History of boxing in the Philippines

Boxing history in the Philippines

Pancho Villa: The first Asian world champion; June 18, 1923.

The history of boxing in the Philippines is the history of boxing and the evolution and progress of the sport in the Philippines. In the Philippines, boxing is one of its most popular sports, together with basketball, due to the many accolades it has brought to the country, having produced 46 major world champions (including those of Filipino heritage), one of the most in the world.[1] Despite not having won a gold medal in boxing, the Philippines has had multiple Olympic standouts, with 10 out of its 18 total Olympic medals coming from boxing, along with some of the greatest fighters in the history of the sport. Filipino greats like Pancho Villa and Flash Elorde are members of the two highly respected boxing hall of fames – International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF)[2][3] and World Boxing Hall of Fame (WBHF)[4] thus, giving the Philippines the most number of Boxing Hall of Famers outside the United States.

## Golden ages of Philippine boxing

[edit]

Local folk narrative says that before the Spaniards and Americans came to the Philippines, Filipinos had their own kind of boxing known as suntukan,"bare-hand fighting" in Tagalog, (and similarly in other Philippine languages with the same meaning) generally believed to have evolved from a Filipino knife fighting technique called "kali". During the Spanish colonization martial arts and fight sports were banned[citation needed], so it was driven underground where the lack of knives and rattan sticks lead to fist fighting[citation needed]. Despite this claim, centuries old documents still need to be uncovered and translated for verification on whether or not the Philippine natives had a codified system of unarmed combat before boxing since there are no surviving reports and records of any kind of unarmed fighting in Luzon and Visayas practicing a system of empty-hand combat, apart only from local wrestling, as fighting only becomes a martial art if trainings are systematic and orderly, thus, "codified".

### First golden age of Philippine boxing

[edit]

A boxing match in Olongapo in 1909.

The evolution of Philippine boxing began after when Spain ceded its colonial territories, namely Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the United States as agreed in the Treaty of Paris on 1898 which led to the Philippine–American War on 1899. Some reports state U.S. soldiers brought modern boxing to the Philippines, evidenced by a pair boxing gloves made by Sol Levinson of San Francisco. Another story tells of a renegade soldier brought some boxing gloves to Filipino prisoners and taught them how to use them. However, it was generally believed that three Americans were responsible for the evolution of boxing in the country namely: Frank Churchill and the Tait brothers (Eddie and Stewart)[5] Eddie and Stewart Tait, also dubbed as "Barnums of Borneo", were amusement park entrepreneurs who established carnivals and horse racing tracks in Manila, who arrived in the country in 1902. Eddie, believed to be a boxing enthusiast, wanted to attract crowds by teaching Filipino locals some western boxing lessons for free to create American-style Filipino boxers.

Ceferino Garcia: Middleweight world champion on 1939. Was credited to as the first well known user of the bolo punch.

In 1921, boxing was legalized in the Philippines and began to flourish. Frank Churchill joined by the Tait brothers, established the Olympic Boxing Club in Manila. During this time, the country saw the first batch of great Filipino fighters such as Dencio Cabanela, Speedy Dado, the Flores brothers (Francisco, Elino, Macario and Ireneo), Pete Sarmiento, Sylvino Jamito, Macario Villon and the legendary Pancho Villa. The first golden age of Philippine boxing emerge as Pancho Villa won the universal world flyweight championship from Welshman Jimmy Wilde to become the first ever Asian and Filipino world champion.[6] Villa defended his title three times including a fight in the Philippines with fellow Filipino Clever Sencio where he won by fifteen-round decision, which at the time, nobody thought it would be the last victory of his young career. The glorious era was short-lived following the ring deaths of popular fighters Dencio Cabanela and Clever Sencio along with the death of Pancho Villa from Ludwig's angina and their influential promoter Frank Churchill.[7]

There was also the Filipino-Spanish boxer, Luis Logan, who at one time or another held the title Oriental welterweight and heavyweight champion. Logan's boxing career spanned 1925–1940; and spent half his boxing career in Spain, Argentina, outside of the Philippines.[8][9]

On October 2, 1939, a sudden uplift came when Ceferino Garcia won the NYSAC world middleweight championship from American Fred Apostoli at the Madison Square Garden, New York, United States. On December 23, 1939, Garcia successfully defended his title for the first time against American Glen Lee in front of his countrymen inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex which was the first world title bout ever recorded in the Philippine islands. Garcia also competed with some of the best boxers ever like Barney Ross and Henry Armstrong, to whom he denied his fourth title in four weight divisions through a draw. However, he then lost at the hands of Ken Overlin, unable to land his famous bolo punch and losing the title.[4]

### Second golden age of Philippine boxing

[edit]

