Rob Pilger (RP): This is a sport that will show you your true colors. It will show you what you are truly made of in a very revealing way. Only a special breed of men and women can enter the squared Circle of Combat and show true mastery of their skills and emotions. True mastery of their being…

This is often the most overlooked aspect and benefit of the training. It teaches you to take control of your fears and doubts…to come face to face with your fears and doubts and beat them…to conquer them…to truly master yourself.

Alwyn Cosgrove (AC): The winner and the loser feel exactly the same in a fight. It’s what they do that makes them different.

There’s a point in every fight when a fighter takes a step backward and takes a big breath and you see the doubt in his eye. He starts to realize that he bit off more than he could chew, and he questions what he’s doing here and how he can get out. And then it’s all over. I’ve got you. You’re done.

There’s a certain “je ne sais quoi” that accompanies training as a competitive fighter that’s largely understood by most as something dark. And it is dark—raw brutality and grit. Nothing fancy. Just one person against another. No superfluous movements or philosophies or equipment. Life at its most Darwinian—either you have the killer instinct, or you’re dead. And only a certain kind of person has it. They’re honestly a mean, cut-throat warrior, a fighter who instinctively knows when overwhelming force or cruelty or simply rolling with the punches will move him ahead. I don’t think you can teach that.

I can remember my sports psychology professor coming into class and announcing that we were having an exam that day. And that it would count for 50 percent of the final class grade. This was completely unannounced. I was pissed and let my feelings known.

Then he stopped me. He pointed out the girl who sat in front of me. She was a long distance runner, and she’d sat quietly and thought about what the professor said. The rugby players to my left talked to each other about it, and me—the fighter—was ready to pull his head off! Each person responded exactly how the sport they practiced would determine.

Do you choose your sport—or does your sport choose you?

Sparing and training

Alwyn Cosgrove (AC): A fight is just the execution of your preparation. It’s about hitting and not being hit. It’s not about violence. It’s about application of science. Like a dance. So when I’m sparring, I’m just working on the application of my tools. No emotion.

RP: Training and sparring is the mission to be complete for a fight. Complete mentally, spiritually, and physically. Total focus on what must be done and how to do it. If there are any weaknesses, we expel them. Great sparring does this…

I do this by sparring with styles that before have given me fits. I’m relaxed knowing that I’m doing what needs to be done. My trainers have the best plan for victory. I’m taking the shape of the fighter who will be relaxed and truly dominant the night of the fight.

The final week

What is your mindset as a fight approaches the last week of prep? How is your “self talk?” What do you visualize?

AC: I used to visualize two things—total domination and total failure. With total domination, I just execute my punches and the opponent cooperates very well.

With total failure, I visualize that everything goes wrong. So if it does, I know exactly what I’d do next. I rehearsed every possible outcome and was just ready to execute it.

RP: I’m relaxed knowing that I did my work. I’m truly prepared in all areas. My self talk is that I’m calm and in control. I’m the boss, and I will break the other fighter down. He has never seen anyone as prepared as me.

I visualize myself as being very relaxed but vicious, making the other fighter pay for his mistakes. Getting him off of his plan and reacting to mine. I’m showing him no emotion. I keep him guessing all the while knowing that I’m in control and I’m having fun executing our fight plan.

My mistakes will be minimal as my sparring has prepped me. If I make one, I come right back to take control. I give him no chance to take control. I’m the boss in a relaxed way. I will break him by showing him that I’ll come right back to dominate from anything he does. I’m in charge.

A stronger mind

How can you strengthen your mindset/confidence?

AC: For most people, it’s getting in great shape and having total, TOTAL trust in your team. My idea was to become like a puppet, ready to do anything that my coach asked. I just executed my team’s instructions.

RP: Positive affirmations and visualization. Many fighters take the negative approach, thinking they’re not good enough and not confident and they think about losing. What they forget is that you get what you think about.

Positive thoughts and visualization backed by the hard work brings you the outcome you want.

My top level sparring and training has made me super confident. I’m trained in such a way that I can’t think of defeat. I’m willing to do anything to win. This is not arrogance but truly confidence backed by the hard work that I’ve displayed in sparring and in the gym.

A backbone of great sparring (sparring many styles) and past fights has taught me that I’ve paid my dues and I have arrived. I learned and know how to master my emotions and make the other fighters work against themselves. I know through my background that I’ve done this once and will do it again better.

Physical strength?

Is physical strength overrated compared to mental strength?

AC: Absolutely. Who would you rather fight—Dave Tate who can squat hundreds of pounds or a 130 lb man who is convinced that you raped his daughter or attacked his wife?

RP: You can often take a man’s heart from him in the ring. Mental strength is everything. I wear and I tell my fighters to wear a poker face in the ring. Show nothing! If you’re hurt, look strong. If you’re tired, look energized. You will break the stronger fighter through your mental strength. His telling weakness becomes your strength.

