Cebu Boxing 2017

2017 was another productive year for Cebu Boxing, and like previous years, there were surprises and a few unexpecteds here and there. It all starts at the top with our world champions. Donnie Nietes won his third world title in a third weight class when he outboxed Komgrich Nantapech for the International Boxing Federation flyweight championship of the world last April. In an interesting development, Nietes went for the IBF title after winning two World Boxing Organization world championships in the mini-flyweight (105 pounds) and junior flyweight (108 pounds) divisions. This is where he set the record for being the longest-reigning Pinoy world champion in Philippine boxing history. I was hoping he would extend this reign with the WBO but I guess this wasn’t possible. But then again, winning a third world championship is a huge feat by itself and already assures him of his legacy in Pinoy boxing.

For the second biggest achievement of the year, we don’t need to go too far. He’s no other than Donnie’s stablemate at the ALA Gym in Milan Melindo. Milan won the regular IBF light flyweight world championship when he knocked out erstwhile Japanese champ Akira Yaegashi in a single round last May. Milan was the interim champion at that time while Yaegashi was the regular world champion, but it took less then three minutes for Milan to snatch Yaegashi’s world championship, achieving this feat in front of Yaegashi’s fans in Japan. Milan defended his title via a split decision win over Hekkie Budler of South Africa last September here in Cebu, and he isn’t stopping. In what will be the biggest fight of his career, he faces World Boxing Association light flyweight world champion Ryoichi Taguchi in a unification bout on December 31. Let’s all pray for Milan as we support his historic attempt to win the titles of two world boxing bodies, something that hasn’t been done by anyone from Cebu boxing.

They may not be world champions but Jhack Tepora and Jonas Sultan were this year’s pleasant surprises as they scored big wins to beef up their stock and chances for a world championship. Tepora, fighting for the first time overseas as a pro, knocked out Lusanda Komanisi in the second round to win the WBO Inter-Continental featherweight championship last September in South Africa, another clutch win by a Pinoy on foreign soil. The win instantly placed Jhack at number four in the rankings of the WBO. He had earlier won regional belts at the junior featherweight division, but this is the fight that got him up there quickly. Sultan, fighting in the shadows of his more popular stablemates Nietes and Melindo, stunned boxing fans when he defeated former two-time world champion Johnriel Casimero in an IBF super flyweight title-eliminator fight last September.

The win bolted him to the top of the rankings waiting for the chance to challenge IBF super flyweight world champion Jerwin Ancajas. I don’t see Sultan facing off against Ancajas soon as I’d rather have him shop somewhere else for a shot at a world title. Tepora’s case is a little more interesting. He has a legitimate shot at WBO world champion Oscar Valdez of Mexico, but how soon he gets this chance will depend on Omega Boxing’s negotiations with the international market. But while he can’t get that title shot asap, he could be lining up for a title defense in early 2018. The thing that makes Tepora’s case interesting is that Mark Magsayo is ranked number two also in the WBO featherweight division. Magsayo had three fights in 2017 to stay active and maintain his ranking. He recently defended his WBO International featherweight championship last November, and is also itching for a shot at Valdez’s belt. I’m sure he (and Tepora) are also considering their options on the IBF side where Lee Selby of Wales reigns as champion. There won’t be an issue of network since the ALA Team has the right contacts in the international boxing scene. But the big question is if they’ll push Magsayo to go for world title next year. Other familiar names in the WBO featherweight division include Genesis Servania and Albert Pagara. Servania fought gallantly against Valdez in a world title fight but wasn’t good enough to win.

This means going back to the drawing board, setting up tune-up fights along the way while playing the waiting game. The Pagara brothers Albert and Jason find themselves at the crossroads of their careers. While they’re talented and tough, the consensus among boxing fans is that they might not have what it takes to win a world championship. Both have somehow declined since they were bannered as poster boys of Pinoy Pride and ABS-CBN Sports. But let’s see how Jason fares against the undefeated Japanese prospect Hiroki Ikada when they face off on Tuesday for the WBO Asia Pacific super lightweight championship in Japan. Will Jason redeem himself or will he be heading elsewhere? Meanwhile Albert has also kept himself busy as he slowly but surely works his way up the ladder. Albert will most likely face tougher opponents in 2018 to make a serious run at the rankings. Those were the biggest names that made Cebu Boxing alive in 2017. Honorable mention goes to Geo Santisima and the recovering Christian Araneta.

The year wouldn’t be complete if we don’t talk about the hard-working boxing officials who have made their mark both here and overseas. Our judges, referees and physicians are now regulars in the China boxing scene, Hong Kong and Japan. The boxing industry now looks up to them as role models of the sport. Kudos to all of them too.

Cebu Boxing 2017 bows out, and as always, delivered the knockout blows for the year.