On July 20, 1955, Filipino boxing fans saw the birth of Philippine boxing's second golden era as a Cebuano boxer named Gabriel "Flash" Elorde beat the then reigning world featherweight champion and later Hall of Famer Sandy Saddler in a non-title bout at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. Elorde went on to win the world super featherweight championship from Harold Gomes by a seventh-round knockout on March 16, 1960.[10] Elorde kept his world title inside a division record of 7 years and 2 months with 10 successful defenses, including a one-round knockout of Gomes in a rematch.[11] Flash Elorde, during his time, was one of the busiest fighters who traveled to fight very often. A great and fearless fighter, Elorde was one of the most beloved Filipino athletes since Pancho Villa.[12] In this Elorde inspired period, twenty world champions were created spanning from Roberto Cruz to Gerry Peñalosa along with the formation of the "Big Four of Professional Boxing" or the major sanctioning bodies, namely the WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO. However, as time goes by, boxing was becoming less popular in the country because of many alternative sports including basketball until Manny Pacquiao came.

### Third golden age of Philippine boxing (present)

[edit]

Manny Pacquiao: World's first and only octuple champion. Also only boxer to hold world titles in four different decades, in the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s

A Filipino boxer named Manny Pacquiao was an entertaining star in the local boxing television show called "Blow-by-Blow" by the famed Filipino manager and promoter Rod Nazario. Viewers became accustomed to Pacquiao's name not only because of his aggressive style but also due to his unique looks and catchy surname. Pacquiao's ascendancy heralded a new wave of Filipino boxers and marks the third great era of Philippine boxing.

On December 4, 1998, Pacquiao upset Thai Champion Chatchai Sasakul in Thailand to win the Lineal and WBC flyweight championship (his first world title). On his title defense, Pacquiao lost his title on the scale and was knocked out in the fight by Medgoen Singsurat of Thailand. Pacquiao lost his WBC title on the scales as he was unable to make the flyweight limit. Pacquiao gained weight and skipped the super flyweight and bantamweight divisions to fight at super bantamweight division. Pacquiao, for the second time in his career, was the heavy underdog against South African Lehlohonolo Ledwaba, the reigning IBF super bantamweight champion. On June 23, 2001, Pacquiao dethroned Ledwaba to win his second world title in two different weight divisions. In 2003, Pacquiao's career rose to its peak as he stopped the then reigning Lineal and The Ring featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera of Mexico via 11th-round technical knockout. Since that time, Pacquiao has acquired three lineal titles and four major (WBC & IBF) world titles along six different divisions—flyweight (112 lbs.), super bantamweight (122 lbs.), featherweight (126 lbs.), super featherweight (130 lbs.), lightweight (135 lbs.) and light welterweight (140 lbs.).

Nonito Donaire: World champion in across three consecutive decades: the 2000s, 2010s and 2020s

On November 14, 2009, Pacquiao surpassed Oscar De La Hoya's record of six-division titles by stopping WBO welterweight champion Miguel Angel Cotto to win his seventh title across seven divisions. One year later, he made history by being the first boxer ever to win eight world titles in eight weight divisions as he dominated Mexican slugger Antonio Margarito to win the vacant WBC light middleweight title in a catchweight bout. Since 2003, Pacquiao amassed a record of 21 wins, 3 defeats and 1 draw in his last 25 fights.[13] The Filipino fighter defeated some of the best opposition available on the way to superstardom (earning the nickname "the Mexicutioner") including Mexicans Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Juan Manuel Márquez and Antonio Margarito, British Ricky Hatton, Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto, and Americans Oscar De La Hoya, Shane Mosley, Timothy Bradley and Keith Thurman.

The "Pacquiao Wave" regenerated boxing in the Philippines, inspiring a new generation of boxers to aim ever higher. Nonito Donaire, one of the Pacquiao-wave fighters, became the second Asian to win four world titles in four weight divisions by defeating South African Simpiwe Vetyeka to claim the WBA featherweight title on May 31, 2014.[14] In 2017, Donnie Nietes became the third Filipino boxer to win world titles in three different weight divisions when he defeated Thailand's Komgrich Nantapech in May 2017.[15] In Dec. 31 2018, Donnie Nietes became the third Filipino boxer and third Asian to win world titles in Four different weight divisions when he defeated Japanese Kazuto Ioka via split decision on New Year's Eve, winning the vacant World Boxing Organization belt at the Wynn Palace in Macau.[16] Another famous or rather infamous Filipino boxer John Riel Casimero became the fourth Filipino boxer to win world titles in three different weight divisions when he defeated Zolani Tete via TKO on November 30, 2019 in England.[17] His boxing persona pave the way to building-up his fights, this makes him a rarity in amongst Filipino boxing fans in present times.[18]

