Robbed of pure joy in 2022, Philippine boxing seems to be on the rebound in 2023.
Currently, the country has one reigning world champion in two-belt super-bantamweight king Marlon Tapales.
Just a few weeks ago, Tapales had company on top.
Melvin Jerusalem, who kicked off 2023 with a big bang in Osaka, surrendered his World Boxing Organization minimumweight title to Puerto Rican Oscar Collazo in Indio, California.
Tapales’ reign as World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation 122-lb king looks secured until November or December since it would be around this time that he will risk his twin crowns in a bid to unify all belts in the weight class.
Tapales’ time came last April when he traveled to San Antonio to battle Uzbekistan’s Murodjon Akhmadaliev.
The underdog, Mindanao-born southpaw was awarded a 12-round split decision to become a two-belt holder.
The victory brought so much happiness to Tapales, who had also briefly been a world champion back in 2016.
Before upsetting Akhmadaliev, Tapales had to endure the pain of not seeing his wife and daughter and loved ones for almost two years as he had to set up camp in the United States.
Fortunately for him, his sacrifices and hard work paid off and Tapales could end up becoming an instant all-time great if he wins the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization jewels.
Six months into 2023, Filipino fighters have been blowing hot and cold.
Hopes were high that Vincent Astrolabio would rise to the occasion and bag a world title as well but he proved to be lacking in skill set when he faced Australian master boxer Jason Moloney for the vacant WBO bantam diadem last 10 May in Stockton, California.
Still, the back-to-back losses suffered by Astrolabio and Jerusalem could be just temporary.
Several Filipino fighters are lined up to vie in world title fights and the prospects are terrific.
Also getting attention, albeit not yet ready for a world title fight, is Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Eumir Marcial.
Before aggravating his right-hand injury, Marcial regained his knockout ways when he blasted Argentine Ricardo Villalba in two rounds at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, last February.
The win boosted Marcial’s record to 4-0 with two knockouts and his professional career is expected to step up towards the end of the year right after the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
Grand plans are also on horizon for a bevy of ex-world champions in line with Philippine boxing’s resurgence during the year following a series of heartbreaking moments in 2022.
While he appears to be being left out since his current handlers are not influential enough, John Riel Casimero remains a hot property.
Now campaigning at super-bantam, Casimero is rated highly by the boxing bodies and could be just one marquee fight from being called to figure in a major bout.
Given all the plus factors surrounding Philippine pro boxing, it doesn’t look as if 2022 is staging a quick comeback.
