IBO superflyweight ruler Edrin Dapudong and IBA superflyweight titleholder Bruno Escalante in the cast of Filipino throne sitters.

Loreto, 23, wasn’t supposed to beat South Africa’s Nkosinathi Joyi in their 12-round bout for the vacant IBO lightflyweight crown in Monte Carlo, Monaco, last Feb. 1. He was practically hand-picked to play the role of cannon fodder for Joyi, a former IBF/IBO minimumweight champion. It was like Loreto was set up to be devoured in the lion’s den with the presence of South African referee Andile Matika whose officiating history is marked by failed title bids of Filipinos Silvester Lopez, Renan Trongco, Florante Condes and Juanito Rubillar.

To be fair, Loreto earned the right to fight for the vacant throne by scoring a seventh round majority technical decision over former WBA minimumweight champion Pornsawan Porpramook of Thailand in Bangkok last August. It was Loreto’s ninth win in his last 11 outings.  A late bloomer, Loreto turned pro in 2008 and lost his first four bouts. His career seemed far from promising as only two years ago, he lost four in a row, three in Thailand, within a six-month period. But Loreto painstakingly pursued his dream of someday becoming a world champion.

Known as a fighter who never turns down a paycheck, Loreto has kept busy in the ring through the years. In 2009, he logged six fights and the next year, five. In 2011, Loreto outdid himself by figuring in nine bouts, winning five. Entering the fight against Joyi, Loreto’s record was an unimpressive 17-13, with 10 KOs.

Joyi, 31, has feasted on Filipinos in a career that started in 2002. His Filipino victims were Armand de la Cruz, Gabriel Pumar, Condes and Benezer Alolod. Except for Condes, they were all knocked out. From 2006 to 2012, the 5-6 South African reigned as IBO and IBF minimumweight champion. His only losses were to Mexican Mario Rodriguez and countryman Hekkie Budler by a split decision. His record before fighting Loreto was 24-2, with 17 KOs.

Loreto, however, wasn’t fazed by Joyi’s reputation. With trainer Joven Jorda in his corner, he climbed onto the ring to battle Joyi unintimidated. He had nothing to lose and everything to gain. Loreto knew he wouldn’t stand a chance if the fight went to the scorecards. The judges were Howard John Foster and Marcus McDonnell of England and Matteo Montella of Italy. His only hope was to score a knockout.

The same situation faced Manny Pacquiao when he took on defending WBC flyweight champion Chatchai Sasakul in Bangkok in 2008. Pacquiao lost nearly every round before scoring a come-from-behind knockout with a single left hook to the jaw in the eighth to wrest the crown. He wouldn’t have won the decision and made sure of the outcome by putting Sasakul flat on his back.

Loreto had the same thing in mind as Pacquiao in 2008. Late in the second round, he rocked Joyi with a right to the head and had the South African in deep trouble with a flurry of lefts. A southpaw like Loreto, Joyi barely survived the assault and got up from his stool to open the third round on shaky legs. Loreto went in for the kill and landed an overhand left that sent Joyi toppling to the canvas. The fight was over at 0:49 of the third.

Loreto, who is from Davao City, is mandated to make his first title defense in South Africa according to his manager Brico Santig. But the prospect of facing a South African challenger isn’t raising alarm bells. Last June, Dapudong travelled to South Africa to meet defending IBO superflyweight champion Gideon Buthelezi and took away the title via a stunning first round knockout. Loreto will draw inspiration from Dapudong’s feat.

So far this year, Filipinos have won one and lost one in world title bouts. Last month, Rocky Fuentes dropped a unanimous 12-round decision to Amnat Ruenroeng for the vacant IBF flyweight title in Nakhon Ratchasima. Pacquiao intends to rejoin the cast of reigning Filipino world champions when he takes on WBO welterweight titlist Timothy Bradley in Las Vegas on April 12. Another Filipino planning to return to the elite circle is Nonito Donaire Jr. who is being lined up to challenge WBA featherweight champion Simpiwe Vetyeka of South Africa in April or May in Macau. A third Filipino out to get back on the title track is former WBC/IBF lightflyweight and WBO/WBA flyweight champion Brian Viloria.