## Philippines' contribution to boxing

[edit]

A left bolo punch in attack

The Philippines is one of the founding member nations of the World Boxing Council (WBC) and Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF). Filipino boxers also contributed to the history of boxing from rules and techniques to records and achievements. Pancho Villa is not only the first Asian and Filipino world champion but is also described as one of the cleanest boxers before the proper rules were established.[19] Ceferino Garcia is credited as the inventor of the "bolo punch". However, according to Tahoma News-Tribune, a fellow Filipino boxer named Macario Flores was reportedly using it. Gabriel "Flash" Elorde still holds the record for longest reign in the super featherweight or junior lightweight (130 lbs.) division – 7 years, 2 months and 29 days with 10 title defenses.[20] His success was due to his innovative footwork and maneuvers which he learned from training Balintawak Eskrima with his father "Tatang" Elorde who was the Eskrima champion of Cebu.[21][22][23] Elorde's style from eskrima has been adopted by many boxers, including his friend Muhammad Ali, which influenced the out-boxer style of boxing.[21][24]

While Donnie Nietes holds as the longest Filipino world champion in the light flyweight division. On November 13, 2010, Manny Pacquiao entered the Guinness Book of World Records for being the first ever boxer to win eight world titles in eight (8) different divisions (see also Octuple Champion) by defeating Mexican Antonio Margarito via 12-round unanimous decision to claim the vacant WBC light middleweight championship.[25]

## Philippines' popular ring officials

[edit]

Rey Danseco is the only ring official from the Philippines and Asia to receive the highly regards award of world magnitude.

The Philippines has produced respected ring officials. Referee Carlos "Sonny" Padilla officiated the famous "Thrilla in Manila" match between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in 1975. He worked as third man in the ring in many big matches for over 25 years.

In 2012, the World Boxing Council awarded Rey Danseco the Judge of the Year. He received the accolade in a rite held during the 50th Annual WBC Convention at the Grand Oasis Hotel in Cancún, Mexico. To date, Danseco is the only Asian boxing ring official to win an award of such magnitude. He is also a multiple Judge of the Year awardee in the Philippines until he moved to the US in 2012.

Danseco judged the world championship fights of some big names in boxing of his generation, such as Canelo Alvarez,[26] Errol Spence Jr.,[27][28][29] Danny García,[30] Robert Guerrero, Julio César Chávez, Bernard Hopkins,[31] Austin Trout, Gerry Penalosa, Pongsaklek Wonjongkam, Badou Jack,[32] Jorge Arce, Jhonny González, Adonis Stevenson, Tony Bellew, Josh Taylor, Toshiaki Nishioka, Shawn Porter, Edgar Sosa, Miguel Berchelt, Leo Santa Cruz,[33] Abner Mares, Amir Khan, Daniel Dubois, Jamel Herring, Jessica McCaskill, Regis Prograis, and Khalid Yafai.

Padilla refereed or judged the fights of notable world champions, including Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Alexis Argüello, Erbito Salavarria, Leon Spinks, Ken Norton, Larry Holmes, Sugar Ray Leonard, Lupe Pintor, Roberto Durán, Marvin Hagler, Roberto Durán, Bobby Chacon, Pipino Cuevas, Julio César Chávez, Michael Spinks, Mike Tyson, Michael Moorer, George Foreman, Azumah Nelson, Riddick Bowe, Terry Norris, Ray Mercer, Iran Barkley, Humberto González, Roger Mayweather, Kennedy McKinney, Johnny Tapia, Marco Antonio Barrera, Antonio Tarver, and Filipino greats Manny Pacquiao, Dodie Boy Peñalosa, Erbito Salavarria, Ben Villaflor, and Rolando Navarette in his career from 1967 until his retirement in year 2000.

## List of men's professional boxing world champions

[edit]

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. congratulated Filipino artists and athletes who competed and won in various international events together with Boxing Champions: Marlon Tapales, Charly Suarez, and Melvin Jerusalem on 2023.

The following is a list of Filipino boxing champions who have held titles from one or more of the "Big Four" organizations (WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO) and The Ring.

In December 2000, the WBA created an unprecedented situation of having a split championship in the same weight class by introducing a new title called Super world, commonly referred to simply as Super. The Super champion is highly regarded as the WBA's primary champion, while the World champion – commonly known as the Regular champion by boxing publications – is only considered the primary champion by the other three major sanctioning bodies (WBC, IBF, and WBO) if the Super title is vacant.

