Nietes retains WBO title belt

DONNIE Nietes carved out a unanimous decision win over Mexican Erik Ramirez as he primed himself up as the next boxing superstar from the Philippines.

The Filipino champion knocked Ramirez down four times on his way to retaining his World Boxing Organization (WBO) minimumweight title.

The three judges had it 115-109, 116-108 and 113-111, all for the 26-year fighter out of the famed ALA boxing stable.

Nietes made known his intention right from the opening round when he battered the Mexican challenger with a barrage of punches, including a big right hand that sent Ramirez down to the canvass.

Although Ramirez weathered the storm, he wasn’t the same again following that knockdown.

The Filipino from Murcia, Bacolod City improved to 24-1 with 14 KOS as he retained his 105-pound belt for the second straight time.

Ramirez fell to 25-6.

“I came here to fight. I clearly lost. Nietes is a great champion, no doubt,” said the Mexican.

Two more solid rights in the fifth and ninth rounds had Ramirez going down again late into the fight.

The Mexican however had his best moment in the final round when he had Nietes in trouble after connecting on a right. But as he pressed the champion, the Filipino countered with his own straight right that wobbled Martinez and put him down on his knees for the last time.

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LATEBREAKER: Donaire title fight moved to April

THIS one’s another bad news for fans of Filipino world champion Nonito Donaire Jr.

The title defense of the 26-year old Donaire against Mexican Raul Martinez has been moved again for April 18 also at the Araneta Coliseum, marking the second time the fight was postponed for the year.

No reason from fight organizers was given as to why the boxing card is being moved to a later date. Solar Sports is putting up the fight along with Top Rank Promotions.

It was originally scheduled March 15, but later was changed to March 22.

The delay was the latest setback that marred Donaire’s pro career.

He was set to defend his Internationla Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight crown against Hussein Hussein in Dubai last year, only for the promotional outfit to cancel the fight at the last minute.

The end result had the California-based Donaire staking his title at the end of the year in Las Vegas. Despite being rusty after almost a year of inactivity, he nonetheless retained the IBF belt with a sixth round technical knockout of challenger Moruti Mthalane of South Africa.

Donaire is currently in the final stage of his training camp in Baguio City.

The boxing card also includes Fil-Am Brian Viloria who challenges for the IBF light flyweight championship of Ulises Solis. -Philippine Boxing News

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The next `Mexecutioner'?

Nietes in action

HE’S no Manny Pacquiao, but Filipino Donnie Nietes is out to prove he too, can be a Mexican executioner.

Not minding the hostile crowd expected to show up at the Auditorio Guelaguetza in Oaxaca, Mexico, Nietes stakes his World Boxing Organization (WBO) minimumweight title against Erik Ramirez on Sunday.

Both the Filipino and the challenger made the limit yesterday during the official weigh-in Oaxaca. Nietes came in at a trim 104. 3 pounds, while Ramirez checked in at exactly 105 pounds.

The champion is making the second title defense of the 105-pound belt he won Pornsawan Kratingdaenggym in 2007, but will be fighting for the first time in a country known for its rich boxing history.

Ranked no. 2 by the WBO and sixth by the World Boxing Council (WBC), Ramirez will carry the hopes of thousand Mexicans to finally score one against a Filipino champion in the light of Manny Pacquiao’s string of victories over boxing legends from Mexico, among them include Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez, Hector Velasquez, Jorge Solis and to a great extent David Diaz and Oscar De La Hoya, both of whom had Mexican descent.

Ramirez has a ring record of 25-5-1 with 19 knockouts. He has won his last five fights and is coming off a unanimous 10-round decision over Jose Ortiz.

But Nietes (23-1-3 with 14 KOs) is undaunted of the tough task ahead of him.

“I will prove that I can defend my title even in Mexico,” said the Filipino, whose chief trainer Edmund Villamor prepared Nietes under the watchful eye of renowned Hall of Famer Freddie Roach at the Wild Card gym in Los Angeles.

“Medyo nahirapan lang siyang nag-adjust nung first two days namin sa U.S. Pero after he settled down, everything went right sa training namin,” said Villamor.

Nietes successfully defended his WBO crown last August with a second round stoppage of Nicaraguan Eddy Castro at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City.

He hasn’t loss in the last five years, the lone setback in his pro career coming in September 2004 following a split decision defeat to Angky Angkota of Indonesia.

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Game of darts welcome Pacman in London

Pacman in London Photo by Chris Farina/TopRank

FIRST order of the day for Manny Pacquiao upon arriving in London was to play a series of darts games.

“I just want to sharpen up a little,” said the Filipino boxing champion as he takes some leisure time in his posh hotel suite at Park Lane, just a few meters away from Buckingham Palace.

Pacquiao arrived in the English capital Friday evening (Saturday morning Manila time) for the promotional tour of his 12-round title fight with Englishman Ricky Hatton billed as `The East vs. The West.’

