Great night or morning for Filipino fight fans as the Araneta Coliseum, site of arguably the best heavyweight title fight in history, hosted 2 title fights to a contented and boisterous full capacity crowd.
Long-time IBF Junior Flyweight titlist Ulises Solis of Mexico was finally dethroned by US olympian and Hawaii-born Brian Viloria. A wicked right in the 11th knocked Solis out and his seemingly invincible hold of this 108-lb. belt. Solis has been dominating in his previous 8 defenses that losing to Viloria this way seem to be far fetch going in to the fight. Viloria proved me wrong as he showed that he still got what it takes to proudly claim another belt. I've always doubted Viloria's heart specially in the critical stages of a title fight but overcoming the world's second best junior flyweight is highly commendable. By the way, in my opinion, Ivan Calderon is still the top dog in the 108-lb. class. Viloria, I believe in the first half dominated but seemed to slow down in the 7th. I thought, here we go again but lo and behold, Solis dethroned violently. Utmost respect to the Hawaiian Punch and to the crowd that inspired him because of his filipino ancestry. A rematch against WBC champ Edgar Sosa will be huge and Hawaii's got to host it. His Olympics tormentor, the eternal WBA champ in recess, Brahim Asloum will be appealing also to hardcore fans. Boxing Scene; Fight News
In the main event, Nonito Donaire of the Philippines clinically prevailed over Raul Martinez of the US by knocking him down then out 4 times in 4 rounds. Donaire succesfully defended his IBF Flyweight title for the third time after the referee decided, which I agree, that Martinez was simply outmatched regardless of whether he still can continue after the 4th knockdown. Donaire's hybrid left hook/uppercut found its target quite often that Martinez can't seem to take his guard down and throw punches. Donaire's performance definitely keeps the clamor alive for a rematch against his other left hook victim Vic Darchinyan. This will most probably be the last time we see Donaire as a flyweight as 112 lbs. seem to be getting difficult for him to meet. There's not a lot of competent match-ups in the super fly if Darchinyan moves up to bantam and dethrones Joseph Agbeko on July 11. So 118 will be Donaire's very likely destination unless he makes a quick stop at 115 and challenges the highly beatable WBO champ Jose Lopez. This I believe will be the better path for Donaire to a least get noticed for the P4P list. Afterwhich, he moves up to 118 against potentially Darchinyan or eventual WBO 118-lb. champ Fernando Montiel. Unless, Darchinyan gets Montiel first or Bob Arum not allowing 2 of his titleholding stablemates slug it out. There will also be Hozumi Hasegawa who I believe is the best 118 pounder or Anselmo Moreno. A lot of options for the fast rising Donaire. Boxing Scene; Fight News
Earlier, in South Africa, the 3 best South African 130 pounders completes the full circle as Malcolm Klassen dethrones Cassius Baloyi to take his IBF Junior Lightweight title via stoppage in the seventh. On April 2007 Klassen lost the same title to Mzonke Fana. Then Fana lost the title to Baloyi on April 2008. This time, April 2009, Klassen regains the title from Baloyi. Not a bad coincidence for trivia buffs. I did not see the fight but I hope somebody puts it up in youtube since reports indicated that it was an entertaining fight. Well that's probably asking too much after I got my boxing fix quite satisfyingly from the Donaire card. Boxing Scene; Fight News
Prediction Results:
Good to see Viloria getting his heart back and proved me wrong.
Donaire was the easiest to predict so I, at least, got this right.
I was actually hoping for a Klassen win to complete the full circle but I thought Baloyi's length will prevail.
So with my first prediction setbacks in tow, my record is now 19-2 and a draw.
Tally changes as the US is pulling away once again from Mexico and the rest of the world.
