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Will Pinoy Power exist post-Pacquaio?
Posted Aug. 8, 2009 at 12:39am
By Doug Fischer
Nonito Donaire remembers what it was like for Filipino fighters before Manny Pacquiao emerged as the best fighter in the world and the sport’s biggest star.
“Early in my career I could not get a fight, I was the one that was chosen (to take a fight) on two days notice,” the talented IBF flyweight titleholder said during a conference call earlier this week. “When I tried to sign with managers in the past I was told that Filipinos were not marketable.
“When I would go on message boards on the internet I would read things like ‘Filipino fighters can’t break an egg,’ but Manny has helped change all of that and we are thankful for everything he has done for the Filipino boxing world.”
As Pacquiao gradually evolved into the most accomplished and popular fighter ever from the Philippines, the multi-division champ paved the way for other talented Filipino boxers to not only ascend to the world-class level of the sport but to do so with the support of the fans he brought to boxing.
The proof is in Donaire’s popularity in the Philippines, where 15,000 packed Manila’s famous Araneta Coliseum for his last fight, and the fact that he’s headlining a Top Rank pay-per-view event from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nev., next Saturday.
The co-featured bouts of the Aug. 15 show involve two Latino fighters -- Mexican-American featherweight titleholder Steven Luevano and Panamanian Rafael Concepcion, a former 115-pound beltholder who will take on Doanire -- but Top Rank isn’t calling it a “Latin Fury,” the company’s pay-per-view brand that caters to the vast U.S. Hispanic boxing market.
Top Rank, which has promoted 10 Latin Fury pay-per-view shows so far, is calling the Aug. 15 show “Pinoy Power 2” because of Donaire’s presence and Luevano’s challenger, Bernabe Concepcion, who is also from the Philippines.
Donaire co-headlined the first Pinoy Power pay-per-view show with Filipino-American junior flyweight Brian Viloria in April. Donaire looked sensational defending his flyweight title by knocking out previously undefeated Raul Marquez in the main event of the show that took place in Manila.
Now he is back to headline Pinoy Power 2 against Concepcion, a rugged brawler who should make things interesting during their interim junior bantamweight title bout. Top Rank plans to have Donaire (21-1, with 14 knockouts) headline future Filipino-themed shows as he climbs through the bantamweight and featherweight divisions.
A U.S.-televised boxing series that focuses on Filipino fighters would have been unheard of at the start of the decade when Donaire turned pro and the 26-year-old flyweight standout knows who to credit for the paradigm shift.
“I am thankful of Pacquiao’s achievement,” Donaire said in near reverential tones during Thursday’s conference call. “There is not much the rest of us can do because we are overwhelmed by what he has done.
“Every (Filipino fighter who comes along) will be tied to Pacquiao. He is a great champion and for me it is an honor to be a part of that. I think that showing my talent and being able to share that with an elite fighter is great.”
The sometimes fanatical followers of Pacquiao share the same pride that Donaire feels.
Fans aren’t dissing Filipino fighters on message boards anymore. In fact, some of the biggest boxing websites are Filipino destinations like Philboxing.com, a heavily visited boxing portal that is home to perhaps the most passionate forum on the internet, “PacLand”. Sites like Philboxing practically worship Pacquiao but they also cover other notable fighters from the Philippines as well as general boxing news and rumors.
There is no denying that Pacquiao has created a market for Filipino fighters in the U.S. The big question that American promoters and Filipino fighters must ask themselves is will the market remain once Pacquiao hangs up his gloves.
The answer, according to boxing insiders, is yes and no.
The Filipino fan base Pacquiao created in America and worldwide won’t disappear when the Filipino icon retires but it won’t be as strong as it is now, either.
“Manny is a superstar right now and when a boxer reaches that stage he has fans who are only into boxing because they are interested in him, just like Muhammad Ali had his fans and Mike Tyson had his and Oscar De La Hoya had his,” said Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s longtime trainer. “Once Manny is gone some of his fans will cross over into general boxing fans, but a lot of them won’t.”
Is it possible for a Filipino fighter to come along with the right blend of talent and charisma to eventually pick up Pacquiao’s mantle?
Could Donaire, and incredibly gifted fighter who has the size and skill to compete at higher weight classes, be that fighter?
Roach doesn’t think so.
“It’s foolish to look for the next Manny,” he said. “I don’t care who it is, Filipino or not. I laugh when I hear commentators and media ask if a young fighter is another Manny Pacquiao. We won’t see another Manny Pacquiao for at least another decade. Fighters with Manny’s ability don’t come around very often.
“Donaire’s a terrific fighter, he’s got a lot of talent and I hope he continues to have success, but I doubt he’ll ever be as popular as Manny is among Filipinos. I think part of it is because he grew up in (San Leandro) California. One thing I’ve learned from spending as much time in the Philippines as I have with Manny is that Filipinos make a difference between those who are from there and those who live in the United States. Donaire was born in the Philippines but he’s seen as a Filipino-American, just like Brian Viloria. It’s a lot like it was for Oscar De La Hoya with the Mexican fans. Some eventually accepted him, but others just won’t do it because he’s Mexican-American.”
Top Rank, which promotes Pacquiao, is high enough on Donaire and Viloria to push them in both the U.S. and the Philippines. And the Las Vegas-based company believes enough in the bourgeoning Filipino market to continue to scout and sign Filipino talent.
