Boxing in the Philippines edit

In the Philippines, boxing is only considered a secondary sport behind basketball, despite of the glories and honors it brought to the country, having produced Olympic standouts, professional world champions and some of the greatest fighters in the history of the sport. Philippines has yet to win an Olympic gold medal but amateur boxing has given the country more medals in the Summer Olympics than any sport with 5 out of its 9 total medals. On the other hand, Professional boxing have produced 35 Major World Champions (including those of Filipino heritage), Philippines ranked inside the top 10 in the world (lead by USA, Mexico and Great Britain) and 4th in Asia (behind South Korea, Japan and Thailand). [1]. Filipino greats like Pancho Villa, Flash Elorde and Ceferino Garcia are members of the two highly respected boxing hall of fames - IBHOF and WBHF. Thus, giving the Philippines the most number of boxing hall of fame members out of Asia. Today, Filipino professional boxers are one of the most respected for their aggressive styles and world class talents, with the likes of future hall of famers Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire who are currently The Ring's Pound-for-pound number-one and number-four best fighter in the world respectively.

History of Philippine Boxing edit

 
Manny Pacquiao

Before the Spaniards and Americans came to the Philippines, Filipinos have their own kind of boxing known as Suntukan, which means "bare-hand fighting" in Tagalog, generally believed to have evolved from a Filipino knife fighting technique called "Kali". During the Spanish colonization, such martial arts and kind of fighting were banned, so it was driven in the undergrounds where the deprivation of knives and rattan sticks lead to fist fighting. The evolution of Philippine boxing was thought to be after the Spanish-American war, where Spain ceded its colonial territories namely - Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the United States as agreed in the 1898 Treaty of Paris. Some reports told that American Soldiers brought the modern boxing in the Philippines where evidences of a pair boxing gloves were made by Sol Levinson of San Francisco and another story telling that a renegade soldier brought some boxing gloves to Filipino prisoners and taught them how to use it. However, it was generally believed that three Americans were responsible for the evolution of boxing in the Philippines namely: Frank Churchill and the Tait brothers (Eddie and Stewart).[2] Eddie and Stewart Tait, also dubbed as "Barnums of Borneo", were amusement park entrepreneurs who established carnivals and horse racing tracks in Manila, who arrived in the country in 1902. Eddie, believed to be a boxing enthusiast, wanted to attract crowds by teaching Filipino locals some western boxing lessons for free to create American-style Filipino boxers. In 1921, boxing was legalized in the Philippines and began to flourish. Frank Churchill joined by the Tait brothers, established the Olympic Boxing Club in Manila. During this time, the country saw the first batch of great Filipino fighters such as Dencio Cabanela, Speedy Dado, the Flores brothers (Francisco, Elino, Macario and Ireneo), Pete Sarmiento, Sylvino Jamito, Macario Villon and the legendary Pancho Villa. The first golden age of Philippine boxing emerge as Pancho Villa won the Universal World Flyweight Championship from Welshman Jimmy Wilde to become the first ever Asian and Filipino world champion. Villa defended his title three times including a fight in the Philippines with fellow Filipino Clever Sencio where he won by fifteen-round decision and was never thought to be the last victory of his young career. The glorious era was short-lived following the ring deaths of popular fighters Dencio Cabanela and Clever Sencio along with the disastrous death of Pancho Villa from Ludwig's angina and their influential promoter Frank Churchill. On October 2, 1939, a sudden uplift came when Ceferino Garcia won the NYSAC World Middleweight Championship from American Fred Apostoli at the Madison Square Garden, New York, United States. On December 23, 1939, Garcia successfully defended his title for the first time against American Glen Lee infront of his countrymen inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex