Pinoys lined up for title shots

Before the year ends, three Filipinos will fight for the world title as underdogs but while the odds aren’t encouraging, they’re expected to go all out in bringing honor to the country. At the moment, the Philippines has four reigning world champions – WBO welterweight titlist Manny Pacquiao, IBO lightflyweight ruler Rey Loreto, WBO lightflyweight king Donnie Nietes (assuming he retained his crown against Carlos Velarde in Cebu last night) and IBA superflyweight titleholder Bruno Escalante.

Attempting to join Pacquiao and company are Cebu’s Rocky Fuentes who takes on WBC flyweight champion Roman (Chocolatito) Gonzalez in Yokohama on Nov. 22, Albay’s Michael Dasmarinas who battles Lwandile Sityatha for the IBO superflyweight throne in South Africa on Nov. 30 and Cebu’s Roli Gasca who faces Lusanda Komanisi for the IBO featherweight diadem in South Africa on Dec. 15.

So far, Filipinos have won seven and lost eight in world title fights this year. The list excludes Nietes’ defense against Velarde last night. Included in the win column are Escalante’s two victories where he retained the IBA superflyweight crown, stopping Lorenzo Trejo in the fourth round in Redwood City last February and outpointing Victor Ruiz in Brooks last April. The IBA (International Boxing Association) is considered a minor league in the fight game and recognizes only three world champions with 14 vacant titles. An IBA title fight has a distance of only 10 rounds unlike the 12 in the WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO.

The IBO is another minor league with a big base in South Africa. In fact, the IBO is bannered by six South African “world” champions. Loreto broke through the South African domination with a shock third round knockout over Nkosinathi Joyi in Monte Carlo, Monaco, last February. Loreto, 24, will stake his IBO lightflyweight throne against Joyi in a rematch in South Africa on Dec. 13. He prepped for the defense by halting Indonesia’s Heri Amol in the seventh round in Davao City last month. A late bloomer, Loreto turned pro in 2008 and lost his first four outings. His record is an unimpressive 19-13, with 11 KOs. Only one of his 13 setbacks was by knockout, an indication of his durability.

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Fuentes, 28, hasn’t fought since losing a decision to Amnat Ruenroeng for the vacant IBF flyweight title in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, last January. Previous to the defeat, Fuentes had won 15 straight, including four in Japan. Familiarity won’t be a problem for either Fuentes or Gonzalez. Fuentes served as Gonzalez’ sparring partner when the Nicaraguan trained for his fight against Akira Yaegashi in Tokyo last September. Gonzalez wrested the WBC crown from Yaegashi on a ninth round stoppage.

Now, Fuentes and Gonzalez will face off in a real fight. Gonzalez, 27, is a former WBA minimumweight and lightflyweight champion with a record of 40-0, including 34 KOs. A lot of experts are convinced that Gonzalez is unbeatable at this stage of his career. The Nicaraguan has fought only one Filipino, Eriberto Gejon who capitulated in a single round in Tokyo in 2007. One of Gonzalez’ victims is Juan Francisco Estrada, now the WBA/WBO flyweight champion who has beaten Filipinos Brian Viloria, Milan Melindo and Richie Mepranum. Another Gonzalez victim is WBO minimumweight champion Francisco Rodriguez Jr. who performed in the Nietes-Velarde undercard in Cebu last night.

ALA Promotions owner Tony Aldeguer said it’s a 50-50 fight. Fuentes, who is an ALA fighter, has never lost in Japan where he won four OPBF flyweight title bouts. Gonzalez has logged eight fights in Japan and is managed by Akihiko Honda under the Teiken stable. Fuentes leaves for Yokohoma today with trainer Edito Villamor, assistant trainer Peter Cuizon and conditioning coach Nick Curson. Fuentes has compiled a 35-7-2 record, with 20 KOs, since turning pro in 2003.

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Dasmarinas, 22, enters the ring to challenge Sityatha with an 18-1 record, including 11 KOs. The 5-5 southpaw has fought only once abroad, beating Hayato Kimura in Tokyo on points last July. He has won his last 15 bouts, nine inside the distance. Sityatha, 26, is the same fighter who dethroned Filipino Edrin Dapudong on a split decision for the IBO superflyweight title in South Africa last July. Sityatha has a 17-3-1 record, with 7 KOs.

Gasca, 25, had a golden opportunity to win a world title when defending IBO superbantamweight champion Thabo Sonjica was stripped of the crown for failing to make the 122-pound limit in South Africa last August. Sonjica scaled 4 1/2 pounds over the limit but the fight went on with Gasca to be declared the new champion if he won and the throne to remain vacant if the South African won. As it turned out, Sonjica beat Gasca on a unanimous 12-round decision. Luckily, Gasca was given another chance, this time to challenge Komanisi for the IBO featherweight title in South Africa on Dec. 15.

Gasca is a grizzled road warrior with a 22-5-1 record, including 6 KOs. He has compiled a 2-2-1 record in Japan, 1-0 in Thailand and 0-1 in Russia. In September 2012, Gasca lost a 12-round verdict to Alexander Bakhtin for the vacant IBO superbantamweight crown in Moscow. Gasca’s low knockout rate is a handicap because against Komanisi, nothing less than a stoppage is the only way to bring the crown to the Philippines.