MANNY PACQUIAO IS FNA FIGHTER OF THE YEAR

Manny Pacquiao (right) lands a jab on Jessie Vargas. (Photo by WENDELL ALINEA)

FIGHT News Asia has chosen 8-time world division champion Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao of the Philippines as its Fighter of the Year in 2016.

Pacquiao, the first professional boxer to be elected as Senator in the Philippines, also took the Comeback of the Year award despite making only two fights last year.

The 38-year old fighter from Sarangani Province, however, showed that he can still fight and gather the boxing fans around the world. In the Philippines, police has reported no crime incident during the fights of Pacquiao.

Pacquiao first beat American Timothy Bradley Jr. by a convincing unanimous decision in their third encounter held April 9 at the MGM Grand, Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada to win the vacant WBO International welterweight title.

Pacquiao then announced his retirement after the fight to run for senator in the May political elections. But after he became a senator, Pacquiao also immediately made a successful comeback by dethroning Jessie Vargas via a UD to again capture the WBO World welterweight title last November 5 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao knocked down the much younger Vargas once in the second round and clearly dominated the 12-round title fight to improve his record to 59 wins, 6 losses and 2 draws with 38 knockouts.

Boxing fans are now clamouring for undefeated American Terence Crawford to be Pacquiao’s next opponent. Although many are still hoping for a rematch with the retired Floyd Mayweather Jr. It was later announced that Pacquiao will instead be facing Australian 2012 Olympian Jeff Horn (16-0-1, 11 KOs) on April 22 in Australia.

There are now also reports that Pacquiao will finally retire for good already after his last fight in 2017. Let’s wait and see.

ANCAJAS

Meanwhile, the runners-up for the Fighter of the Year also include three other Filipino world champions Jerwin “Pretty Boy” Ancajas, Marlon “Nightmare” Tapales and John Riel “Quadro Alas” Casimero.

Ancajas (25-1-1-16 KOs) captured the IBF world title via a convincing unanimous decision victory over Puerto Rico’s McJoe Arroyo, who was knocked down in the 8th round at the Jurado Hall of the  Philippine Navy Gym last Sept. 3.

TAPALES

Tapales (29-2-0-12 KOs) survived an early knockdown to knockout Panya Uthok in the 11th round and captured the WBO World bantamweight title in Ayutthaya, Thailand last July 27.

CAMISERO

Camisero (23-3-0-15 KOs) retained his IBF World flyweight title in his third title defense via a 10th round TKO on challenger Charlie Edwards on Sept. 10 at the Arena Greenwich in London. However, Camisero later vacated his title to climb up to the higher division.

The other Asian boxers notable for runner-up honors are undefeated WBC World bantamweight champion Shinsuke Yamanaka (26-0-2-18 KOs) of Tokyo, Japan,  WBA world light flyweight champion Ryoichi Taguchi (25-2-2, 11KOs) of Tokyo, undefeated WBC World Minimumweight champion Wanheng Menayothin (44-0, 17 KO) of Bangkok, Thailand and newly-crowned WBO world flyweight champion Zou Shiming of China.

YAMANAKA

Yamanaka made two successful title defenses in 2016. He first won a unanimous decision victory against Venezuelan Liborio Solias last March 4 at the Shimazu Arena in Kyoto, Japan. Solis was downed once in 2nd and 9th while Yamanaka survived two knockdowns in the 3rd.

In his next title defence, Yamanaka also survived a 4th round knockdown. But he also sent down Moreno in the 1st and 6th before twice downing for good the Panamanian in the 7th round for a technical knockout win at the EDION Arena in Osaka, Japan last Sept. 16.

TAGUCHI

Taguchi made three title defenses this year. Although his last one was only a split draw with Carlos Canizales last Dec. 31 at the Ota-City General Gym in Tokyo. He first retained his crown by a UD against Ryo Miyazaki last August 8 after stopping Juan Jose Landaeta in the 11th round last April 27 also in Tokyo.

MENOYOTHIN

Menayothin, who was born Chayaphon Moonsri, stopped Go Odaira via a 5th round TKO last March 3 at Nakhon Ratchasima. He again successfully defended his crown by a UD again st Mexican Saul Juarez on August 2 in Chonburi also in Thailand. Menayothin is now defending his title to another undefeated Filipino Melvin “Gringo” Jerusalem (11 wins, 7 KOs) on Jan. 25 in Thailand.

ZOU

Zou (9-1, 2 KO’s) won the vacant WBO flyweight belt last year after dispatching Thailand’s Prasitsak Phaprom with a unanimous decision on November 5 also in the undercard of Pacquiao-Vargas bout. He is slated to make his first title defense in Macau in April.

FIGHT OF THE YEAR

Pacquiao’s win against Vargas is also the Fight of the Year as the Filipino champion proved that he is still the King of the Ring despite his very hectic schedule already as a government official.

The runner-up was the long-awaited title defense by Arroyo against Filipino challenger Jerwin “Pretty Boy” Ancajas, which was postponed several times. It was finally held at the Philippine Naval Gym and was promoted by MP Promotions.