which is the first world title bout ever recorded in the Philippine islands. Garcia also competed with some of the best boxers ever like Barney Ross and Henry Armstrong, whom he denied its fourth title in four weight divisions through a draw. However, in an instant he found his downfall at the hands of Ken Overlin where he was disappointment to his fans, unable to land his famous bolo punch and allowed the challenger to dictate the fight and easily won the title. On July 20, 1955, Filipino boxing fans saw the birth of Philippine boxing's second golden era as a Cebuano boxer named Flash Elorde beat convincingly the then reigning World Featherweight Champion and later Hall of Famer Sandy Saddler in a non-title bout at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. Elorde went on to win the World Super Featherweight Championship fom Harold Gomes on March 16, 1960. Elorde kept his world title inside a division record of 7 years and 2 months with 10 successful defenses. Flash Elorde, during his time, was one the busiest fighters who travel to fight every dangerous challengers in almost every two months. Though a great and fearless fighter, Elorde with his humility and protagonistic qualities was the most beloved Filipino athlete since Pancho Villa. In this Elorde inspired period, twenty (20) world champions were created spanning from Roberto Cruz to Gerry Penalosa along with the formation of the "Big Four of Professional Boxing" or the major sanctioning bodies namely - WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO. However, as time goes by, boxing was becoming less popular in the country because of many alternative sports including basketball until Manny Pacquiao came. A Filipino boxer with a blonde-colored hair and flame trimmed trunks named Manny Pacquiao, was an entertaining star in the local boxing show called "Blow-by-Blow" by the famed Filipino manager and promoter Rod Nazario. Pacquiao's name was so accustomed to the viewers not only because of his aggressive style, but also his unique looks and catchy surname. No one expects that Pacquiao will be the greatest Filipino fighter ever and one of the greatest the world have ever seen. This marks the beginning of the third greatest era of Philippine boxing and a new wave of Filipino boxers. On December 4, 1998, Pacquiao upset Thai Champion Chatchai Sasakul in Thailand to win the WBC Flyweight Championship (his first world title). On his title defense, Pacquiao lost his title on the scale and was knocked out in the fight by Medgoen Singsurat of Thailand. Pacquiao was unable to the make flyweight limit and move to super bantamweight division (122 pounds). Pacquiao, for the second time in his career, was the heavy underdog against South African Lehlohonolo Ledwaba, the reigning IBF Super Bantamweight Champion. On June 23, 2001, Pacquiao won the IBF Super Bantamweight Championship, his second world title. In 2003, Pacquiao's career rose to its peak as he stopped the then reigning The Ring Featherweight Champion Marco Antonio Barrera of Mexico via 11th round technical knockout. From 2003, Pacquiao has won three lineal (The Ring) titles and four more major world titles, with a record of 16 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw (his only loss came against Mexican Erik Morales, whom he defeated two-times all by knockouts in their trilogy). The Filipino fighter defeated some of the best oppositions available along the way to his superstardom including Mexicans Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Marquez and Antonio Margarito, British Ricky Hatton, Puerto Rican Miguel Angel Cotto, and Americans Oscar Dela Hoya and Shane Mosley. The "Pacquiao Wave" regenerate boxing in the Philippines as the new generation of boxers begin to aspire higher, trying to emulate their idol Manny Pacquiao. On November 13, 2010, Pacquiao made history by being the first boxer ever to win eight world titles in eight weight divisions as he dominated Mexican slugger Antonio Margarito to won the vacant WBC Light Middleweight title. Nonito Donaire Jr., one of the Pacquiao-wave fighters, became the third Asian to win three world titles in three weight divisions by defeating Mexican Fernando Montiel to claim the WBC and WBO Bantamweight Championships on February 19, 2011.

