Fuentes to break tie

So far, the count is dead even at eight wins and eight losses for Filipinos in world title fights this year. Two bouts are scheduled this weekend. Cebu’s Rocky Fuentes will break the tie with either a win or a loss when he battles heavily-favored WBC flyweight champion Roman (Chocolatito) Gonzalez of Nicaragua in Yokohama on Saturday. The next morning, WBO welterweight king Manny Pacquiao stakes his crown against unbeaten challenger Chris Algieri in a scheduled 12-round bout at the Cotai Arena in the Venetian Resort Macau.

Before the year ends, three more Filipinos will figure in world championship bouts, all in South Africa where a foreigner’s chances of winning over a hometowner are historically slim. Albay’s Michael Dasmarinas will take on IBO superflyweight ruler Lwandile Sityatha on Nov. 30. IBO lightflyweight titleholder Rey Loreto of Davao City defends his belt against the man he dethroned, Nkosinathi Joyi, in a rematch on Dec. 13. And Cebu’s Roli Gasca squares off with IBO featherweight champion Lusanda Komanisi on Dec. 15.

The eight hard-luck Filipinos who lost in world title bouts this year are Fuentes, Edrin Dapudong, Gasca, Richie Mepranum, Nonito Donaire Jr., Marvin Mabait, Merlito Sabillo and Gretchen Abaniel. The eight winners were Donnie Nietes twice, Loreto, Donaire, Pacquiao, Bruno Escalante twice and Abaniel.

Fuentes bowed to Thailand’s Amnat Ruenroeng on points for the vacant IBF flyweight title in Nakhon Ratchasima last January and has an opportunity to redeem himself against Gonzalez who is managed by Akihiko Honda. But it will be a major upset if Fuentes beats Gonzalez who has a 40-0 record, with 34 KOs. Fuentes was once Gonzalez’ sparring partner so he knows the Nicaraguan’s style. Larry Holmes was Muhammad Ali’s sparring partner when the Louisville Lip prepared for the “Thrilla in Manila” against Joe Frazier in 1975 and five years later, they met in a real fight for the WBC heavyweight crown. Ali didn’t win a single round in the three judges’ scorecards and surrendered at the end of the 10th round. Can Fuentes do to Gonzalez what Holmes did to Ali?

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Dapudong lost the IBO superflyweight crown to Sityatha on a split decision in South Africa last July. It was a short-lived reign for Dapudong who wrested the crown on a shock first round knockout over Gideon Buthelezi the year before. Dapudong yielded the throne in his initial defense. Gasca lost a 12-round decision to Thabo Sonjica in an IBO superbantamweight title fight last August. Sonjica was stripped of the crown for failing to make weight but the fight went on with Gasca to be declared the new champion if he won and the throne to remain vacant if the South African won.

Mepranum was halted by WBA/WBO flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada of Mexico in Sonora last April. Donaire lost to Jamaica’s Nicholas Walters on a sixth round knockout in a WBA unification featherweight title fight in Carson City, California, last month. A week ago, Mabait was stopped by WBC superflyweight titlist Carlos Cuadras of Mexico in Washington, D. C. Mabait was fresh from losing to Alejandro Hernandez by knockout in Mexico City last March and checked in as a late replacement for former WBC flyweight king Sonny Boy Jaro who couldn’t make the trip because of visa issues. Cuadras, 26, had no difficulty posting his second successful title defense as he improved his record to 31-0-1, with 25 KOs. Mabait’s slate fell to 19-3-2, with 13 KOs.

Sabillo lost his WBO minimumweight title to Mexico’s Francisco Rodriguez Jr. via a 10th round knockout in Monterrey last March. Abaniel dropped a split 10-round verdict to Kumiko Seeser Ikehara for the vacant WBO female minimumweight crown in Osaka last September. Japanese judge Katsuhiko Nakamura scored it 96-94 for the Filipina but the two other judges scored it for Ikehara – Filipino Salven Lagumbay had it 98-92 and Thai Surat Soikrachang 97-93.

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Among the winners, Nietes and Escalante showed the way with two victories apiece. Nietes retained his WBO lightflyweight title by knocking out Moises Fuentes in the ninth round at the Mall of Asia Arena last May and forcing Carlos Velarde to surrender at the end of the seventh at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino last Saturday. Escalante, the reigning IBA (International Boxing Association) superflyweight champion, repulsed challengers Lorenzo Trejo in Redwood City last February and Victor Ruiz in Brooks last April. Escalante, 26, was born in Cebu, polished his skills in Hawaii and now lives in California. He has won his last eight fights to raise his record to 13-1-1, with 6 KOs.

Loreto took the IBO lightflyweight title by knocking out Joyi last February. Donaire won the WBA “undisputed” featherweight crown by scoring a fifth round technical decision over South Africa’s Simpiwe Vetyeka in Macau last May. Pacquiao regained the WBO welterweight crown via a revenge 12-round decision over Timothy Bradley in Las Vegas last April. Abaniel stopped Thailand’s Nungnun Mor Krungthepthonburi in the ninth round for the Women’s International Boxing Association minimumweight title in Binan last February.

The list of winners excludes Davao City’s Randy Petalcorin who claimed the interim WBA lightflyweight title via a seventh round disposal of Panama’s Walter Tello in Shanghai last August. Petalcorin, 22, has a 22-1-1 record, with 17 KOs. He is unbeaten in his last 17 fights or since losing to Marlon Tapales on a second round knockout at the Cuneta Astrodome four years ago.