Before the fight

What is the environment like in the locker room before you fight? (Who do you like around?)

AC: I always had a quiet locker room. I was never into the shouting and hype. Very cerebral. Just me and my coach usually.

RP: Calm and relaxed. Comfortable knowing that I know the ring well. I enjoy being in it. Even laughing. I never liked the solemn locker room. Hell, I enjoy fighting. Why look glum? This is what I like to do so I will show it. Go in stiff. Leave stiff.

I like people though who don’t hype me up. I don’t like that “rah rah” garbage. I want people around me who have been in the ring before. I don’t like somebody who has never fought before saying, “The fight will be easy,” or “The other guy isn’t anything.” I want guys around me who have battled before. They need not say anything. There bodily confidence is everything to me.

The warm up

What are you thinking while you’re warming up?

AC: Nothing. Total blank. Just executing the game plan I suppose. Going over and over it in my head. I know if I execute it perfectly, I’ll win.

RP: My confidence is surging through me. I again know I did my work. I left no stone unturned. I’m ready to go. I’m loose, calm, and ready to have fun executing my plan. I’m not to lax, just ready to go. I learned a long time ago that I perform better when I’m loose but viscous. And knowing that I love this and that I have fun in the ring.

Being tight and angry and too serious did nothing for me but make me hate the experience. It caused me to make mistakes in the ring.

Some may think, what about having that aggressive mental edge in the ring? The edge is being relaxed. Not using unnecessary precious energy. That is the edge. Calm but vicious.

Into the ring

What are your thoughts as you enter the ring?

AC: There are no judges. These guys aren’t qualified to “judge” me. They are just witnesses to the perfect display I’m about to demonstrate for them.

RP: I’m relaxed and I’m enjoying being in the ring. I show the guy right away that there is NO fear in my eyes, only confidence and strength. I’m not to be F***** with tonight. My body language shows it. My background has taught me what it takes to be dominant in the ring. I have seen everything he has before. There is nothing he can show me. I have done everything in training to shine tonight.

I’m the boss…

Jacked or relaxed

Is it better to be all jacked up or relaxed and calm before a fight?

AC: Different fighters prefer different things. I was always trying to be calm as possible. I could get overanxious so I tried to be as relaxed and focused as I could. I think when emotion goes up, intelligence goes down. And then you’re toast.

RP: Experience obviously is the best teacher. It has taught me not be tight and angry and not to use too much energy before the fight. Being calm but vicious allows you to be precise and deadly while not making mistakes.

I want the other guy to be angry. I want him to be swinging for the fences. My calmness will wear him down and allow me to chop him up. His emotions are taking over. I’m in control of mine.

Emotions in the ring

Is it good to hide emotion in the ring?

AC: I think if I see that I “got to you” you’re done. All the staring down and hype never got to me at all. We have to fight anyway. All the bullshit you want, all the trash talking or staring that you want, a few seconds from now, it’s just you and me. And then we’ll know.

RP: A poker face is everything. I learned one time the hard way about it in a fight. I could have beaten this guy sooner. I hit this guy with a great shot. I didn’t really follow up because then he pivoted out of the way. He didn’t seem hurt. After the fight in the ring, he told me, “You know you really had me hurt with that shot. I mean hurt.”

He didn’t show it. I didn’t think it. The poker face.

You can be dominating the whole fight. Have a guy beat down. Once you start to show fatigue though, you awaken him. You give him hope, which is dangerous. That hope revives him, and he goes for broke, which, again, is dangerous.

Wear the poker face. Show nothing. Be calm and strong when weak. Break him. Don’t revive him.

How to win the mental game?

What is your mentality in the ring? How do you mentally beat a fighter down?

AC: I projected the idea that he was just a waste of my time. It was a formality that I would beat him. No jumping up and down, no excitement. I expected to win. I win. I have my hand raised. I go home. My whole mindset was that we both know I’m going to win. It’s just delaying the inevitable.

RP: By taking command and being relaxed. Everything he does, I come back and then some. I give him no momentum. I take it away and build mine. He gets frustrated, and I stay calm but vicious.

Even if he’s determined, that’s fine. I’m calm and can go all night. I still stay in control and show he can do nothing to me. My poker face gives him nothing.

Intimidation

How do you handle not being intimidated?

AC: I KNEW that he felt just as nervous as I did. We all feel the same. And when we’re both tired and both hurt—all I need to do is hang in a second longer than him—and it’s mine. We all feel the same. But what we do, how we handle that, that’s what separates us.

I can remember standing at the side of the ring. Scared. My coach asked me how I felt. I said I’m scared. (NEVER lie to your coach.)

He asked me, “How scared? On a scale of 1–10?”

I said, “Ten!!”

He said, “Wow. How scared would you be to fight a pack of rabid pit bulls?”