Philippines' Contribution to Boxing edit

The Philippines is one of the founding member nations of the World Boxing Council (WBC) and Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF). Filipino boxers also contributed to the history of boxing from rules and techniques to records and achievements. Pancho Villa is not only the first Asian and Filipino world champion but is also described as one of the cleanest boxers before the proper rules were established. Ceferino Garcia is credited as the inventor of the "bolo punch". However, according to Tahoma News-Tribune a fellow Filipino boxer named Macario Flores was reportedly using it.Gabriel "Flash" Elorde still holds the record for longest reign in the Super Featherweight or Junior Lightweight division - 7 years, 2 months and 29 days with 10 title defenses. on November 13, 2010, Manny Pacquiao entered the Guinness Book of World Records for being the first ever boxer to win eight world titles in 8 eight different divisions (see also Octuple Champion) by defeating Mexican Antonio Margarito via 12-round unanimous decision to claim the vacant WBC Light Middleweight Champion.









List of Amateur Boxing Olympic Medalists edit

No. NAME EVENT MEDAL
1   José Villanueva 1932 Los Angeles Olympics Men's Bantamweight   Bronze Medal
2   Anthony Villanueva 1964 Tokyo Olympics Men's Featherweight   Silver Medal
3   Leopoldo Serrantes 1988 Seoul Olympics Men's Light Flyweight   Bronze Medal
4   Roel Velasco 1992 Barcelona Olympics Men's Light Flyweight   Bronze Medal
5   Mansueto Velasco 1996 Atlanta Olympics Men's Light Flyweight   Silver Medal

List of Professional Boxing World Champions edit

LEGENDS:
  Major World Champions [Major Sanctioning Bodies: WBA, WBC, IBF & WBO]
  Interim World Champions [Interim Sanctioning Bodies: WBA (Interim), WBC (Silver) & WBO (Interim)]
  Minor World Champions [Minor Sanctioning Bodies: NBA (defunct), WAA (defunct), IBC, WBF, IBO, WPBF and others]
 HoF  Hall of Famers [IBHOF (highly regarded) & WBHF (lightly regarded)]
 U  Undisputed World Champions [Universal (USA & Britain) or Now (Having held 3 of the 4 major titles in a single division)]
 L  Lineal World Champions [Sanctioning Body: The Ring Magazine (since 1922, ceased publication in 1990-2000s, continued in 2002)
 S  Super World Champions [Sanctioning Bodies: WBA (Super), WBC (Emeritus) & WBO (Super)]
 H  Boxer of Filipino heritage [due to parent's nationality, residence or other circumstances]
 C  Current World Champions

