Philippines among top boxing nations, says WBO president

CEBU CITY, Philippines – The Philippines may have only one reigning boxing world champion at the moment, but World Boxing Organization (WBO) president Francisco Valcarcel says the country still has a well-deserved reputation for producing talented fighters. 

Valcarcel, who is in Cebu City for tonight’s junior flyweight world championship fight between Filipino boxer Donnie Nietes and Francisco Rodriguez of Mexico, says the Philippines is on par with leading fight territories like Mexico and Puerto Rico.

“Now you know that when you’re fighting a Filipino, it’s like [fighting] a Mexican or a Puerto Rican. [Filipino fighters are] more respected around the world because they have good role models to follow, including Nietes and the others,” the Puerto Rico-based Valcarcel tells Rappler.

“Now the young fighters are more in the gym and they are more interested to become champions. That’s the reason why the Philippine boxing has grown and been recognized as one of the biggest boxing nations in the world.”

(READ: Boxing champ Nietes faces legacy enhancing challenge vs Rodriguez)

The Philippines currently has 11 fighters ranked in The Ring magazine’s top 10 divisional rankings, most of whom are in the junior featherweight division (122 pounds) and below. 

But fighters from the archipelago nation have had spotty luck in world title fights of late.

First Manny Pacquiao fell short in a decision loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr in the “Fight of the Century” in May. Then Johnriel Casimero, who lost his IBF junior flyweight title last year after missing weight for a title defense, dropped a decision to IBF flyweight titleholder Amnat Ruenroeng in Thailand last month. Several weeks earlier, Milan Melindo dropped a technical decision to Javier Mendoza for the IBF junior flyweight title. 

Valcarcel thinks the Philippines will bounce back because of the influence that fighters like Pacquiao, Nietes and Nonito Donaire Jr have had on their domestic fans.

“You have to recognize that Pacquiao has had a big impact in Filipino boxing. Pacquiao has been great all around, but he’s doing great for his countrymen, especially for fighters,” Valcarcel says.

“You have a lot of fighters, kids in the gym. They’ve got role models like [former junior flyweight/flyweight champion Brian] Viloria, Pacquiao, Nietes. They use that as a role model. All the kids in the gym want to be like Pacquiao. They change to southpaws to imitate that way.” 

One Filipino up-and-comer that Valcarcel is fond of is Arthur Villanueva, who has a chance to add another title to the Philippines’ tally when he faces McJoe Arroyo for the vacant IBF junior bantamweight title on Saturday, July 18 at the Don Haskins Convention Center in El Paso, Tex.

(READ: After Pacquiao: 5 Filipino boxers 25-and-under to follow)

Boxing ring

Valcarcel presented the 33-year-old Negros Occidental native Nietes with a custom-made championship ring after Friday’s weigh-in to commemorate his nearly 8-year reign as champion in two weight classes. 

Only Juan Manuel Marquez, Wladimir Klitschko, Pacquiao, Marco Antonio Barrera, Joe Calzaghe, Oscar de la Hoya and a select few others have ever received such a ring from the WBO.

Valcarcel says it wouldn’t surprise him if Nietes joins them when they eventually are all inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, N.Y. 

“[Nietes] beat a lot of Mexicans and he gained a lot of respect, he’s recognized around the world. Don’t be shocked if after he retires, he could be inducted into the Hall of Fame,” says Valcarcel. – Rappler.com

Ryan Songalia is the sports editor of Rappler, a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) and a contributor to The Ring magazine. He can be reached at ryan.songalia@rappler.com. Follow him on Twitter: @RyanSongalia.