A Unified champion is a boxer that holds the Regular title and a world title from another major sanctioning body (WBC, IBF, WBO) simultaneously. An Undisputed champion as defined by the WBA, only needs to hold three of the four major titles but in some cases they may change a Super champion into an Undisputed champion after a failed title defense (e.g. Anselmo Moreno losing to Juan Payano and Chris John losing to Simpiwe Vetyeka). This is not to be confused by professional boxing's own definition of an undisputed champion, in which a boxer must hold all four major titles.

Other former international/national-world boxing commissions and organizations from the beginning of boxing are also included here:

* New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC)
* National Boxing Association (NBA) – changed its name to World Boxing Association (WBA) in 1962

| Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame

|

| World titles from world and The Ring
| WBA Regular champion
H | denotes boxer of Filipino heritage due to parent's nationality, residence or other circumstances
No.  | Name  | Titles  | Date  | Opponent  | Result

|
|
|
|
|

1  | Pancho Villa[34] | NYSAC Flyweight | Jun 16, 1923  | Jimmy Wilde | TKO 7/20
NBA Flyweight
The Ring Flyweight
2  | Small Montana[35] | NYSAC Flyweight | Nov 5, 1935 | Midget Wolgast | PTS 10/10
3  | Little Dado[36] | NBA Flyweight | Dec 11, 1939  | Awarded[37]
4  | Ceferino Garcia[38] | NYSAC Middleweight | Oct 2, 1939 | Fred Apostoli | KO 7/15
5  | Dado MarinoH[39] | NBA Flyweight | Jul 1, 1950 | Terry Allen | UD 15/15
6  | Flash Elorde[40] | NBA Super featherweight, later changed to WBA. | Mar 16, 1960 | Harold Gomes | KO 7/15
The Ring Super featherweight | 1962 | Awarded
WBC Super featherweight | Feb 16, 1963  | Johnny Bizzaro  | UD 15/15
7  | Roberto Cruz[41] | WBA Light welterweight | Mar 21, 1963 | Battling Torres | KO 1/15
8  | Pedro Adigue[42] | WBC Light welterweight | Dec 14, 1968 | Adolph Pruitt | UD 15/15
9  | Rene Barrientos[43] | WBC Super featherweight | Feb 15, 1969 | Rubén Navarro | UD 15/15
10  | Bernabe Villacampo[44] | WBA Flyweight | Oct 19, 1969 | Hiroyuki Ebihara | KO 6/15
11  | Erbito Salavarria[45] | WBC Flyweight | Dec 7, 1970 | Chartchai Chionoi | TKO 2/15
The Ring Flyweight
WBA Flyweight | Apr 1, 1975 | Susumu Hanagata | SD 15/15
12  | Ben Villaflor[46] | WBA Super featherweight | Apr 25, 1972  | Alfredo Marcano | UD 15/15
The Ring Super featherweight
WBA Super featherweight - (2) | Oct 17, 1973 | Kuniaki Shibata | KO 1/15
The Ring Super featherweight - (2)
13  | Rolando Navarrete[47] | WBC Super featherweight | Aug 29, 1981 | Cornelius Boza Edwards | KO 5/15
14  | Frank Cedeno[48] | WBC Flyweight | Aug 27, 1983 | Charlie Magri | KO 6/12
The Ring Flyweight
15  | Bobby Berna[49] | IBF Super bantamweight | Dec 4, 1983 | Suh Sung-in | TKO 10/15
16  | Dodie Boy Peñalosa[50] | IBF Light flyweight | Dec 10, 1983 | Satoshi Shingaki | TKO 13/15
IBF Flyweight | Feb 22, 1987 | Shin Hi-sup | TKO 5/15
17  | Rolando Bohol[51] | IBF Flyweight | Jan 16, 1988 | Choi Chang-ho | KO 15/15
18  | Tacy Macalos[52] | IBF Light flyweight | Nov 4, 1988 | Choi Jum-hwan | KO 5/12
19  | Eric Chavez[53] | IBF Mini flyweight | Sep 21, 1989 | Nico Thomas | KO 5/12
20  | Luisito Espinosa[54] | WBA Bantamweight | Oct 18, 1989 | Khaokor Galaxy | KO 5/12
WBC Featherweight | Dec 11, 1995 | Manuel Medina | UD 12/12
21  | Jesus SaludH[55] | WBA Super bantamweight | Dec 11, 1989 | Juan Jose Estrada | UD 12/12
22  | Rolando Pascua[56] | WBC Light flyweight | Dec 19, 1990 | Humberto González | UD 12/12
23  | Manny Melchor[57] | IBF Mini flyweight | Sep 6, 1992 | Thongchai Utaida  | SD 12/12
24  | Morris East[58] | WBA Light welterweight | Sep 9, 1992 | Akinobu Hiranaka | TKO 11/12
25  | Gerry Peñalosa[59] | WBC Super flyweight | Feb 20, 1997 | Hiroshi Kawashima | SD 12/12
WBO Bantamweight | Aug 11, 2007 | Jhonny González | TKO 6/12
