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Boxing's flyweight division is perhaps the best division for the Philippines as evidenced by the abundance of Filipinos ranked in its upper echelon.
In the next couple of months, three Filipino boxers will have an opportunity to hold on to three of the four major world title belts to solidify the country's dominance in the said division.
First up is Sonny Boy Jaro (33-10-5, 23 KOs), who finds himself in a Herculian quest to upset Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (88-3-2, 44 KOs) in his own backyard of Thailand on March 2 for the WBC strap. Jaro has been working hard with his manager Aljoe Jaro and intends to knockout the champion, wary of becoming "Thai food" if the verdict is left for the judges. The 29-year-old native of Silay, Negros hopes to ride the momentum of his first round KO win three weeks ago against Samuel Apuya in Caloocan City.
Next is veteran boxer Rodel Mayol (30-5-2, 22 KOs), who will be traveling to Mexico against Hernan "Tyson" Marquez (32-2-0, 25 KOs) in a winnable battle for the WBA flyweight crown. Both of Marquez's defeats have come at the hands of Filipino fighters in Richie Mepranum and Nonito Donaire, Jr., and the 30-year-old former World Champ Mayol is more than capable of dethroning the Mexican champion. In an interview I did with Mayo months back, the Mandaue City kid had expressed his confidence and desire in facing Marquez, and strongly believes he will be a World Champ once again.
Last, but not the least, Brian Viloria (30-3-0, 17 KOs) makes the second title defense of his WBO belt against nemesis Omar Nino Romero (30-4-2, 12 KOs) on April Fools Day in Manila. Viloria hopes to exorcise his demons against the man that derailed him twice early on in his career. Viloria is fresh from his sensational win against top pound-for-pound fighter Giovani Segura in Manila last December.
Other top contender in the division who may soon find themselves in title fights are ALA Boxing's Milan Melindo and Rocky Fuentes, Froilan Saludar, and the aforementioned Richie Mepranum to name a few. Of the bunch, I envision Melindo to be the one that can someday win and unify belts in this weight class.
Will Filipinos stamp their class and dominate the flyweight division? Or will they simply drop like flies? That's a lot of flies if you ask me.
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- dSG -
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More Pinoy Boxing (click on title to read):
- Bernabe Concepcion: Legit opportunity or sacrificial lamb vs. Mikey Garcia?
- ALA's undefeated rising star Melindo draws interest from Top Rank and Arum
- 'I am going to knock him out' - Sonny Boy Jaro on Wonjongkam
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