Cebu Boxing 2015

Cebu Boxing in 2015 is going to another level, raising the bar, and bringing Pinoy boxers to the world stage. Cebu Boxing will once again take the lead in the Philippine boxing market and will tow the entire industry to yet another level. Now tell me I’m wrong.

 We’ll start the year with a history making world champion. At the strike of the new year, WBO world light flyweight champion Donne Nietes broke the record of the great Gabriel “Flash” Elorde as the Pinoy world champion with the longest reign. Donnie has now been a world champion for seven years, three months and counting. We pray that this reign continues when Donnie defends his crown in Macau at a Top Rank event in March. We will then have Milan Melindo go for a world championship when he challenges IBF light flyweight champion Javier Mendoza of Mexico. The initial date mentioned was March 28, but this could still change, pending Mendoza’s fight against Mauricio Fuentes today in Mexico. What a way to start the year, right? But this isn’t the biggest news.

 The latest, more long term and more impactful thrust is Cebu Boxing’s drive to bring Philippine boxers to the United States. ALA Promotions CEO Michael Aldeguer recalled how the idea of putting up a boxing event overseas was far-fetched. No Philippine boxing promoter has ever done it, but not for long. ALA Promotions is targeting three events in California where they have been granted a boxing promoter’s license. This comes on the heels of a successful international event held in Dubai in 2014. In the planning stage are two small scale events in May and June, in partnership with The Filipino Channel (TFC). They will then stage a bigger event at the Stubhub Center in Carson, California. Aldeguer said that it was high time to bring Philippine boxers abroad by putting up boxing events themselves, and not just by having them fight in the events of other promoters based in the U.S. What we’re seeing here will hopefully become a series international boxing events that will become a regular activity. With TFC as a partner, the prospects for success are potentially amazing as a huge Filipino market awaits and thirsts for anything Pinoy. They will not only have Pinoy boxing on their TVs; they can now watch live boxing. I’d like to believe that this platform is similar to the other showbiz programs of ABS-CBN which also air on TFC.

While Pinoys in the US get to watch stars like Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo on TV via TFC, they also get to watch live events/programs when ABS-CBN stars go to the US for concerts, variety shows or simple showbiz tours. These events are also packed with Pinoy fans. With boxing, the formula is basically the same, but this time featuring Pinoy boxers who they have watched on TV. I can already imagine what it will be like: a predominantly Pinoy crowd watching Pinoy boxers. Everyone will be cheering and speaking in Filipino, Bisaya, Ilonggo, Ilocano or any other local dialect. It will be like a celebrating town fiesta. As Pinoy Pride goes to the US, another trip to Dubai or another city the Middle East is also being planned.

 The good news though is that while Pinoy Pride goes to the US and the Middle East, its local version will still go on. The annual free to the public Sinulog Boxing takes place next Sunday, while Pinoy Pride 29 goes back to Davao City on February 7. Genesis Servania takes center stage in Davao as he prepares for a possible shot at a world title fight. But no rush for now. “Azukal” will be prepared, trained and honed through the year along other prospects like Jason Pagara, “King” Arthur Villanueva and “Prince” Albert Pagara. Mark Magsayo leads a pack of young, up-and-coming boxers who will be kept busy in fight cards as they slowly but surely build their stock.

 Another Cebu-based boxer setting up camp in the US is former world champion Johnriel Casimero. He is reportedly heading to Florida to train at a camp courtesy of promoter/manager Sampson Lewkowicz and Sammy Gello-ani. Also joining him is another ex-world champ in Marvin “Marvelous” Sonsona, a talented boxer who can win another world title if he sincerely commits himself to the sport. The US stint of both boxers is a simple and plain strategy to provide them with strict, closed and focused training atmosphere, sans the distractions of unnecessary stuff. Casimero is on deck for a shot at the winner of the IBF light flyweight title fight between Amnat Ruenroeng of Thailand and Zou Shiming of China. Sonsona is also being groomed to fight in a world title eliminator fight within the first semester of the year. If both boxers get back on the right track, we could have another two world champions by the end of the year.

 While all this is ongoing, the rest of the Philippine boxing market is also growing, taking cue from the lead initiated by Cebu Boxing. While Manny Pacquiao will still be the nation’s biggest show, the boxing market continues to grow, thanks to a lot of activities in Davao, General Santos, Batangas, Rizal (Angono), Baguio and Manila. Boxing promoters today are now very much active, looking for that next Pinoy world champion.

 Cebu Boxing threw a stone into a quiet and peaceful pool of water. The impact of that stone splashing into the water has now created ripple effects across the country. Mabuhi ka Cebu Boxing!

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Time-out: Congratulations to all winners of the 5th Sinulog Football Festival.