As of Apr. 19, 2009Long-time IBF Junior Flyweight titlist Ulises Solis of Mexico was finally dethroned by US olympian and Hawaii-born Brian Viloria. A wicked right in the 11th knocked Solis out and his seemingly invincible hold of this 108-lb. belt. Solis has been dominating in his previous 8 defenses that losing to Viloria this way seem to be far fetch going in to the fight. Viloria proved me wrong as he showed that he still got what it takes to proudly claim another belt. I've always doubted Viloria's heart specially in the critical stages of a title fight but overcoming the world's second best junior flyweight is highly commendable. By the way, in my opinion, Ivan Calderon is still the top dog in the 108-lb. class. Viloria, I believe in the first half dominated but seemed to slow down in the 7th. I thought, here we go again but lo and behold, Solis dethroned violently. Utmost respect to the Hawaiian Punch and to the crowd that inspired him because of his filipino ancestry. A rematch against WBC champ Edgar Sosa will be huge and Hawaii's got to host it. His Olympics tormentor, the eternal WBA champ in recess, Brahim Asloum will be appealing also to hardcore fans. Boxing Scene; Fight News
In the main event, Nonito Donaire of the Philippines clinically prevailed over Raul Martinez of the US by knocking him down then out 4 times in 4 rounds. Donaire succesfully defended his IBF Flyweight title for the third time after the referee decided, which I agree, that Martinez was simply outmatched regardless of whether he still can continue after the 4th knockdown. Donaire's hybrid left hook/uppercut found its target quite often that Martinez can't seem to take his guard down and throw punches. Donaire's performance definitely keeps the clamor alive for a rematch against his other left hook victim Vic Darchinyan. This will most probably be the last time we see Donaire as a flyweight as 112 lbs. seem to be getting difficult for him to meet. There's not a lot of competent match-ups in the super fly if Darchinyan moves up to bantam and dethrones Joseph Agbeko on July 11. So 118 will be Donaire's very likely destination unless he makes a quick stop at 115 and challenges the highly beatable WBO champ Jose Lopez. This I believe will be the better path for Donaire to a least get noticed for the P4P list. Afterwhich, he moves up to 118 against potentially Darchinyan or eventual WBO 118-lb. champ Fernando Montiel. Unless, Darchinyan gets Montiel first or Bob Arum not allowing 2 of his titleholding stablemates slug it out. There will also be Hozumi Hasegawa who I believe is the best 118 pounder or Anselmo Moreno. A lot of options for the fast rising Donaire. Boxing Scene; Fight News
Earlier, in South Africa, the 3 best South African 130 pounders completes the full circle as Malcolm Klassen dethrones Cassius Baloyi to take his IBF Junior Lightweight title via stoppage in the seventh. On April 2007 Klassen lost the same title to Mzonke Fana. Then Fana lost the title to Baloyi on April 2008. This time, April 2009, Klassen regains the title from Baloyi. Not a bad coincidence for trivia buffs. I did not see the fight but I hope somebody puts it up in youtube since reports indicated that it was an entertaining fight. Well that's probably asking too much after I got my boxing fix quite satisfyingly from the Donaire card. Boxing Scene; Fight News
Prediction Results:
Good to see Viloria getting his heart back and proved me wrong.
Donaire was the easiest to predict so I, at least, got this right.
I was actually hoping for a Klassen win to complete the full circle but I thought Baloyi's length will prevail.
So with my first prediction setbacks in tow, my record is now 19-2 and a draw.
Tally changes as the US is pulling away once again from Mexico and the rest of the world.
Rank | Country | No. of Titles | Title Holders |
1st | USA | 11 |
|
2nd | Mexico | 8 |
|
3rd | Puerto Rico | 7 |
|
4th | Ukraine | 5 |
|
5th (3 are tied) | Armenia | 4 |
|
5th (3 are tied) | Japan | 4 |
|
5th (3 are tied) | Panama | 4 |
|
8th (2 are tied) | Argentina | 3 |
|
8th (2 are tied) | Philippines | 3 |
|
10th (6 are tied) | Hungary | 2 |
|
10th (6 are tied) | Poland | 2 |
|
10th (6 are tied) | Romania | 2 |
|
10th (6 are tied) | Thailand | 2 |
|
10th (6 are tied) | UK | 2 |
|
10th (6 are tied) | Venezuela | 2 |
|
16th (10 are tied) | Colombia | 1 |
|
16th (10 are tied) | Denmark | 1 |
|
16th (10 are tied) | Germany | 1 |
|
16th (10 are tied) | Ghana | 1 |
|
16th (10 are tied) | Indonesia | 1 |
|
16th (10 are tied) | Italy | 1 |
|
16th (10 are tied) | Nicaragua | 1 |
|
16th (10 are tied) | Russia | 1 |
|
16th (10 are tied) | South Africa | 1 |
|
16th (10 are tied) | Uzbekistan | 1 |
|
it was definitely a good morning to wake up to pare.
ReplyDeletegreat fights last night.
and the best part is... we've got another big one this coming saturday in puerto rico!
3 straight weekends with pinoys in title fights. not bad, right?
ReplyDelete