No Filipino reigned as world champion in pro boxing’s four major governing bodies when the year ended last December and today, only WBA/IBF superbantamweight king Marlon Tapales is holding up the flag. Since the start of this year, Melvin Jerusalem and Tapales have won in world title fights. Jerusalem halted Masataka Taniguchi in the second round to wrest the WBO minimumweight crown in Osaka last January but was dethroned by Puerto Rican Oscar Collazo in California four months later. Tapales upset Uzbek Murodjon Akhmadaliev to capture the WBA and IBF belts on a split decision in San Antonio last April. His camp is negotiating a unification duel with WBC/WBO ruler Naoya Inoue late this year in Japan.
Seven Filipinos have lost in world title fights, including two interims, this year and the trend is alarming. Last March, former WBC featherweight champion Mark Magsayo was beaten by Brandon Figueroa on a unanimous 12-round decision for the interim WBC 126-pound title in Ontario, California. A month later, former IBF minimumweight titleholder Rene Mark Cuarto was knocked out by Ginjiro Shigeoka for the interim IBF 105-pound championship in Tokyo. Then, last May, Vincent Astrolabio was outpointed by Australia’s Jason Moloney on a majority verdict for the vacant WBO bantamweight crown in Stockton and Jerusalem yielded his title to Collazo.
Jade Bornea was next to fall, bowing to Argentina’s IBF superflyweight titlist Fernando Martinez in Minnesota last June. Two more Filipinos lost in world title bids last month. Regie Suganob was beaten by Sivenathi Nontshinga on points for the IBF lightflyweight strap in South Africa last July 2 and Nonito Donaire Jr. also lost by decision to Mexico’s Alejandro Santiago for the vacant WBC bantamweight title in Las Vegas last July 29.
Hoping to break the losing streak is General Santos City’s Garen (Hellboy) Diagan who challenges Jerusalem’s tormentor Collazo for the WBO minimumweight title in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Aug. 26. Collazo, 26, is a heavy favorite in the battle of southpaws. He’s a national hero with a 7-0 record, including five KOs, and the homecrowd will be a big boost. Diagan, 27, has a 10-3 record, with five KOs, and is coming off back-to-back wins over Simpiwe Konkco in South Africa and Huu Toan Le in Vietnam.
At the moment, there are six Filipinos rated No. 1 in their divisions but four lost in world title fights this year. They are WBO No. 1 minimumweight Vic Saludar, Suganob, Bornea, Donaire, Astrolabio and WBO No. 1 bantamweight Reymart Gaballo. Astrolabio is set to face Thailand’s Nawaphon Kaikanha in a WBC bantamweight title eliminator in Bangkok on Aug. 26. Astrolabio, ranked No. 1 by IBF, is opting to chase the WBC crown.
Unbeaten Dave Apolinario is the current IBO flyweight king but since winning the belt in South Africa in July last year, no offer has come for a defense. The IBO isn’t in the same prestigious class as WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO so Apolinario’s title is widely unrecognized. Apolinario takes on Mexico’s Brian Mosinos in an eight-rounder in Tokyo on Aug. 30 to stay active for a shot at the WBA crown held by Ukraine’s Artem Dalakian. Apolinario is rated No. 2 by WBA and Mosinos No. 8 by WBC.