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Posted Aug. 8, 2009 at 12:39am
By Doug Fischer
Nonito Donaire remembers what it was like for Filipino fighters before Manny Pacquiao emerged as the best fighter in the world and the sport’s biggest star.
“Early in my career I could not get a fight, I was the one that was chosen (to take a fight) on two days notice,” the talented IBF flyweight titleholder said during a conference call earlier this week. “When I tried to sign with managers in the past I was told that Filipinos were not marketable.
“When I would go on message boards on the internet I would read things like ‘Filipino fighters can’t break an egg,’ but Manny has helped change all of that and we are thankful for everything he has done for the Filipino boxing world.”
As Pacquiao gradually evolved into the most accomplished and popular fighter ever from the Philippines, the multi-division champ paved the way for other talented Filipino boxers to not only ascend to the world-class level of the sport but to do so with the support of the fans he brought to boxing.
The proof is in Donaire’s popularity in the Philippines, where 15,000 packed Manila’s famous Araneta Coliseum for his last fight, and the fact that he’s headlining a Top Rank pay-per-view event from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nev., next Saturday.
The co-featured bouts of the Aug. 15 show involve two Latino fighters -- Mexican-American featherweight titleholder Steven Luevano and Panamanian Rafael Concepcion, a former 115-pound beltholder who will take on Doanire -- but Top Rank isn’t calling it a “Latin Fury,” the company’s pay-per-view brand that caters to the vast U.S. Hispanic boxing market.
Top Rank, which has promoted 10 Latin Fury pay-per-view shows so far, is calling the Aug. 15 show “Pinoy Power 2” because of Donaire’s presence and Luevano’s challenger, Bernabe Concepcion, who is also from the Philippines.
Donaire co-headlined the first Pinoy Power pay-per-view show with Filipino-American junior flyweight Brian Viloria in April. Donaire looked sensational defending his flyweight title by knocking out previously undefeated Raul Marquez in the main event of the show that took place in Manila.
Now he is back to headline Pinoy Power 2 against Concepcion, a rugged brawler who should make things interesting during their interim junior bantamweight title bout. Top Rank plans to have Donaire (21-1, with 14 knockouts) headline future Filipino-themed shows as he climbs through the bantamweight and featherweight divisions.
A U.S.-televised boxing series that focuses on Filipino fighters would have been unheard of at the start of the decade when Donaire turned pro and the 26-year-old flyweight standout knows who to credit for the paradigm shift.
“I am thankful of Pacquiao’s achievement,” Donaire said in near reverential tones during Thursday’s conference call. “There is not much the rest of us can do because we are overwhelmed by what he has done.
“Every (Filipino fighter who comes along) will be tied to Pacquiao. He is a great champion and for me it is an honor to be a part of that. I think that showing my talent and being able to share that with an elite fighter is great.”
The sometimes fanatical followers of Pacquiao share the same pride that Donaire feels.
Fans aren’t dissing Filipino fighters on message boards anymore. In fact, some of the biggest boxing websites are Filipino destinations like Philboxing.com, a heavily visited boxing portal that is home to perhaps the most passionate forum on the internet, “PacLand”. Sites like Philboxing practically worship Pacquiao but they also cover other notable fighters from the Philippines as well as general boxing news and rumors.
There is no denying that Pacquiao has created a market for Filipino fighters in the U.S. The big question that American promoters and Filipino fighters must ask themselves is will the market remain once Pacquiao hangs up his gloves.
The answer, according to boxing insiders, is yes and no.
The Filipino fan base Pacquiao created in America and worldwide won’t disappear when the Filipino icon retires but it won’t be as strong as it is now, either.
“Manny is a superstar right now and when a boxer reaches that stage he has fans who are only into boxing because they are interested in him, just like Muhammad Ali had his fans and Mike Tyson had his and Oscar De La Hoya had his,” said Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s longtime trainer. “Once Manny is gone some of his fans will cross over into general boxing fans, but a lot of them won’t.”
Is it possible for a Filipino fighter to come along with the right blend of talent and charisma to eventually pick up Pacquiao’s mantle?
Could Donaire, and incredibly gifted fighter who has the size and skill to compete at higher weight classes, be that fighter?
Roach doesn’t think so.
“It’s foolish to look for the next Manny,” he said. “I don’t care who it is, Filipino or not. I laugh when I hear commentators and media ask if a young fighter is another Manny Pacquiao. We won’t see another Manny Pacquiao for at least another decade. Fighters with Manny’s ability don’t come around very often.
“Donaire’s a terrific fighter, he’s got a lot of talent and I hope he continues to have success, but I doubt he’ll ever be as popular as Manny is among Filipinos. I think part of it is because he grew up in (San Leandro) California. One thing I’ve learned from spending as much time in the Philippines as I have with Manny is that Filipinos make a difference between those who are from there and those who live in the United States. Donaire was born in the Philippines but he’s seen as a Filipino-American, just like Brian Viloria. It’s a lot like it was for Oscar De La Hoya with the Mexican fans. Some eventually accepted him, but others just won’t do it because he’s Mexican-American.”
Top Rank, which promotes Pacquiao, is high enough on Donaire and Viloria to push them in both the U.S. and the Philippines. And the Las Vegas-based company believes enough in the bourgeoning Filipino market to continue to scout and sign Filipino talent.
Read the rest of this article:
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