Columns · PhilBoxing.com

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Careful what you wish for

By Joaquin Henson, PhilBoxing.com Sat, 30 Jan 2021

It’s unthinkable for a new kid on the boxing block like Ryan Garcia, who isn’t even a full-fledged world lightweight champion, to call out super WBA welterweight titleholder (in recess) Sen. Manny Pac…

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Class of his own

By Joaquin Henson, PhilBoxing.com Sun, 24 Jan 2021

Luisito Espinosa. Of all the Filipino world boxing champions, Luisito Espinosa was blessed with the classic fighter’s physique. The man called “Lindol” stood 5-7 1/2, tall for the bantamweight and fea…

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Cuarto to fight like Manny

By Joaquin Henson, PhilBoxing.com Sat, 16 Jan 2021

Cuarto (R) and Taduran (L). Challenger Rene Mark Cuarto plans to use super WBA welterweight champion Sen. Manny Pacquiao’s fighting style and technique in attempting to dethrone IBF minimumweight titl…

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Marcial likely to stay in L.A.

By Joaquin Henson, PhilBoxing.com Thu, 14 Jan 2021

Marcial (R) with Roach (L) and Gibbons (C). Tokyo Olympic middleweight boxing qualifier Eumir Marcial is expected to stay in Los Angeles until after his next pro fight in March and possibly up to Apri…

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GAB hails world title fights here

By Joaquin Henson, PhilBoxing.com Thu, 14 Jan 2021

Pedro Taduran (L) and Rene Cuarto (R). Since the pandemic breakout last year, the Philippines staged only four boxing promotions, two in Mandaue with Omega and two in General Santos City with Sanman. …

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McGregor gone in two rounds

By Joaquin Henson, PhilBoxing.com Mon, 11 Jan 2021

If ever super WBA welterweight champion Sen. Manny Pacquiao faces MMA fighter Conor McGregor, Los Angeles-based Australian strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune said yesterday it’s over in tw…

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ABAP eyes 7 more Tokyo tickets

By Joaquin Henson, PhilBoxing.com Sun, 10 Jan 2021

Ed Picson. The window is slowing closing on more boxing qualifiers for the coming Tokyo Olympics but ABAP secretary-general Ed Picson said yesterday he’s hoping things will open up once training resum…

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Pro boxing review: Five Pinoys reign as world champs

By Joaquin Henson, PhilBoxing.com Sat, 02 Jan 2021

The Philippines fell one man shy of duplicating the record for most Filipino world boxing champions in the same year but under pandemic conditions, it was still a remarkable feat as super WBA welterwe…

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Another Pinoy next for Inoue

By Joaquin Henson, PhilBoxing.com Wed, 30 Dec 2020

Michael Dasmariñas. It won’t be WBO bantamweight champion JohnRiel Casimero battling super WBA/IBF titlist Naoyo Inoue next but another Filipino who’s been waiting over a year for his chance of a life…

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Spirit of Christmas

By Joaquin Henson, PhilBoxing.com Fri, 25 Dec 2020

This pandemic has turned the world and our lives upside down. But it won’t dissipate the spirit of Christmas. There will be less church goers attending Mass and services because government has restric…

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Manny recalls winning his 1st world title

By Joaquin Henson, PhilBoxing.com Wed, 23 Dec 2020

Pacquiao (R) and Sasakul during their Dec., 1998 battle. It was 22 years ago and Manny Pacquiao was 19, less than two weeks before his 20th birthday. He was in the Tonsuk College Ground in Phutthamont…

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Refuge for the prejudiced

By Joaquin Henson, PhilBoxing.com Wed, 23 Dec 2020

GAB chairman Baham Mitra. For decades, we’ve come across sad stories of pro athletes exploited by unscrupulous agents and carpet-bagging promoters. Boxers were short-changed, misguided and some ended …

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Gaballo snares interim WBC crown

By Joaquin Henson, PhilBoxing.com Mon, 21 Dec 2020

Late replacement Reymart Gaballo of Polomolok seized the chance of a lifetime and made it pay off as he fought like a man possessed from start to finish in pounding out a split 12-round decision over …

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Mama was paid but not Sultan

By Joaquin Henson, PhilBoxing.com Sun, 20 Dec 2020

Jayson Mama arrived in South Africa last Wednesday to challenge IBF flyweight champion Moruti Mthalane only to be told the fight, scheduled today, was cancelled. Mama’s manager J. C. Manangquil said t…

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Donaire ready to move on

By Joaquin Henson, PhilBoxing.com Sat, 19 Dec 2020

It would’ve been the stage to showcase his rediscovered killer’s instinct and new-found fountain of youth but Nonito Donaire, Jr. said yesterday he’s not griping over the cancellation of his fight aga…

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Shutout for Marcial

By Joaquin Henson, PhilBoxing.com Fri, 18 Dec 2020

Olympic middleweight qualifier Eumir Marcial outlanded tough Andrew Whitfield by a rate of three punches to one and left the Idaho brawler with his right eye swelled to a slit in pounding out a unanim…

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It’s D-Day for Eumir

By Joaquin Henson, PhilBoxing.com Thu, 17 Dec 2020

Tokyo Olympic middleweight boxing qualifier Eumir Marcial of Zamboanga City makes his pro debut against unheralded Andrew Whitfield, a paper mill worker on a 12-hour shift in Lewiston, Idaho, in a sch…

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Saudi beckons for Manny’s next fight

By Joaquin Henson, PhilBoxing.com Wed, 16 Dec 2020

There are four possible dates on the table for super WBA welterweight champion Sen. Manny Pacquiao’s next fight and Saudi Arabia looms as the host country to mark his first title defense since dethron…

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Mama unfazed by tough odds

By Joaquin Henson, PhilBoxing.com Wed, 16 Dec 2020

It won’t be easy sailing for General Santos City challenger Jayson Mama who’s determined to defy the odds in dethroning IBF flyweight champion Moruti Mthalane in their scheduled 12-round bout in Durba…