KNOCKOUT OF THE YEAR

Tapales’s sensational 11th round knockout on defending champion Uthok (52-3-0-35 KOs) came after he survived an early knockdown to shock the huge crowd. Uthok was rushed to the hospital with a broken jaw after the fight.

UPSET OF THE YEAR

Albert Pagara of ALA Boxing Stable was knocked out in the 8th round by Mexican Cesar Juarez last July 9 at the San Mateo Event Center in San Mateo, California, USA.

Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire (Photo courtesy of HBO.com)

Runner-up is Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire, who lost his WBO world super bantamweight title to challenger Jessie Magdaleno by a unanimous decision in the undercard of Pacquiao-Vargas fight.

The 34-year old Donaire dropped to 37-4-0-24 KOs while 25-year old Magdaleno remained undefeated with 24 straight wins and 17 KOs.

Randy Petalcorin with Sanman Promotions CEO Jim Claude Manangquil (extreme right)

BAD FIGHT OF THE YEAR

Omari Kimweri of South Africa won by a controversial decision against Randy “Razor” Petalcorin of Sanman Boxing Stable-General Santos City in their championship fight for the WBC Silver flyweight title at The Melbourne Pavilion in Flemington, Victoria, Australia last April 15.

Referee Malcolm Bulner failed to declare a knockdown several times on Kimweri forcing Team Petalcorin to file a protest. WBC ordered Kimweri to relinquish the title and set Petalcorin’s stablemate Jeffer Oliva to fight Pakistan’s Muhammad Waseem for the vacant title on July 17 at the Millennium Hilton Hotel in Seoul, Korea.

PROSPECT OF THE YEAR

Welterweight Sonny “Pinoy Hearns” Katiandagho (11-1-0-7 KOs) of General Santos City was one of the Filipino sparring partners of Manny Pacquiao during his preparation against Vargas.

Katiandagho is a former WBC Eurasia Pacific Boxing Council welterweight and WBC Youth World super lightweight champion. He lost both two titles for failing to defend them only. Katiandagho, however, bounced back with a 7th round TKO win against Indonesian Stevie Ongen Ferdinandus last Dec. 17 in Hangzhou, China.

Sonny “Pinoy Hearns” Katiandagho (middle) is flanked by his trainer Joven “JJ” Jorda (right) and manager Brico Santig of Highlands Promotions.

The runners-up are the undefeated super flyweight Rex ‘The Wonder Kid” Tso (20-12 KOs) of Hong Kong, super bantamweight Ryan “The Fire Fist” Lumacad (12-0-3-7 KOs) of Naris Singwancha Stable, WBO Oriental light flyweight champion Jesse “Little Giant” Espinas (16-2, 11 KOs) of Elorde Boxing Stable and WBC Asian Boxing Council super bantamweight champion Reymart “Gensan Assassin” Gaballo (16-0, 14 KOs) of Sanman Boxing Stable-General Santos City.

TSO

Tso, current WBC Asian Boxing Council and WBO International super flyweight champion will face WBO Asia Pacific super flyweight champion Hirofumi Mukai of Japan in a unification bout on March 11 in Hong Kong.

Lumacad, reigning Philippine Boxing Federation super bantamweight champion previously settled a split draw with Go Onaga in Okinawa, Japan last Jan. 8.

Espinas stopped Pai Pharob via an 8th round TKO last Feb. 26 in Thailand to win the WBO Oriental light flyweight crown. He later scored three more wins including two knockouts also in Thailand.

Gaballo knocked out Thailand’s Manot Comput in 1:49 of the 1^st round to capture the vacant WBC ABC super bantamweight title last Sept. 10 in Tupi, South Cotabato. He will soon be training already in Miami, USA under Cuban coach Osmiri “Moro” Fernandez.

PROMOTER OF THE YEAR

Japanese promoter Kato Ryota of United Boxing International Promotion is the Promoter of the Year. Ryota has promoted not only in Japan but also in the Philippines including Puerto Princesa City in Palawan. And his partner Warren Ellliot is also the Matchmaker of the Year.

The runners-up are international promoter Michael Aldeguer of the ALA Promotions from Cebu City and his matchmaker Edito Villamor

International promoter Kato Ryota (left) and matchmaker Warren Elliot (right) receiving their awards during the recent WBC Convention held in Miami, Florida. 

TRAINER OF THE YEAR

Former pro boxer Joven “JJ” Jorda of Highlands Boxing Gym in La Trinidad, Benguet is the trainer of champions not only the Philippines but also from Thailand and Japan.

He currently trains former IBO world light flyweight Rey “Hitman” Loreto, former WBC International flyweight champion Rey “Delubyo” Megrino, former IBF Pan Pacific super featherweight champion Carlo “The Ferocious” Magali, Women’s International Boxing Federation (WIBF) International light flyweight champion Jujeath “Bad Girl” Nagaowa, former OPBF super featherweight and WBO Asia Pacific Youth super featherweight champion Alan “The Leopard” Tanada, Katiandagho and Lumacad.

Trainer Joven “JJ” Jorda (right) with then IBO world light flyweight champion Rey “Hitman” Loreto (middle) and famous ring announcer Michael Buffer. 

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