26  | Eric Jamili[60] | WBO Mini flyweight | Dec 19, 1997 | Mickey Cantwell | TKO 8/12
27  | Manny Pacquiao[61] | WBC Flyweight | Dec 4, 1998 | Chatchai Sasakul | KO 8/12
IBF Super bantamweight | Jun 23, 2001 | Lehlohonolo Ledwaba | TKO 6/12
The Ring Featherweight | Nov 15, 2003  | Marco Antonio Barrera | TKO 11/12
WBC Super featherweight | Mar 15, 2008 | Juan Manuel Márquez | SD 12/12
The Ring Super featherweight
WBC Lightweight | Jun 28, 2008 | David Díaz | TKO 9/12
The Ring Light welterweight | May 2, 2009 | Ricky Hatton | KO 2/12
WBO Welterweight | Nov 14, 2009 | Miguel Cotto | TKO 12/12
WBC Light middleweight | Nov 13, 2010 | Antonio Margarito | UD 12/12
WBO Welterweight - (2) | Apr 12, 2014 | Timothy Bradley | UD 12/12
WBO Welterweight - (3) | Nov 5, 2016 | Jessie Vargas | UD 12/12
WBA (Super) Welterweight | Jul 20, 2019 | Keith Thurman | SD 12/12
28  | Malcolm Tuñacao[62] | WBC Flyweight | May 19, 2000  | Medgoen Singsurat | TKO 7/12
29  | Joma Gamboa[63] | WBA Mini flyweight | Aug 20, 2000 | Atsushi Sai | UD 12/12
30  | Brian ViloriaH[64] | WBC Light flyweight | Sep 10, 2005 | Eric Ortiz | KO 1/12
IBF Light flyweight | April 19, 2009 | Ulises Solís | UD 12/12
WBO Flyweight | Jul 16, 2011 | Julio César Miranda | UD 12/12
WBA (Unified) Flyweight | Nov 17, 2012 | Hernán Márquez | TKO 10/12
31  | Florante Condes[65] | IBF Mini flyweight | Jul 7, 2007 | Muhammad Rachman | SD 12/12
32  | Nonito Donaire[66] | IBF Flyweight | Jul 7, 2007 | Vic Darchinyan | TKO 5/12
WBC Bantamweight | Feb 19, 2011 | Fernando Montiel | KO 2/12
WBO Bantamweight
WBO Super bantamweight | Feb 4, 2012 | Wilfredo Vázquez Jr. | SD 12/12
IBF Super bantamweight | Jul 7, 2012 | Jeffrey Mathebula | UD 12/12
The Ring Super bantamweight | Dec 13, 2012  | Toshiaki Nishioka | TKO 9/12
WBA (Undisputed) Featherweight | May 31, 2014 | Simpiwe Vetyeka | TD 5/12
WBO Super bantamweight - (2) | Dec 11, 2015 | Cesar Juarez | UD 12/12
WBA (Super) Bantamweight | Nov 3, 2018 | Ryan Burnett | RTD 4/12
WBC Bantamweight - (2) | May 29, 2021 | Nordine Oubaali | KO 4/12
33  | Donnie Nietes[67] | WBO Mini flyweight | Sep 7, 2007 | Pornsawan Porpramook | UD 12/12
WBO Light flyweight | Oct 8, 2011 | Ramón García Hirales | UD 12/12
The Ring Light flyweight | May 10, 2014 | Moisés Fuentes | TKO 9/12
IBF Flyweight | Apr 29, 2017 | Komgrich Nantapech | UD 12/12
WBO Super flyweight | Dec 31, 2018 | Kazuto Ioka | SD 12/12
34  | Marvin Sonsona[68] | WBO Super flyweight | Sep 4, 2009 | José López | UD 12/12
35  | Rodel Mayol[69] | WBC Light flyweight | Nov 21, 2009 | Edgar Sosa | TKO 2/12
36  | Sonny Boy Jaro[70] | WBC Flyweight | Mar 2, 2012 | Pongsaklek Wonjongkam | TKO 6/12
The Ring Flyweight
37  | John Riel Casimero[71] | IBF Light flyweight | Jul 20, 2012  | Interim promoted[72]
IBF Flyweight | May 25, 2016 | Amnat Ruenroeng | KO 4/12
WBO Bantamweight | Nov 30, 2019 | Zolani Tete | TKO 3/12
38  | Merlito Sabillo[73] | WBO Mini flyweight | Jul 13, 2013  | Jorle Estrada | TKO 9/12
39  | Marlon Tapales[74] | WBO Bantamweight | Jul 27, 2016  | Pungluang Sor Singyu | TKO 11/12
WBA (Super) Super bantamweight | Apr 8, 2023 | Murodjon Akhmadaliev | SD 12/12
IBF Super bantamweight
40  | Jerwin Ancajas | IBF Super flyweight | Sep 3, 2016  | McJoe Arroyo | UD 12/12
41  | Milan Melindo[75] | IBF Light flyweight | May 25, 2017  | Akira Yaegashi | TKO 1/12
42  | Vic Saludar[76] | WBO Mini flyweight | Jul 13, 2018  | Ryuya Yamanaka | UD 12/12
43  | Pedro Taduran[77] | IBF Mini flyweight | Sep 7, 2019 | Samuel Salva | RTD 4/12
IBF Mini flyweight - (2) | Jul 28, 2024 | Ginjiro Shigeoka | TKO 9/12
44  | Rene Mark Cuarto[78] | IBF Mini flyweight | Feb 27, 2021  | Pedro Taduran | UD 12/12
45  | Mark Magsayo[79] | WBC Featherweight | Jan 22, 2022  | Gary Russell Jr. | MD 12/12
46  | Melvin Jerusalem[80] | WBO Mini flyweight | Jan 6, 2023  | Masataka Taniguchi | TKO 2/12
WBC Mini flyweight | Mar 31, 2024  | Yudai Shigeoka | SD 12/12

