More Pinoys in world title bids

When it rains, it pours and Philippine boxing continues to enjoy a shower of good news with stunning victories by Milan Melindo, Nonito Donaire, Johnriel Casimero and Sonny Boy Jaro to start the year.

There are now six Filipino world boxing champions, excluding Casimero who is the interim IBF lightflyweight titlist. The honor roll lists WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (defending his crown against Tim Bradley on June 9 in Las Vegas), WBO flyweight ruler Brian Viloria (staking his throne against Omar Niño Romero on April 1 in Pasig), WBO superbantamweight king Donaire (putting his title on the line tentatively against Mexico’s Cristian Mijares on July 14 at the Cowboys Stadium in Texas), WBO lightflyweight titlist Donnie Nietes, WBC flyweight titleholder Jaro and WBO female superbantamweight queen Ana Julaton (defending her belt against Yesica Marcos on March 16 in Argentina).

The next Filipino challenger to fight for a world crown is Mandaue’s Rodel Mayol who takes on WBA flyweight champion Hernan (Tyson) Marquez in Sonora, Mexico, on March 24. Mayol, 30, has won four in a row and is gunning for his second title after losing his WBC lightflyweight crown to Romero two years ago. Then, there is Sarangani’s John Mark (Iceman) Apolinario who faces No. 1 contender Hugo Ruiz for the interim WBA bantamweight championship in Baja California Sur, Mexico, on March 31. It’s strange how Apolinario got the title crack considering he’s not ranked in the top 15 by the WBA while three other Filipinos – No. 3 A. J. Banal, No. 8 Malcolm Tunacao and No. 15 Glenn Porras – are. Besides, putting up a title fight for the interim crown appears highly irregular since the WBA concurrently recognizes two bantamweight champions – Panama’s Anselmo Moreno as the “super” titlist and Japan’s Koki Kameda as the “regular” ruler. Naturally, the WBA will charge sanction fees for blessing the interim title bout and when it comes down to brass tacks, that’s what it’s all about – money. Preserving the integrity of the fight game seems to be farthest from the mind of governing bodies. If there’s money to be made, that’s the overriding priority.

Apolinario, 22, can’t be blamed for grabbing this opportunity. He’s unbeaten in his last six but with a 17-2-1 record, including four KOs, it doesn’t appear likely he can upset Ruiz, a 25-year-old Mexican warrior with a fearsome record of 29-1, with 26 KOs. Still, nobody gave Jaro a chance to beat WBC flyweight king and Fighter of the Decade Pongsaklek Wongjongkam two weeks ago and the Silay City slugger defied the odds to wrest the crown via a sixth round stoppage. Odds don’t matter if destiny calls.

* * *

Finally, Zamboanga del Norte’s Jonathan Taconing meets WBC lightflyweight champion Kompayak Porpramook of Thailand in Bangkok on May 5. It will be Porpramook’s first defense of the crown he took from Mexico’s Adrian Hernandez on a 10th round knockout last December. Taconing, 25, is the No. 6 contender and reigning WBC International titleholder in the 108-pound division. Johnny Elorde’s protégé has a 12-1-1 record, with nine KOs, compared to Porpramook’s mark of 44-3, with 30 KOs. Taconing is taller by about two inches than the 5-foot Thai who hasn’t lost in his last 22 outings since bowing to Hussein Hussein in Australia seven years ago.

Porpramook is known as a tormentor of Filipino fighters and counts on Michael Rodriguez, Rollen del Castillo, Rodel Tajares, Carlos Camacho, Ryan Maliteg, Wendell Cojoles, Larry Mede, Rick Paciones, Benjie Sorolla, Roger Mananquil and Darius Alfante among his victims. A blemish in his record was a first round knockout defeat to Filipino Allan Ranada in 2002.

Taconing has never fought abroad but a bright note is his last two victims were Thais – Lookdiaw Tor Buamas and Ngaoprajan Chuwathana. He is undefeated in his last nine bouts, including a technical draw with Edwin Picardal in 2009. His only loss was a six-round split decision to Joe Galamition at the Manila Hotel. “Jonathan has a good chance of winning,” said Elorde’s wife Liza. “He’s hungry for a world crown.”

* * *

Meanwhile, Philippine welterweight champion Dennis Laurente has declined an offer to fight WBC lightweight titleholder Juan Manuel Marquez in a 10-rounder in Mexico on April 21. Marquez, who has figured in three close contests with Pacquiao, is scheduled to battle Argentina’s Cesar Rene Cuenca for the interim WBO lightwelterweight throne in Mexico City on April 14 so it appears that the fight has been scrapped or the offer to Laurente wouldn’t have been made. Cuenca is unbeaten but his 42-0 record includes only one knockout. Laurente, 34, would’ve agreed to meet Marquez three years ago when he campaigned as a lightwelterweight. But now, he’s a full-blown 147-pounder. “Michael Koncz called us offering the fight to Dennis,” said Liza. “Unfortunately, Dennis won’t be able to trim down to 140. We know that Manny is trying to book him for a fight in his June 9 undercard or in a show the night before in Las Vegas.” Laurente is set to defend his Philippine welterweight title against Eusebio Baluarte at the Dusit Hotel on March 25.

Laurente, a former OPBF and PABA lightweight champion, is long overdue for a world title shot. The problem is he fights in the same weight class as Pacquiao so he’s overshadowed by the Filipino icon. Laurente is unbeaten in his last 17 bouts and has a 41-4-5 record, with 22 KOs. He’s coming off a seventh round disposal of Ayi Bruce in Las Vegas last November. As the No. 8 contender, Laurente could lobby to challenge WBC champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. who might be agreeable to defend against a Filipino not named Pacquiao. Another option is to take on WBA king Vyacheslav Senchenko of Ukraine who is trained by Freddie Roach. The hitch in that alternative is Laurente isn’t ranked in top 15 by the WBA.

Marquez, 38, hinted he would retire if he couldn’t get a fourth fight against Pacquiao. There is talk that Top Rank chairman Bob Arum might give Marquez another crack at Pacquiao before the year ends if no more credible opponent surfaces. The door remains open for Mayweather to step up to the plate but nobody’s holding his breath waiting for it to happen.