No. NAME TITLES DATE DEFENSES OUTCOME
1   Pancho Villa [HoF][U][L] World Flyweight Champion (Undisputed & Lineal) Jun 16, 1923 3 Vacated[1]
2   Small Montana World Flyweight Champion (NYSAC) Sep 16, 1935 1 Lost[2]
3   Little Dado World Flyweight Champion (C.V.)
World Bantamweight Champion (C.V.)
NBA Flyweight Champion (Minor)
Nov 30, 1938
Apr 24, 1940
Feb 21, 1941
1
0
0
Vacated
Lost
Stripped[3]
4   Ceferino Garcia [HoF] NYSAC Middleweight Champion (NYSAC) Oct 02, 1939 2 Lost[4]
5   Dado Marino [H][U][L] World Flyweight Champion (Undisputed & Lineal) Jul 01, 1950 1 Lost [5]
6   Flash Elorde [HoF][U][L] World Super Featherweight Champion (Undisputed & Lineal)
Inaugural WBA Super Featherweight Champion (Major)
Inaugural WBC Super Featherweight Champion (Major)
Mar 16, 1960
Feb 16, 1963
Feb 16, 1963
10
5
5
Lost[6]
7   Roberto Cruz WBA Light Welterweight Champion (Major) Mar 21, 1963 0 Lost[7]
8   Pedro Adigue Jr. WBC Light Welterweight Champion (Major) Dec 14, 1968 0 Lost[8]
9   Rene Barrientos WBC Super Featherweight Champion (Major) Feb 15, 1969 0 Lost[9]
10   Bernabe Villacampo WBA Flyweight Champion (Major) Oct 19, 1969 0 Lost[10]
11   Erbito Salavarria[L] WBC Flyweight Champion (Major) & (Lineal)
WBA Flyweight Champion (Major)
Dec 07, 1970
Apr 01, 1975
2
1
Stripped
Lost[11]
12   Ben Villaflor WBA Super Featherweight Champion (Major)
WBA Super Featherweight Champion (Major) & (Lineal)
Apr 25, 1972
Oct 17, 1973
1
5
Lost
Lost[12]
13   Rolando Navarrrete WBC Super Featherweight Champion (Major) Aug 29, 1981 0 Lost[13]
  Andrew Ganigan[H] WAA Lightweight Champion (Minor) Oct 31, 1981 0 Vacated[14]
14   Frank Cedeno[L] WBC Flyweight Champion (Major) & (Lineal) Sep 27, 1983 0 Lost[15]
15   Bobby Berna Inaugural IBF Super Bantamweight Champion (Major) Dec 04, 1983 0 Lost[16]
16   Dodie Boy Penalosa Inaugural IBF Light Flyweight Champion (Major)
IBF Flyweight Champion (Major)
Dec 10, 1983
Feb 22, 1987
3
0
Vacated
Lost[17]
17   Rolando Bohol IBF Flyweight Champion (Major) Jan 16, 1988 1 Lost[18]
18   Tacy Macalos IBF Light Flyweight Champion (Major) Nov 04, 1988 0 Lost[19]
19   Eric Chavez IBF Minimumweight Champion (Major) Sep 21, 1989 0 Lost[20]
20   Lusito Espinosa WBA Bantamweight Champion (Major)
WBC Featherweight Champion {{small|(Major)
Oct 18, 1989
Dec 11, 1995
2
7
Lost
Lost[21]
21   Jesus Salud WBA Super Bantamweight Champion (Major)
IBC Super Bantamweight Champion {{small|(Minor)
Dec 11, 1989
Jun 07, 1990
0
0
Stripped
Vacated[22]
22   Rolando Pascua WBC Light Flyweight Champion (Major) Dec 09, 1990 0 Lost[23]
23   Manny Melchor IBF Minimumweight Champion (Major) Sep 06, 1992 0 Lost[24]
24   Morris East WBA Light Welterweight Champion (Major) Sep 09, 1992 0 Lost[25]
  Ronnie Magramo WBF Minimumweight Champion (Minor)
WBF Minimumweight Champion (Minor)
Jul 09, 1994
Sep 30, 1995
2
0
Lost
Lost[26]
  Amado Cabato IBO Lightweight Champion (Minor) Dec 11, 1994 0 Lost[27]
  William Magahin WBF Welterweight Champion (Minor)