Note

* Interim titles are not included unless they get promoted to the official champion.
* For WBA champions, only champions in the WBA primary lineage are listed.

### List of WBA secondary champions

[edit]

No.  | Name  | Titles  | Reign period  | Opponent  | Result  | Primary champion/s during reign

|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Manny Pacquiao[61] | WBA (Regular) Welterweight | Jul 15, 2018 - Jul 20, 2019
Won Super title against Super champion Keith Thurman | Lucas Matthysse | TKO 7/12  | Keith Thurman
Feb 7, 2017 – Jul 20, 2019
2  | Vic Saludar[76] | WBA (Regular) Mini flyweight | Feb 20, 2021 - Dec 21, 2021  | Robert Paradero  | SD 12/12  | Thammanoon Niyomtrong
Mar 1, 2020 - Saludar lost the title to Erick Rosa while Niyomtrong was still the primary champion.

## List of women's professional boxing world champions

[edit]

The following is a list of filipina boxing champions who have held titles from one or more of the "Big Four" organizations (WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO) and The Ring.

| Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame

|

| World titles from world and The Ring
H | denotes boxer of Filipino heritage due to parent's nationality, residence or other circumstances
No.  | Name  | Titles  | Date  | Opponent  | Result  | Defenses

|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Ana JulatonH[81] | WBO Super bantamweight | Dec 4, 2009  | Donna Biggers  | UD 10/10  | 0
WBO Super bantamweight | Jun 30, 2010 | Maria Elena Villalobos | SD 10/10  | 2

## Current titleholders in world boxing sanctioning bodies

[edit]

Name  | Organization  | Division  | Date won

|
|
|

Melvin Jerusalem | WBC | Mini flyweight | March 31, 2024
Pedro Taduran | IBF | Mini flyweight | July 28, 2024

## Current titleholders in Philippine boxing sanctioning bodies

[edit]

### Philippines Games & Amusement Board

[edit]

Weight class:  | Champion:  | Reign began:  | Days

|
|
|

Mini flyweight | vacant |  |
Light flyweight | vacant |  |
Flyweight | vacant |  |
Super flyweight | vacant |  |
Bantamweight | Adrian Lerasan  | March 20, 2025  | 147
Super bantamweight | Jerwin Ancajas | January 25, 2025  | 201
Featherweight | vacant |  |
Super featherweight | vacant |  |
Lightweight | vacant |  |
Light welterweight | vacant |  |
Welterweight | vacant |  |
Light middleweight | vacant |  |
Middleweight | vacant |  |
Super middleweight | not inaugurated |  |
Light heavyweight | vacant |  |
Cruiserweight | not inaugurated |  |
Heavyweight | not inaugurated |  |

### Philippines Boxing Federation

[edit]

Weight class:  | Champion:  | Reign began:  | Days

|
|
|

Mini flyweight | Shane Gentallan  | Novber 30, 2024  | 257
Light flyweight | John Ver Espra  | April 9, 2025  | 492
Flyweight | Dennis Endar  | March 9, 2025  | 158
Super Flyweight | Ramel Macado Jr.  | June 29, 2025  | 46
Bantamweight | Noli James Maquilan  | June 22, 2025  | 53
Super bantamweight | vacant |  |
Featherweight | Jhon Gemino  | February 3, 2025  | 192
Super featherweight | vacant |  |
Lightweight | Romer Pinili  | October 3, 2024  | −50
Light welterweight | Pepito Masangkay  | January 18, 2025  | 208
Welterweight | Nelson Tinampay  | March 12, 2025  | 155
Light middleweight | not inaugurated |  |
Middleweight | vacant |  |
Super middleweight | not inaugurated |  |
Light heavyweight | not inaugurated |  |
Cruiserweight | not inaugurated |  |
Heavyweight | not inaugurated |  |

