Manny Pacquiao has done a lot for his country. His boxing prowess has brought fame to his country and has made him a hero among his countrymen. His fame, charisma and talent have also brought new opportunities for his fellow Filipino boxers. International boxing promoters has now begun to put Filipino boxers into their international boxing promotions. As a result, the boxing talents of Filipino boxers became exposed to the world and have led to the revival of Pinoy boxing.



This revival has culminated in the International boxing promotion that has been named as the boxing ?World Cup?. This event is projected as a yearly event that will be done between two competing countries that are considered as boxing powerhouses. This year the competition was between perennial boxing powerhouse Mexico, and the Philippines, the new boxing hotbed. Mexico was the defending boxing ?World Cup? champion as it defeated Thailand in the first match up between leading boxing nations.

The Philippine boxing team won five of the six bouts at stake at this year's ?World Cup? of Boxing held at the Arco Arena. The grand boxing event was held in front of a highly-partisan crowd of 4,469 screaming fans from both countries. Pinoy boxing has solidified its position as the world's boxing superpower by snatching the title away from long-reigning Mexico.

Gerry Penalosa contributed the biggest win when he wrested the WBO bantam title from Mexican champ Jhonny Gonzalez with a come-from-behind knockout win. The Pinoy boxing star hit Gonzales with a paralyzing body shot in the seventh round. However, it was Z Gorres who sealed the Filipinos' victory. He stopped former WBC champ Eric Ortiz with an eighth-round technical knockout to earn the fourth win for the Philippine boxing team.

Diosdado Gabi of Davao City was the first winner for Team Philippines by earning an eight-round unanimous decision over Mexico's Jose Angel Beranza. Michael Domingo then followed it up with a six-round masterful unanimous win over previously unbeaten Miguel Roman. The Domingo-Roman bout was considered one of the most exciting fights of the night and really excited the crowd for the main event.

Cebu's AJ 'Bazooka' Banal completed the five victories needed to secure the World Cup trophy by stopping Jorge Cardenas in the third round of their scheduled six-rounder. The Philippine boxing prospect displayed great power and skill as he repeatedly hit his Mexican opponent with flushed shots culminating with an explosive counter that dropped Cardenas. Cardenas seems to have twisted his knee preventing him from standing up and continuing the fight. However, the Pinoy boxing team did not sweep all six matches as Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista experienced a very painful first round KO defeat at the hands of Daniel Ponce de Leon.

The Philippines? victory at this year's Boxing ?World Cup? will only fuel the desire of Filipino boxers to train harder. Now that the door is open to them, they need to capitalize by doing their best in world boxing championships. Hopefully, the excitement they bring will help revive boxing and provide honor to Philippine boxing.