WBF Welterweight Champion (Minor)
Mar 25, 1995
Oct 21, 1995
1
0
Lost
Lost[26]
25   Gerry Penalosa WBC Super Flyweight Champion (Major)
WBF Super Flyweight Champion (Minor)
WBO Bantamweight Champion (Major)
Feb 20, 1997
Nov 27, 2004
Aug 11, 2007
3
0
1
Lost
Vacated
Stripped[29]
26   Eric Jamili WBO Minimumweight Champion (Major) Dec 19, 1997 0 Lost[30]
27   Manny Pacquiao [L][S][C] WBC Flyweight Champion (Major)
IBF Super Bantamweight Champion (Major)
The Ring World Featherweight Champion Lineal)
WBC Super Featherweight Champion (Major)
The Ring World Super Featherweight Champion Lineal)
WBC Lightweight Champion (Major)
IBO Light Welterweight Champion (Minor)
The Ring World Light Welterweight Champion Lineal)
Current WBO Welterweight Super Champion (Major)
WBC Light Middleweight Champion (Major)
Dec 04, 1998
Jun 23, 2001
Nov 15, 2003
Mar 15, 2008
Mar 15, 2008
Jun 28, 2008
May 02, 2009
May 02, 2009
Nov 14, 2009
Nov 13, 2010
1
4
2
0
0
0
0
0
< 2 >
0
Stripped
Vacated
Vacated
Vacated
Vacated
Vacated
Vacated
Vacated
Incumbent
Vacated[31]
28   Malcolm Tunacao WBC Flyweight Champion (Major) May 19, 2000 1 Lost[33]
29   Joma Gamboa WBA Minimumweight Interim Champion (Interim)
WBA Minimumweight Regular Champion (Major)
Dec 04, 1999
Aug 20, 2000
1
0
Unified
Lost[32]
  Noel Tunacao IBO Lightweight Champion (Minor) Mar 08, 2003 0 Stripped[27]
  Dindo Castanares WBF Light Welterweight Champion (Minor) Dec 11, 2004 1 Stripped[35]
30   Brian Viloria[H][C] WBC Light Flyweight Champion (Major)
IBF Light Flyweight (Minor)
WBO Flyweight Champion (Major)
Sep 10, 2005
Apr 19, 2009
Jul 16, 2011
1
1
< 0 >
Lost
Lost
Incumbent[36]
  Dondon Sultan WBF Light Welterweight Champion (Minor) Nov 25, 2006 0 Lost[37]
31   Florante Condes IBF Minimumweight Champion (Major) Jul 07, 2007 0 Lost[38]
32   Nonito Donaire Jr.[C] IBF Flyweight Champion (Major)
IBO Flyweight Champion (Minor)
WBA Super Flyweight Interim Champion (Interim)
Current WBC Bantamweight Champion (Major)
Current WBO Bantamweight Champion (Major)
Jul 07, 2007
Jul 07, 2007
Aug 15, 2009
Feb 19, 2011
Feb 19, 2011
3
3
1
1
1
Vacated
Vacated
Vacated
Incumbent
incumbent[39]
33   Donnie Nietes[C] WBO Minimumweight Champion (Major)
WBO Light Flyweight Champion (Major)
Sep 30, 2007
Oct 08, 2011
4
< 0 >
Vacated[40]
34   Marvin Sonsona WBO Super Flyweight Champion (Major) Sep 04, 2009 1 Stripped[41]
  Michael Farenas Current WPBF Featherweight Champion (Minor) Oct 03, 2009 0 Incumbent[42]
35   Rodel Mayol WBC Light Flyweight Champion (Major) Nov 21, 2009 1 Lost[43]
  Johnriel Casimiro WBO Light Flyweight Interim Champion (Interim) Dec 19, 2009 0 Lost[44]
  Edrin Dapudong WBC Silver Flyweight Champion (Interim) Jun 19, 2010 0 Lost[45]
  Drian Francisco WBA Super Flyweight Interim Champion (Interim) Nov 30, 2010 0 Lost[46]
  Sylvester Lopez Current WBC Silver Super Flyweight Champion (Interim) Sep 24, 2011 < 0 > Incumbent[47]
  Denver Cuello Current WBC Silver Minimumweight Champion (Interim) Oct 15, 2011 < 0 > Incumbent[48]

