Sports
Boxing
Boxing is a sport which receives high attention in the Philippines. World championship events are often shown in full on TV, and they make front page news items in the local newspapers even if no Philippine boxer is involved. On October 1, 1975, Manila was the site of the world heavyweight fight of Mohammed Ali and Joe Frazier, which Ali won by a knock out in round 14.
Internationally, the most successful Filipino boxer was Gabriel "Flash" Elorde. (Mar 22, 1935 - Jan 2, 1985). He was a world junior lightweight title holder from Mar 16, 1960 to June 15, 1967 when he lost to the Japanese Yoshiaki Numata in Tokyo. Twice "Flash" Elorde tried to win the world lightweight title, but both in 1964 and 1966 was defeated by Carlos Ortiz, and both times was knocked out in the 14th round.
In 1983, Frank Cendeno became a world flyweight champion followed by Doddie "Boy" Penalosa, who suffered polio as child, as world junior flyweight champion of the International Boxing Federation. Doddie Penalosa was stripped of his IBF junior title when he challenged World Boxing Council flyweight champion Hilario Zapata to a fight which he lost. On Feb 22, 1987, however, he won the IBF flyweight crown by knocking out the Korean Shi Hi Sop. On September 5, 1987, Penalosa lost this title to Korean boxer Chang Ho Choi in the 11th round of the bout. On January 23, 1988, however, a Filipino boxer, Rolando Bohol regained from Choi the IBF flyweight crown in the 15th round of their fight by technical knockout. On May 6, 1988, Bohol defended his title in a bout against Korean boxer Chowon Park whom he defeated in 15 rounds by unanimous decision.
Luisito Espinosa, a Filipino boxer, is world Boxing Association bantamweight champion and was given Sportman of the Year award for 1989 in January 1990.
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