Pinoy Pride 34 Follow-up

Just when a  double jab-straight was enough of a combo to send a guy reeling though the ropes, an uppercut and a left hook lands and sends an opponent to the canvass for a fitting follow through and coup de grâce. The finishing touches are just that: icing on the cake that give it all a finishing touch that has the crowd applauding in amazement. This a scenario that boxing fans look forward to in fights, getting their money’s worth when they watch fights live. But did you know that off the ring, this situation also occurs?

Fresh from announcing its first ever boxing fight card dubbed as Pinoy Pride 33 in the United States, which takes place on October 17, ALA Promotions announced that it was following this up with year-end fight card on November 28: Pinoy Pride 34, “Back with a Vengeance,” at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu City. Here we were, still excited in anticipation of Pinoy Pride 33, and it hasn’t even taken place yet being two weeks away. Then comes the announcement that Milan Melindo, Arhtur Villanueva, AJ Banal, Rocky Fuentes and KJ Cataraja are headlining what will most likely be the last edition of the Pinoy Pride series for 2015. It’s quite a stinging follow-through of an uppercut and a hook after still being dazed from a torrid double jab-combo. As a fan, I’m already groggy and out on my feet but the referee doesn’t stop the fight. So here comes the finishing salvo that wipes me off my feet! Whoa! Out cold I am, wishing I never decided to get on that ring s few minutes earlier. After Pinoy Pride 33 was announced, we were concerned that ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN would no longer stage another edition on local shores in 2015, considering the resources and all the hassle it takes to put up a fight card in the U.S. We were already resigned to accepting that the next big card would be the usual post-Sinulog event in January 2016. “Naka quota naman siguro" ang ALA for 2015. False! They weren’t done yet. These guys never fail to impress, don’t they?

“Back with a Vengeance” is a fitting title for a bunch of boxers who have been there, done that, but didn’t quite make it. They fought in world championship fights outside the countryr, but came home without any title belts. To some, this meant the end of the road for these boxers who were once touted as future world champions. Melindo has lost in two title fights: one for the WBO world flyweight championship, and the other for the IBF world light flyweight title. While the flyweight title fight was a clear loss, some claim.

Milan’s latest fight was stopped prematurely as momentum was tiding over to the son of Cagayan de Oro. But that’s done with and we can’t reverse it now, can we? We just move on, look at tomorrow, and go for it again, step by step.  But can Milan recover and win it all again?

This is the same question that is also being asked of AJ “Bazooka” Banal and Rocky Fuentes, and the answer seems to be clear among boxing fans and analysts alike. Let’s face it. While Milan may have at least one more shot left before being called for a third strike, I’m afraid Banal and Fuentes have seen their better days and it will take a huge string upsets for them to win a world championship down the road.

Banal lost twice by knock-out in two previous world title fights to Rafael Concepcion of Panama and Punguang Sorsingyu of Thailand. While I’ve been a fan since he turned pro, I also admit that his chances of winning again are slim. Fuentes has also lost in two title fights, also by KO to two tough hombres who were at the top of their game: Amrat Ruenrong (Thailand) and pound-for-pound king Roman Gonzales (Nicaragua).

Both are still undefeated and may remain this way for a long time (especially Gonzles). Rocky himself admitted that Gonzales is on another level and there doesn’t seem to be any flyweight who can knock him off this throne. On a side note, let’s pray that Brian Viloria will find cracks in Roman’s defense and manages to land his vaunted right hand on October 17. Wishful thinking?

Arthur Villanueva has lost once in a world title fight to McJoe Arroyo and the Bacolod super flyweight is hoping to recover and stage another run at a world championship. At this stage, some feel his shot at a world championship came too early, but when this kind of chances come your way, it’s so hard to say “no.” Some have also said that although he was behind on the scorecards of the judges, the fight was swaying towards his way going into the championship rounds.

They add that if the fight wasn’t stopped, he may have won the title. But then again, these are all “what if” situations that we’ll never realise and so we have to accept these as part of the trade and more importantly, something from which one learns lessons.

Things happen for a reason and boxers should see through these experiences. Melindo and Villanueva must realize that in order to win a world title, they still need to improve their craft and become better boxers. Sure, they’re already good, but maybe not good enough in the eyes of the judges. And that’s the bottom line.

If you can’t knock your opponent out, the judges will render the decision regardless of whether or not you felt you won the fight. That’s a simple hard matter of fact. The judges, not you, score the fight.

Back with a Vengeance will this show us if Milan is facing a strike three; if Villanueva can recover from a tough-loss; and if Rocky and AJ should keep on fighting. What a way to follow through with a big bang to end the year for Cebu Boxing.

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Time-out: Happy teachers’ day to all the teachers, mentors and administrators. May your tribe increase. Molding the character of the country’s future leaders and citizenry is a noble mission, and for this we take our hats off and wish you all the best.