Current titleholders edit

Name Organization Division Date won
  Manny Pacquiao World Boxing Organization Welterweight November 14, 2009
  Nonito Donaire Jr. World Boxing Council & World Boxing Organization Bantamweight February 19, 2011
  Brian Viloria World Boxing Organization Flyweight July 16, 2011
  Donnie Nietes World Boxing Organization Light Flyweight October 8, 2011
  Sylvester Lopez World Boxing Council Silver Super Flyweight September 24, 2011
  Denver Cuello World Boxing Council Silver Minimumweight October 15, 2011
  Michael Farenas World Professional Boxing Federation Featherweight October 3, 2009

See also edit

References edit

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Category:World_Champions_By_Nationality

  • Filipino American Boxers - Boxrec.com

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Category:Filipino_American_Boxers

  • Former World Champions - Philboxing.com

http://philboxing.com/boxers/former.world.champions.php

  • Current Champions - Philboxing.com

http://philboxing.com/boxers/champions.php

  • Pinoy Boxing Champions - Fight Sports Philippines

http://fightsportsphilippines.blogspot.com

Footnotes edit

Notes edit

1^ :Boxing record for Pancho Villa from BoxRec (registration required)
2^ :Boxing record for Small Montana from BoxRec (registration required)
3^ :Boxing record for Little Dado from BoxRec (registration required)
4^ :Boxing record for Ceferino Garcia from BoxRec (registration required)
5^ :Boxing record for Dado Marino from BoxRec (registration required)
6^ :Boxing record for Flash Elorde from BoxRec (registration required)
7^ :Boxing record for Roberto Cruz from BoxRec (registration required)
8^ :Boxing record for Pedro Adigue Jr. from BoxRec (registration required)
9^ :Boxing record for Rene Barrientos from BoxRec (registration required)
10^ :Boxing record for Bernabe Villacampo from BoxRec (registration required)
11^ :Boxing record for Erbito Salavarria from BoxRec (registration required)
12^ :Boxing record for Ben Villaflor from BoxRec (registration required)
13^ :Boxing record for Rolando Navarrete from BoxRec (registration required)
14^ :Boxing record for Andrew Ganigan from BoxRec (registration required)
15^ :Boxing record for Frank Cedeno from BoxRec (registration required)
16^ :Boxing record for Bobby Berna from BoxRec (registration required)
17^ :Boxing record for Dodie Boy Penalosa from BoxRec (registration required)
18^ :Boxing record for Rolando Bohol from BoxRec (registration required)
19^ :Boxing record for Tacy Macalos from BoxRec (registration required)
20^ :Boxing record for Eric Chavez from BoxRec (registration required)
21^ :Boxing record for Luisito Espinosa from BoxRec (registration required)
22^ :Boxing record for Jesus Salud from BoxRec (registration required)
23^ :Boxing record for Rolando Pascua from BoxRec (registration required)
24^ :Boxing record for Manny Melchor from BoxRec (registration required)
25^ :Boxing record for Morris East from BoxRec (registration required)
26^ :Boxing record for Ronnie Magramo from BoxRec (registration required)
27^ :Boxing record for Amado Cabato from BoxRec (registration required)
28^ :Boxing record for William Magahin from BoxRec (registration required)
29^ :Boxing record for Gerry Penalosa from BoxRec (registration required)
30^ :Boxing record for Eric Jamili from BoxRec (registration required)
31^ :Boxing record for Manny Pacquiao from BoxRec (registration required)
32^ :Boxing record for Joma Gamboa from BoxRec (registration required)
33^ :Boxing record for Malcolm Tunacao from BoxRec (registration required)
34^ :Boxing record for Noel Tunacao from BoxRec (registration required)
35^ :Boxing record for Dindo Castanares from BoxRec (registration required)
36^ :Boxing record for Brian Viloria from BoxRec (registration required)
37^ :Boxing record for Dondon Sultan from BoxRec (registration required)
38^ :Boxing record for Florante Condes from BoxRec (registration required)
39^ :Boxing record for Nonito Donaire Jr. from BoxRec (registration required)
40^ :Boxing record for Donnie Nietes from BoxRec (registration required)
41^ :Boxing record for Marvin Sonsona from BoxRec (registration required)
42^ :Boxing record for Michael Farenas from BoxRec (registration required)
43^ :Boxing record for Rodel Mayol from BoxRec (registration required)
44^ :Boxing record for Johnriel Casimiro from BoxRec (registration required)
45^ :Boxing record for Edrin Dapudong from BoxRec (registration required)
46^ :Boxing record for Drian Francisco from BoxRec (registration required)
47^ :Boxing record for Sylvester Lopez from BoxRec (registration required)
48^ :Boxing record for Denver Cuello from BoxRec (registration required)



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External links edit

Category:Boxing Category:World boxing champions

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