All news tagged PhilippineBoxing

Five years ago, Mario Barrios would have been the perfect matchup for eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao. 

At 6’0 tall and not the most agile, Barrios embodies the type of fighter that Pacquiao excelled against in his prime—tall, flat-footed, and susceptible to quick movements and speed.

Pacquiao is also the first boxer in history to win major world titles in four of the original eight weight classes of boxing: flyweight, featherweight, lightweight, and welterweight.

Throughout his storied career, the 5-foot-5 Filipino superstar consistently took down larger opponents like Oscar De La Hoya and Antonio Margarito, utilizing his signature speed and footwork to deliver quick combinations before slipping away from their reach.

However, that was a different time.

Now, at 46 years old, Pacquiao hasn’t been in the ring professionally for four years. His last fight—a unanimous decision defeat against Yordenis Ugas in 2021—revealed signs of wear and tear, even against an opponent who seemed like a good fit stylistically.

This reality is what casts Pacquiao as an underdog ahead of his much-anticipated comeback against Barrios on July 19 (July 20 in Manila) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. 

Nevertheless, he shouldn't be underestimated.

Justine Fortune, Pacquiao's long-time strength and conditioning coach, believes Pacquiao still has a spark. 

Fortune expressed high praise for Pacquiao’s recent training sessions in Los Angeles. 

“Look, on the mitts and bags, they don’t hit back, but he’s looking as sharp as he did six or seven years ago. He hasn’t lost a step,” said Fortune.

He also noted that Barrios, while talented, isn’t the hardest target to hit. “Barrios takes a lot of punches, and Pacquiao is definitely the last person you want hitting you like that. Once you take those shots, you can start swelling up, and if he clips you, it could lead to cuts.”

And when asked for his prediction? Fortune was straightforward: “I see a stoppage. This fight won’t go the distance.”

The controversial result of the super-featherweight title clash between Filipino boxing star Charly Suarez and Mexican champion Emanuel Navarrete on May 11, 2025, is set to be overturned following a thorough review by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC).

The CSAC is expected to change the official outcome of the fight to a no-contest — a decision that could pave the way for a high-stakes rematch.

Navarrete originally retained his WBO super-featherweight title via an eighth-round technical decision. The bout was halted due to a cut above Navarrete’s left eyebrow, which referee Edward Collantes ruled was caused by an unintentional headbutt. This led to the judges' scorecards being used, resulting in a win for Navarrete.

However, after conducting an extensive post-fight review, the CSAC determined that the cut was actually caused by a legal punch from Suarez in Round 6 — not a clash of heads, as initially ruled. Video replays supported this finding, contradicting the original call.

Had this been correctly identified during the bout, Suarez would have won the title by technical knockout (TKO), as the injury would have forced a stoppage.

While replay official Jack Reiss maintained there was "no conclusive evidence" to reverse the referee’s decision at the time, the CSAC’s subsequent investigation provided clarity. As a result, the fight’s outcome is now poised to be amended to a no-contest.

The WBO is expected to mandate a rematch — a move welcomed by both camps. In fact, Top Rank Vice President of Operations Carl Moretti voiced his support for a rematch immediately following the fight.

If the ruling is officially changed to a no-contest, it would not only revive Charly Suarez’s shot at the world title but also set the stage for what could become one of the most compelling rivalries in boxing this year.

The Philippine boxing community is grieving the loss of former title challenger and veteran trainer Jonathan Peñalosa, who passed away on Monday, April 28, after a valiant battle with colon cancer. He was 57.

Peñalosa was the older brother of two-time world champion Gerry Peñalosa and Dodie Boy Peñalosa Sr. His wake is currently being held at their family home in San Carlos City.

Eight-division world champion and former senator Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, who trained under him for many years, is among those who paid tribute to Peñalosa. Pacquiao shared a heartfelt video on Facebook featuring training sessions with the late coach.

“Rest in peace, Coach Jonathan Peñalosa. You weren’t just a coach to me—you were a brother, in and out of the ring. Thank you for your sacrifices and the love you gave me and my family. We will never forget you. Our prayers are with the Peñalosa family. We will forever miss you, Coach,” said Pacquiao.

Peñalosa died exactly a week after Pacquiao personally visited him at Bacolod City Riverside Hospital following his surgery.

Coach Jonathan had a seven-year pro career from 1985 to 1993, the highlight of which was his fight against WBA flyweight champion Yong Kang Kim of South Korea in 1992, which he unfortunately lost via a sixth-round knockout. His career record stood at 15-4-1 with 7 KOs.

Jonathan was one of three boxing children of patriarch Carl Peñalosa, a two-time Philippine super-lightweight champion.

Following his boxing career, Coach Jonathan became a fight trainer and eventually joined Pacquiao’s stable of local trainers.

He was part of Pacquiao’s team for some of his marquee fights, including those against Tim Bradley, Jeff Horn, Lucas Matthysse, Keith Thurman, among others.

It was also Peñalosa who trained Pacquiao for his six-round exhibition fight against South Korean martial artist DK Yoo in 2022.

As Pacquiao retired, the elder Peñalosa took Pacman’s fighting son, Eman Bacosa, under his wing.

Good news to all boxing enthusiasts. This sport will get its spot back in the program of the LA Olympics in 2028. 

This good news was brought by the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) after attending the World Boxing  board meeting last, March 18, 2025. 

Chairman and Philippine Olympic team chef-de-mission Ricky Vargas heralded this good news not only for the country and the Filipino sports officials but for the sport and all the boxers. 

“We are back in the Olympics with an international federation (World Boxing) recognized by the IOC (International Olympic Committee). The Philippines made a principled decision to leave AIBA (the old boxing governing body that lost IOC recognition in 2023). We took a principled risk to join (the new) World Boxing. We were first and got elected to the WB board. Now, wow, we are back in the LA Olympics, WB is getting its recognition from the IOC and is here to stay,” said Vargas. 

Now that boxing’s place in LA is all but a formality, the Pinoy boxers can go about their Olympic quest in 2028 without a cloud of uncertainty. The Philippines has captured four silver medals and six bronzes in the quadrennial Games and will continue hunting for the breakthrough gold in the next Olympiad.

“It feels like boxing was reborn and is here to stay,” said Vargas.

It can be recalled that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) set aside the inclusion of boxing in the upcoming 2028 LA Olympics due to the issues and controversies seen in the 2024 Paris Olympics, one of which was the gender issue.

Meanwhile, Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino, for his part, said he had known all along that boxing would stay in the Olympics.

“It’s expected because it’s a favorite sport played by all, it’s just a matter of time,” said Tolentino.

The PhilCycling chief and Tagaytay City Mayor also said it was just fitting to have boxing since it was in the United States where the sport was first played in the quadrennial meet – in 1904.

“It’s been in the Olympics since 1904, in the USA, and so for LA too,” Tolentino added.