The New Year in Philippine boxing starts with a title hunt for a young unbeaten Filipino aspirant in Thailand Wednesday.
Melvin Jerusalem (11-0, 7 KOs) takes on World Boxing Council minimum weight champion Chayaphon Moonsri (44-0, 17 KOs).
There’s a looming mismatch. Cebu-based experts say “it’s a long shot but still a shot.”
Respected Cebu sportsman Tony Aldeguer, patriarch of the world-famous ALA Stable, however told the Inquirer Jerusalem has an even chance of succeeding.
“He has a good 50-50 chance, Jerusalem has speed and some power,” Aldeguer said. “He fights awkward, but with a good defense.”
The Year of the Rooster promises to be a fiery and busy one for Philippine boxing.
On Sunday, Jerwin Ancajas officially ushers in the Year of the Fire Rooster for Philippine boxing with a defense of his IBF super flyweight crown in Macau. He fights Jose Alfredo Rodriguez of Mexico.
After Ancajas, the first world champion produced by the Manny Pacquiao Stable, there will be a line of top Filipino warriors figuring in crucial fights abroad.
Marlon Tapales, WBO bantamweight champion, stakes his crown against Shohei Omori of Japan.
IBF interim junior flyweight title-Milan Melindo goes for the full crown against Akira Yaegashi also in Japan.
Although Donnie Nietes and Johnriel Casimero have both relinquished their world titles to move up to the next division, they will be involved in crucial bouts soon.
As to the top ALA Stable fighters like Jason Pagara, Arthur Villanueva and Mark Magsayo, they will be hunting for the big one, too.
Anyway, if we have to plead with the Fire Rooster to be kind to our boxers, this may not be the case for Manny Paquiao, who has been tabled to defend his WBO welterweight crown against Australian Jeff Horn.
It should be, in fact, Australian fans who should do the praying for Horn, promptly tabbed as an awful underdog against Pacquiao.
After it was predicted that Horn could be stopped inside four rounds, the unbeaten former school teacher (16-0) stood up and cried he has the power to hurt Pacquiao.
Horn said Pacquiao had been stopped before, and he would go all out to hurt and stop the Filipino boxing legend.
Looking back, it would be up to Pacquiao if Horn could indeed have his moments come April 23.
In his last fight, Pacquiao was visibly not a hundred percent and thus got tagged several times with hefty shots to the head.
Slow and predictable as Horn is, Pacquiao could also make him look good, as had happened in the case of Jessie Vargas.