## See also

[edit]

* Philippines portal

* Philippines national amateur boxing athletes
* Thrilla in Manila
* Mano-A-Mano

### Lists

[edit]

* List of current world boxing champions
* List of boxing triple champions
* List of boxing quadruple champions
* List of boxing quintuple champions
* List of boxing sextuple champions
* List of boxing sextuple champions
* Octuple champion
* List of WBA world champions
* List of WBC world champions
* List of IBF world champions
* List of WBO world champions
* List of The Ring world champions

## References

[edit]

### Footnotes

[edit]

1. ^ "Category:World Champions By Nationality". BoxRec.
2. ^ "Pancho Villa – IBHOF". ibhof.com.
3. ^ "Garbriel (Flash) Elorde – IBHOF". ibhof.com.
4. ^ a b "Ceferino Garcia the first Filipino Champ of the World!". boxing360. 25 December 2013.
5. ^ "A look at the history of boxing in the Philippines". ESPN. 25 June 2008.
6. ^ "Cyber Boxing Zone -- Pancho Villa". cyberboxingzone.com.
7. ^ "The road to fame and glory". asianjournal.
8. ^ "Boxeo 1930s: Luis Logan.- "El rey del k.o."".
9. ^ "Before Elorde and Pacquiao, There Was Luis Logan". Positively Filipino – Online Magazine for Filipinos in the Diaspora. 17 November 2014.
10. ^ "Cyber Boxing Zone – Gabriel "Flash" Elorde". cyberboxingzone.
11. ^ "Before Manny Pacquiao, There Was Flash Elorde". HBO.
12. ^ "Flash Elorde Is Dead at 49;Held Boxing Title in the 60's". The New York Times. 3 January 1985.
13. ^ "Ranking Manny Pacquiao's eight division titles". ESPN. 4 April 2016.
14. ^ "Nonito Donaire aiming to become five-weight world champion". givemesport.
15. ^ Stumberg, Patrick L. (May 1, 2017). "Nietes defeats Nantapech to become three-weight champion". Bad Left Hook.
16. ^ "Nietes now a 4-division champion". Manila Standard. January 2019.
17. ^ "John Riel Casinero beats Zolani Tete for WBO bantamweight world title". ESPN. 30 November 2019.
18. ^ "'Mabait' ang Pinoy fighter: Does trash talking have a place in Philippine boxing". abscbn. 1 December 2020.
19. ^ "Pancho Villa: The 1st Filipino world boxing champion remembered". manilastandard.
20. ^ "Cucuy Elorde preserves father's boxing legacy". rappler. 25 April 2014.
21. ^ a b Tovak Kali International. "Filipino Martial Arts – Filipino Kali – Kali Instructor – RBSD – Melbourne – Adelaide". Tovakkali.blogspot.com. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
22. ^ "Sayoc and Pekiti- as they are now". Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
23. ^ "Print Page – Filipino Martial Arts and Boxing". Dogbrothers.com. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
24. ^ "Remembering 'Flash' Elorde". Philboxing.com. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
25. ^ "Most boxing world titles in different weight divisions". Guinness World Records. 13 November 2010.
26. ^ Whisler, John (April 21, 2013). "Alvarez makes statement in Trout rout". San Antonio Express-News.
27. ^ "Filipino boxing judge gets high-profile assignment » Manila Bulletin Sports".
28. ^ Henson, Joaquin M. "Pinoy judge in welter duel". philstar.com.
29. ^ Henson, Joaquin M. "Danseco called it right". philstar.com.
30. ^ "Philly's Danny Garcia Keeps Winning". January 26, 2016.
31. ^ "May 21, 2011 - Hopkins Does it Again - Sets Record". Philly Boxing History.
32. ^ Scavone, Jason (25 April 2015). "Badou Jack hands Anthony Dirrell his first loss in upset". PBC Boxing.
33. ^ "Leo Santa Cruz defends belt by unanimous decision in rematch against Abner Mares". Los Angeles Times. June 10, 2018.
34. ^ Boxing record for Pancho Villa from BoxRec (registration required)
35. ^ Boxing record for Small Montana from BoxRec (registration required)
36. ^ Boxing record for Little Dado from BoxRec (registration required)
37. ^ "Little Dado Seen as Flyweight Champion". The San Bernardino County Sun. San Bernardino, California. Associated Press. 12 December 1939. Retrieved 6 November 2021 - via Newspapers.com.
38. ^ Boxing record for Ceferino Garcia from BoxRec (registration required)
39. ^ Boxing record for Dado Marino from BoxRec (registration required)
40. ^ Boxing record for Flash Elorde from BoxRec (registration required)
