Sporting Chance

Featherweight Orlando Villaflor and junior lightweight Joselito Rivera won World Boxing Federation (WBF) titles at the PhilSports Arena last Thursday but hardly anyone noticed.

So why aren't fans celebrating?

It's because the WBF is probably the most ridiculous governing body in the fight game today. It's the organization that as of last month, had no titlists in seven divisions, listed five "world" champions from Thailand, and ranked Filipino trialhorse Julius Tarona (who hasn't fought since losing to Joe Escriber in 1996) No. 8 junior featherweight.

To prove how its own champions regard the WBF, Australian Nadel Hussein relinquished the featherweight crown to fight for the vacant British Commonwealth superbantamweight diadem in Glasgow last March 18. Apparently, Hussein felt the Commonwealth title is more prestigious than a "world" title recognized by the WBF. Villaflor succeeded Hussein on the WBF throne.

Curiously, there were 15 Filipinos ranked in the latest WBF ratings. The WBF's generosity was overwhelming because some Filipinos didn't deserve to be rated -- like Tarona, No. 12 flyweight Eddie Felisilda, No. 8 bantamweight Ricky Gayamo, No. 8 featherweight Ranie Paid, and No. 10 junior lightweight Ulysses Puzon (who has won only once in his last seven fights -- last January, he was knocked out in a single round by Yuji Gomez in Tokyo). Those five fighters aren't even rated by the Games and Amusement Board (GAB).

So how can anyone take the WBF seriously?

The WBF was founded in 1989 by Larry Carrier, former owner of the International Hot Rod Association, in Bristol, Tennessee. It was formed "to assist small promoters with local shows and thus establishing an outlet for many good boxers who were being overlooked by the other sanctioning bodies."

The WBF's heavyweight title, once held by the blubbery Joe Hipp, is vacant and a certain Keith McKnight has been named to dispute the crown with a still unidentified opponent in Sun City, South Africa, on April 9. You wonder if Evander Holyfield or Lennox Lewis ever thought of annexing the WBF crown.

One of the WBF's "world" champions is Samson Toyota-Thailand who has turned back over 20 challengers to set a record of sorts. Samson has feasted on patsies to bloat his credentials. When Samson was offered to fight Gerry Peñalosa, the Thai's agent agreed on condition there would be no checking of the scales at the weight-in. It's no secret that Samson has long outgrown the 115-pound division and overpowers his puny opponents because of an enormous bulk advantage. Apparently, the WBF tolerates Samson's shenanigans.

As for Villaflor, there's no doubt the kid's got potential. His record is 17-0-1, with 12 knockouts, so that's a clear indication of his stock. But Villaflor was hardly tested by Dorn Dutch Boy-Gym whom he demolished in seven to capture the WBF featherweight crown.

Dorn was touted to be Samson's younger brother but that's doubtful. Samson's brother is known as Dutch Boy-Gym or Loon Pantasi. In December 1998, I watched Dutch Boy stop Rodel Llanita in the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Chatchai Sasakul fight in Bangkok. That Dutch Boy wasn't the palooka whom Villaflor murdered last week.

Promoter Rod Nazario said Villaflor's victim was the same Thai bum whom Edward Escriber knocked out in three rounds here three years ago.

If Villaflor's as good as he's supposed to be, then he should prove it against Jeffrey Onate in a rematch (their first meeting wound up a technical draw) or Philippine champion Baby Lorona.

Rivera, the Philippine lightweight champion, went the distance in turning back Kongthawat Orathai-Gym, former WBF featherweight titleholder. Unlike Dorn, Kongthawat proved to be a tough customer. Local fans remember Kongthawat knocking out Rico Siodora in one round to win the WBF featherweight title here in 1998.

Rivera tried desperately to drop Kongthawat but the Thai just wouldn't go down. In the seventh, Rivera launched an all-out attack that would've sent a lesser foe to dreamland. Despite Kongthawat's durability, there was no doubt Rivera was the superior fighter and deserved the decision.

Rivera has now won his last five fights since losing a controversial 12th round knockout to Yamato Mitani for the Oriental crown in Osaka in 1997. In the Mitani fight, Rivera was on the verge of scoring a knockout when the Japanese shoved him out of the ring. Rivera hit his head on a ringside table as he fell and lost consciousness. Mitani was declared the winner by technical knockout when Rivera couldn't continue the fight. What a travesty.

Incidentally, Rivera's manager is Danny Espiritu who operates a stable of pro basketball stars.

Don't get me wrong. Both Villaflor and Rivera are outstanding prospects. But they'll never get the recognition they deserve as "world" champions if they just hang on to their WBF title belts. To be credible, they've got to shoot for the crowns of the prestigious organizations like the World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Association (WBA).

For the record, four Filipinos became WBF champions before Villaflor and Rivera. They were Ronnie Magamo, Rolando Toyogon, Siodora, and William Magahin. None ever earned the respect that Filipino WBC and WBA champions like Luisito Espinosa, Peñalosa, and Manny Pacquiao gained.