The group that includes legal counsel Jing Gacal, close adviser Michael Konz and Filipino trainer Buboy Fernandez hooked up with trainer Freddie Roach and Top Rank Promotions chairman Bob Arum in London following a long hour flight from Manila via Cathay Pacific, with a brief stop over in Hong Kong.

After a quiet dinner of stake and hot tea at London’s West End, the 30-year- old southpaw from General Santos City headed straight to his hotel suite and spent a few hours playing darts.

Pacquiao’s first ever trip to London will be quick and hectic.

On Saturday afternoon (UK time), Pacquiao, Roach and the rest of their team will head north from London’s Euston Station to Manchester’s Piccadilly Station, after which a noontime fan rally tales place at the Trafford Centre.

Considered an icon in Manchester, Hatton is expected to be cheered by thousands of his English fans as he faces what perhaps is his biggest fight since meeting Floyd Mayweather Jr in a 12-round title bout in Las Vegas two years ago.

As part of their promotional tour, Pacquiao and Hatton will engage in a friendly darts game at a Manchester Pub. Like the Filipino warrior, the `Hitman’ is also a mean dart player, spending hours playing alongside 13-time world champion Phil `The Power’ Taylor.

Then on Monday, a press conference will be held at the Imperial War Museum before Pacquiao returns to the US for a similar promo tour in the cities of New York, Las Vegas and San Francisco.

By the first week of March, the first Asian and Filipino boxer to win titles in four different weight divisions will report to the Wild Card gym in Los Angeles for the start of a rigorous eight-week training for his first major fight in 2009. -Philippine Boxing News

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Pacman vows to be in best shape against Hatton

Pacquiao during his promotional tour of his last fight against Oscar De La Hoya

WELL aware how dangerous an opponent Ricky Hatton is, Manny Pacquiao vows to adopt a new approach in training for his coming May 2 bout with the `Hitman’ from Manchester.

“I will be eating, breathing and living Ricky Hatton from the day I start my training camp, “Pacquiao said before boarding the Cathay Pacific flight that will take him to London for the start of his promotional tour of his Las Vegas fight with Hatton.
“Once I report for training camp at the Wild Card gym under my very capable trainer Freddie Roach, my sole focus will be training,” he added.

Along with legal counsel Jing Gacal, close adviser Michael Konz and Filipino trainer Buboy Fernandez, Pacquiao left the country early Friday morning for the English capital he is visiting for the very first time.

After a brief stop over in Hong Kong, the group will proceed to London where Top Rank Promotion head Bob Arum and Roach will join them on their way to Manchester.
The tour for the 12-round title fight set at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada kicks off at the Great Hall of the Trafford Centre in Manchester, home to the Hattons.

Pacquiao said he doesn’t mind getting a hostile reception in his first ever visit to London, where Hatton is immensely popular as the queen herself. “I know that I will enjoy every minute of my brief stay there as I have heard a lot of great things about England, its notable people, its amazing culture and its proud history,” said Pacquiao in his pre-departure statement.

Following the fan rally Saturday (UK time), Pacquiao and Hatton will reportedly engage in a friendly darts competition the following day, before facing the London media in a press conference on Monday. Then it’s off to the US for both fighters where a similar promotional tour will be held in the cities of Las Vegas, New York and San Francisco.

The start of the rigorous eight-month training begins by next week. Pacquiao has great respect for the 30-year old Hatton, a former light-welterweight and welterweight champion of the world, whom the Filipino described as one of the `world’s most exciting fighters.’

“Hatton is a very dangerous opponent as I have seen most of his high-caliber fight on video and you cannot take somebody like him lightly,” said Pacquiao. Up against an opponent who like him, is still at the peak of his career, the Filipino southpaw vowed to even train hard than the way he did against Oscar De La Hoya, whom he demolished in eight rounds during their welterweight fight last December in Las Vegas.

“This is going to be a big challenge for me. This early, I am confident in saying that I will train harder for Hatton and I won’t be surprised if I end up in a much better shape than when I fought the legendary Oscar De La Hoya last December.” Pacquiao added.

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Pacquiao off to London for fight tour

Pacquiao with Atty. Romulo Macalintal in Thursday's presscon in Makati

THE first step in the blockbuster showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton takes place over the weekend when the two popular boxers meet in Manchester, England to promote their May 2 title fight.


If his hectic schedule was followed according to plan, the 30-year old Filipino boxing idol had already left for London early this morning via Cathay Pacific. His entourage that includes legal counsel Atty. Jing Gacal, close adviser Michael Konz and friend and trainer Buboy Fernandez will have a brief stopover in Hong Kong, before proceeding to the England capital for the initial leg of his promotional tour with Hatton.