41. ^ Boxing record for Roberto Cruz from BoxRec (registration required)
42. ^ Boxing record for Pedro Adigue Jr. from BoxRec (registration required)
43. ^ Boxing record for René Barrientos from BoxRec (registration required)
44. ^ Boxing record for Bernabe Villacampo from BoxRec (registration required)
45. ^ Boxing record for Erbito Salavarria from BoxRec (registration required)
46. ^ Boxing record for Ben Villaflor from BoxRec (registration required)
47. ^ Boxing record for Rolando Navarrete from BoxRec (registration required)
48. ^ Boxing record for Frank Cedeno from BoxRec (registration required)
49. ^ Boxing record for Bobby Berna from BoxRec (registration required)
50. ^ Boxing record for Dodie Boy Peñalosa from BoxRec (registration required)
51. ^ Boxing record for Rolando Bohol from BoxRec (registration required)
52. ^ Boxing record for Tacy Macalos from BoxRec (registration required)
53. ^ Boxing record for Eric Chavez from BoxRec (registration required)
54. ^ Boxing record for Luisito Espinosa from BoxRec (registration required)
55. ^ Boxing record for Jesus Salud from BoxRec (registration required)
56. ^ Boxing record for Rolando Pascua from BoxRec (registration required)
57. ^ Boxing record for Manny Melchor from BoxRec (registration required)
58. ^ Boxing record for Morris East from BoxRec (registration required)
59. ^ Boxing record for Gerry Peñalosa from BoxRec (registration required)
60. ^ Boxing record for Eric Jamili from BoxRec (registration required)
61. ^ a b Boxing record for Manny Pacquiao from BoxRec (registration required)
62. ^ Boxing record for Malcolm Tunacao from BoxRec (registration required)
63. ^ Boxing record for Joma Gamboa from BoxRec (registration required)
64. ^ Boxing record for Brian Viloria from BoxRec (registration required)
65. ^ Boxing record for Florante Condes from BoxRec (registration required)
66. ^ Boxing record for Nonito Donaire Jr. from BoxRec (registration required)
67. ^ Boxing record for Donnie Nietes from BoxRec (registration required)
68. ^ Boxing record for Marvin Sonsona from BoxRec (registration required)
69. ^ Boxing record for Rodel Mayol from BoxRec (registration required)
70. ^ Boxing record for Sonny Boy Jaro from BoxRec (registration required)
71. ^ Boxing record for Johnriel Casimero from BoxRec (registration required)
72. ^ Rafael, Dan (20 July 2012). "Injured Solis stripped of IBF title". ESPN. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
73. ^ Boxing record for Merlito Sabillo from BoxRec (registration required)
74. ^ Boxing record for Marlon Tapales from BoxRec (registration required)
75. ^ Boxing record for Milan Melindo from BoxRec (registration required)
76. ^ a b Boxing record for Vic Saludar from BoxRec (registration required)
77. ^ Boxing record for Pedro Taduran from BoxRec (registration required)
78. ^ Boxing record for Rene Mark Cuarto from BoxRec (registration required)
79. ^ Boxing record for Mark Magsayo from BoxRec (registration required)
80. ^ Boxing record for Melvin Jerusalem from BoxRec (registration required)
81. ^ Boxing record for Ana Julaton from BoxRec (registration required)

### Bibliography

[edit]

* A look at the history of boxing in the Philippines, ESPN, Don Stradley, June 25, 2008
* The heartbeat of an entire nation, History defines the long love affair with the sport of boxing in the Philippines, ESPN, Nigel Collins, April 10, 2013
* The Origins of Philippine Boxing, Journal of Combative Sport, Joseph R. Svinth, July 2001
* Filipino World Champions, Boxrec.com
* World Champions by Nationality, Boxrec.com
* Filipino American Boxers, Boxrec.com
* Former World Champions, Philboxing.com
* Current Champions, Philboxing.com
* Boxing List of Results and World Champions, Pilipinas United

## External links

[edit]

* Filipino World Champions, Boxrec.com
* World Champions by Nationality, Boxrec.com
* Filipino American Boxers, Boxrec.com
* Former World Champions, Philboxing.com
* Current Champions, PhilBoxing.com
* Boxing and Manny Pacquiao, MSN Philippines

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