In last Friday’s column, we listed 13 Filipino fighters who are potential world champions starting off with flyweight Sonny Boy Jaro then moving to flyweight Rodel Mayol (attempting to win his second title against WBA king Hernan Marquez on March 24), superflyweight Silvester Lopez, minimumweight Denver Cuello, flyweight Milan Melindo, superflyweight Drian Francisco and bantamweight A. J. Banal.
The others in the elite cast are bantamweight Malcolm Tunacao, bantamweight Rolly Lunas, flyweight Rocky Fuentes, flyweight Froilan Saludar, featherweight Lorenzo Villanueva and lightweight Mercito Gesta.
Tunacao, 34, is a former WBC flyweight and OPBF bantamweight champion. Now campaigning in Japan, he’s won eight straight since losing to Filipino Rolly Lunas in 2007. Tunacao is set to face Yuki Takemoto in Kobe on March 3. His record is 29-2-3, with 18 KOs. Aside from Lunas, the only other fighter to beat Tunacao is Pongsaklek.
Lunas, 28, has gone around the world to pursue fame and fortune in the ring but luck wasn’t with him in losing fights in Panama, South Africa and Thailand. But since relocating to Japan under a Japanese manager, Lunas – now known as Matsushita – has come into his own. He has a 29-8-1 record, with 17 KOs. His last four assignments were all wins by knockout and he’s now on his second reign as the Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) bantamweight ruler. In 2008, Lunas lost a decision to Anselmo Moreno in a bid for the WBA 118-pound crown in Panama. If he gets another crack at the throne, Lunas will make sure of a happy ending.
Fuentes, 26, has won 12 in a row since dropping an eight-round decision to countryman Richie Mepranum in 2007. He’s been the OPBF champion the last two years and there’s nobody in the horizon tipped to arrange his dethronement. There’s a strong argument for Fuentes to become a title challenger this year as he’s ranked No. 3 by the WBC, No. 3 by the IBF, No. 5 by the WBO and No. 7 by the WBA. His record is 32-6-2, with 19 KOs.
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Saludar, 22, faces an acid test against Mexico’s Alejandro Morales in Cebu on March 17. He’s set to defend his WBO Youth and Asia-Pacific flyweight belts. The fighter known as “The Sniper” totes an unblemished record of 14-0-1, with 11 KOs. Saludar is rated No. 2 by the WBO, No. 9 by the IBF and No. 10 by the WBC. He, too, is in line for big things but his immediate concern is to dispose of the 23-year-old Morales who has a 13-1 record, with seven KOs.
Villanueva, 26, has no overseas experience but there are plans to ship him to Los Angeles for training under Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym. The heavy-handed “Thunderbolt” boasts a perfect 22-0 record, with 21 KOs, including eight in the first round. Villanueva pulverized his last two opponents, Mexico’s Diego Ledesma and Indonesia’s Eddy Camaro, in the opening stanza. It’s no secret that for a fighter to make headway in his quest for a world title, he’s got to combine power with style. Villanueva could be a world champion before long.
Finally, there is Gesta who has a 24-0-1 record, with 12 KOs. He relocated to the US in 2007 and has since won 14 in a row, all in Stateside bouts. Last November, “Merciless” floored Mexico’s Ricardo Dominguez once en route to scoring a unanimous 10-round decision in Las Vegas.
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In The Ring Magazine, 10 fighters were singled out as being “on the cusp” of fistic stardom. “They have the look of future title challengers even though they have yet to beat a top contender or fight the 12-round distance,” said The Ring’s Doug Fischer. “They are talented but still prospects, for now.” One of the 10 was the southpaw Gesta.
“Any prospect from the Philippines with above average talent is going to attract comparisons to Manny Pacquiao, especially southpaws, but Gesta’s style is actually very similar to the fast-and-furious form of the Filipino icon’s early years,” wrote Fischer. “So Gesta better get used to the comparisons. Luckily for him, he’s a much better-than-average talent. He has excellent hand and foot speed, a powerful left, sharp jab and strong body punching (with) good footwork (and) a killer instinct.”
Fischer said Gesta was sensational in “brutally dispatching veteran journeyman Genaro Trazancos and Jorge Pimentel with a flamboyant style that thrilled California fight fans last year…he followed those knockouts with a 10-round decision over Manuel Perez, a tough and capable journeyman who held WBA lightweight beltholder Brandon Rios to a draw in 2008.” Gesta is ranked No. 6 by the WBA as a lightweight and No. 7 by the WBO as a superlightweight.
Make no mistake about it. Before the year is up, there will be more Filipinos joining Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire, Brian Viloria, Donnie Nietes, Johnriel Casimero and Ana Julaton as reigning world champions. And the future titlists will likely come from our list of 13.