This will be Pacquiao’s first trip to England, a modern unitary state whose principal head, Queen Elizabeth (II), was to whom the boxing champion named his new-born daughter.

In London, Pacquiao will hook up with promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank for the fan rally kicking off the promo tour in Manchester on Saturday (UK time) at the Great Hall of the Trafford Centre.

On Monday, a press event highlights the two boxing icons’ stay in London, where Hatton commands a big following.

From there, the two proceeds to the U.S. where a similar tour will be held in the key cities of New York, Las Vegas and San Francisco, where a large community of Filipino is based.

After the whirlwind promotional trip, hard work begins for the current world pound-for-pound fighter as he reports for the Wild Card gym in Los Angeles on March 4 where awaiting him for the grueling eight-week training is chief corner man Freddie Roach. -Philippine Boxing News

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Rolly Lunas: for the love of boxing

By Michael John Palacios

ROLLY `Matsushita’ Lunas so love the sport of boxing that he once defied his parents just to be able to realize his long-cherished dream. It may be unethical, but it was a decision that turned around his life for good.

Now based in Kanazawa, Japan, Lunas is the reigning Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) super-bantamweight champion, ranked no. 3 by the World Boxing Council (WBC) and just a few steps away from his dream of becoming a world champion.

“Gustong gusto ko talaga kasing mag-boksing,” said the Filipino, who currently belongs to the Kashimi boxing gym of Naoyoki, Kashimi.

“Bata pa lang ako, mahilig na ako dito.”

Being young meant exchanging punches as early as seven years old and wearing his first boxing gloves at eight.

As parents concerned with the safety of their youngest son, Teodoro and Nicholasa Lunas wouldn’t allow Rolly to box with their neighbors in Bacacay, Albay, so much so that the young fighter would sneak out of their house in secrecy and fight in boxing competitions.

Soon enough, he was fighting as an amateur, first plying his act in the Palarong Pambansa where he won three bronze medals for three straight years.

From 1996 to 1999, he compiled an amateur record of 55 wins and only five losses, a stint that beckoned a bright pro career for him.

He first came into national prominence after emerging as flyweight champion in the Knock Out boxing program produced by giant network ABS-CBN.

The rest as they is history.

As Lunas looked back from his humble beginnings, he can’t help but become teary-eyed especially when news reached him that his father passed away recently.

“My dad is my inspiration. He is always there for me,” he said of the older Lunas, 74.

“Tatay ko ang tunay na kaibigan ko.”

Although busy helping fellow Filipino John Consulta get ready for his March 4 fight with Japanese Junta Sekimoto, Lunas went home recently to pay his last respect to his father.

So admirable for a son who, in not so distant past, disobeyed the wish of his parents.

All for the love of boxing.

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I'm ready -- Donaire

REIGNING International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight champion Nonito Donaire has only lost once in his eight-year pro career.

And no way will he allow one to happen especially if he’s fighting before a hometown crowd. The 26-year old Filipino defends his title against unbeaten challenger Raul Martinez on March 22 at the Araneta Coliseum in a fight co-promoted by Solar Sports and Top Rank. Also in the boxing card is Fil-American, who will challenge Mexican Ulises Solis for the IBF light-flyweight title.

Donaire is now in the thick of his preparation for the third defense of the title he won with a stunning fifth round technical knockout of the previously unbeaten Vic Darchinyan in a bout that emerged as the runaway choice as boxing’s Upset of the Year in 2007.

The Filipino (20-1, 13 KOs) has set up his training camp in Baguio City under the watchful eyes of new trainers Gerry Penalosa, the current World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight champion, and brothers Dodie Boy Penalosa, a former two-time world titlists, and Jonathan Penalosa.

With still five weeks to go before the 12-round bout, Donaire said he’s already in top shape and ready to rumble. “Kahit bukas nga puwede ng lumaban,” said the soft-spoken defending IBF champ. He is coming off a sixth round technical knockout victory over Moruti Mthalane last November at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, after the ring physician decided that the South African challenger is unfit to fight owing to a large cut he suffered in his right eye.

But against Martinez, Donaire may just be in for a long night. Born in San Antonio, Texas but with a Mexican heritage, the 27-year old challenger has a perfect 24-0 record, including 14 knockouts. He last fought November 14 with a one round demolition of Victor Poa for the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) super-flyweight championship in Pennsylvania, USA.

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ABAP Tournaments go to Ormoc and Kananga

THE Visayas leg of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines Area tournaments will be held March 22-27 under the joint hosting of Ormoc City and the adjacent town of Kananga City, both in the province Leyte

ABAP executive director Ed Picson bared that brothers Mayor Eric Codilla of Ormoc and Mayor Elmer Codilla of Kananga City welcomed the opportunity to help in the propagation of amateur boxing in the country.

In a joint statement, the Codillas said "it is an honor for Ormoc and Kananga City to be part of the quest for the Olympic gold by giving the amateur boxers in the Visayas an opportunity to hone their competitive skills. We are also anxious to show to our visitors our own brand of hospitality in Leyte."

The ABAP has stepped up its efforts to give boxers more fights in order to be consistently in top condition. Picson revealed that this was part of the assessment of the Cuban coaches hired to assist in the training of national boxers.

"Our goal is to give our amateur boxers more fights. Our Cuban coaches pointed out that Filipino boxers are lucky to fight six to eight times a year while Cuban fighters each have about 30 matches a year," Picson said. "We hope to address that deficiency by having regular tournaments locally and joining more international competitions. This is the mandate from ABAP chairman Manny V. Pangilinan and president Ricky Vargas. "After the Visayas leg, Luzon follows on April 14-18, Mindanao on May 10-15, and Southern Tagalog June 5-10.

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Pontillas-Gabejan duel featured in ITC

Pontillas returns in the top rated weekly boxing show In This Corner as his showdown with Edgar Gabejan will be the featured fight tonight (7 p.m. to 8 p.m.) over NBN-4.

Pontilas (7-2-1, 2KOs) and Gabejan (5-13-2) slugged it out in a featherweight bout fought over eight rounds recently held at the Ynares Plaza gymnasium in Binangonan, Rizal. The boxing program is sponsored by Ginebra San Miguel, San Miguel Beer, Purefoods, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and Biogenic Isopropyl Alcohol.

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Old and new faces in boxing squad to SEA Games

IT’S going to be a mixture of veterans and fresh talents for the RP men’s boxing team to the 25 Southeast Asian Games in Laos this December.

New Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) president Ricky Vargas bared the plan Friday in the wake of statements emanating from the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) that gold and silver medalists in the last staging of the SEA Games are among the likely ones to comprise the RP team to the biennial meet.“You know I have two principles in life. One is that not all that is old is bad, and two, that not all that is new is good,” he stressed.

“We have to get the best of the old and mix them with the best among the new. This particular SEA Games will be a viable mixture of veterans and newcomers for us. ”The country brought home a single gold in the 2007 SEA Games in Nakhonratchasima, a campaign marred by the infamous walkout stage by Filipino boxers and officials in the wake of what they perceived had been unbiased officiating favoring the host. The lone gold was courtesy of woman boxer Annie Albania. Vargas said among the old reliable ones still capable of winning are former Asian Games gold medalist Joan Tipon, Genebert Basadre, Charlie Suares, and even two-time Olympian Harry Tanamor. But a slew of upcoming Filipino pugs are also in the wings, among them are the Tacuyan brothers, Orlando and Rolando, Albert Pabila, Rey Saludar, Godfrey Castro, John Rey Melligen, Jameboy Vicera, Francis Palicte and Dave Penalosa, “The POC should give NSAs some leeway in the national team selection for us to give our up-and-coming athletes the chance. Rest assured though that we will be doing all the best possible means to have our boxers qualified in all the international competitions we are committed to participate, including the Olympic Games at London in 2012,” said Vargas.

As far as the country’s quest for its first ever Olympic gold medal is concerned, newly-appointed ABAP executive director Ed Piczon said a long-term build up program will be set in place soon that includes international exposures for those aspiring to qualify and hiring of foreign coaches from and other European countries. “Talents search will be intensified, training will be extensive and support will be all-out,” Piczon said, adding the ABAP will be run like a corporation through the efforts of Smart Sports, headed by Patrick Gregorio, who’s also the ABAP secretary-general. -Philippine Boxing News

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Consulta eyes payback against Japanese foe

By Michael John Palacios

JAPAN-based Filipino Joel Consulta is out to avenge the loss of a compatriot against Japanese Junta Sekimoto when the two slugged it out in the under card of the fight featuring the popular Kameda brothers. Consulta, a native of Tabaco, Albay, clashes with Sekimoto in an eight-round featherweight bout at the Saitama Super Arena in Tokyo on March 4.

With a ring record of 9-2-1, including three knockouts, the Filipino vows to beat his Japanese opponent to avenge the setback suffered by countryman Alex Escaner last year.“He beat my kababayan (countryman) Alex Escaner last year so I am not taking this fight lightly,” said Consulta, who’s trying to make an impression fighting in Japan “I want to make a name here and to make my fellow Filipinos proud,” he said. Consulta has been based in Japan for four years now and is being managed by Naoyuki Kashimi of the Kashimi boxing gym. He is currently undergoing rigid training and has for sparmate current World Boxing Council (WBC) no. 3 contender and newly-crowned Orient Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) super-bantamweight champion Rolly `Matsushita’ Lunas. The main event will have the Kameda brothers taking on separate opponents from Mexico and Thailand. Daike Kameda takes on veteran Thai fighter Wandy Singwancha while Koki Kameda faces Mexican Abel Ochoa.

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