I laughed and said, “Ok, that would be a ten!”

He said, “So what is this guy?”

I said, “Maybe a six?”

He said, “What if the fight was only 30 seconds long?”

I said, “Ha! A two!”

He said, “Ok, just fight him for 30 seconds and then we’ll go from there!”

I went out and stopped him in 15 seconds!

RP: Experience and having a backbone teaches you how to handle it. You learn that it’s shit. Nothing but weakness on his part. He’s fishing for something in you but not catching anything.

My calmness and confidence are my strengths and worry him inside. I’m actually winning before we fight because he’s doubting himself more by trying to intimidate me more.

I’ve learned that the fighters who try to intimidate me are usually weak and mentally fragile.

Grab a free killer boxing training special report that covers boxing training from the ground up at Boxing Training Workouts Rob Pilger of http://www.Pilgerstrainingsystems.com is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and Level II USA Boxing Coach. He has successfully trained people using the boxing workout for improved fitness levels, and improved performance in their chosen athletic endeavor . Rob is also creator of The Ultimate Boxing Workout DVD. Please visit http://www.TheUltimateBoxingWorkout.com to begin your quest for an improved physique

The Set Up

You want your feet spaced shoulder width apart and your left shoulder in front. I like my fighters angled this way as less of their body is exposed and they can punch with more leverage this way. You must not start squared up.

You want the knees bent and the elbows resting on the side of your body. ( Ribs) Feet turned out a bit so they’re not facing sideways.

Your hands are up and chin tucked. This is a proper setup for boxing stance. I will now briefly explain a drill you can use to learn how to move and keep an ideal punching stance.

The Box Drill

Boxing stance starts in ideal position and ends in ideal position. The box drill teaches you how to do this. You will need to learn how to move well and stay in your ideal stance if you want to punch with authority and not become a target.

To begin the box drill, get into your stance and move to the right with your right foot initiating the movement. You end being in your ideal stance. Again, start in ideal stance/position end in ideal stance. Be sure to keep your left shoulder in front, elbows touching the ribs, hands up and you move while being on the balls of your feet. You never want to square up while moving.

When moving to the left, you begin by moving your left foot, with the right following and ending in proper stance. Be sure to keep your left shoulder in front, elbows touching the ribs, hands up and you move while being on the balls of your feet. You never want to square up while moving.

Moving forward the front foot leads while the back foot follows and you again end in ideal stance. Be sure to keep your left shoulder in front, elbows touching the ribs, hands up and you move while being on the balls of your feet. You never want to square up while moving.

When moving backwards your back foot leads while your front foot follows, ending in ideal stance. Again…When performing the box drill be sure to keep your left shoulder in front, elbows touching the ribs, hands up and you move while being on the balls of your feet. You never want to square up while moving.

Closing Thoughts

The box drill will lay the foundation of moving with proper stance and keeping it. This basic skill is lacking in many amateur and even professional fighters today. They punch with their feet to wide, or they’re feet are all over the place. It’s really disgusting to see.

You cannot be taught anything new until you have this basic skill down. This will make you a MUCH better puncher, because you will punch with optimal leverage. Fighters who lack power usually have a skewed boxing stance.

You will also be less of a target when implementing this drill properly. Many fighters make the mistake of squaring up when moving laterally. A good fighter will see this and capitalize on it by letting his hands go on you.

The solution? Do it right!

Grab a free killer boxing training special report that covers boxing stance and more at Boxing Training Workouts Rob Pilger of http://www.Pilgerstrainingsystems.com is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and Level II USA Boxing Coach. He has successfully trained people using the boxing workout for improved fitness levels, and improved performance in their chosen athletic endeavor . Rob is also creator of The Ultimate Boxing Workout DVD. Please visit http://www.TheUltimateBoxingWorkout.com to begin your quest for an improved physique

Shadow boxing is often looked at as just a warm up before the actual boxing workout. How untrue this is! Shadow boxing no doubt serves to warm and prep the body for the upcoming workout.

More importantly though, shadow boxing helps you to groove the skills you have been taught.

It is best to shadow box in front of a mirror were you can monitor your technique that has been taught to you. I often say… the mirror doesn’t lie. Once you know what to look for, it’s impossible to have bad technique in front of the mirror!

If you really focus on what your doing while shadow boxing, progression is heightened. Your trainer won’t have to keep barking at you to keep your hands up or throw that hook right when your working the bags. He will be very pleased to see your fast progression do to your commitment of solid technique when shadow boxing.

Great fighters will tell you… that when they shadow box and move around they envision real situations that may come up in the ring. They envision having an opponent in front of them. From offensive combos, to defensive tactics, all is covered.

Look at an experienced fighters body language and eyes when doing this. It shows they are in a different world. Indeed they are, a world where they see themselves dominating. You wonder why these fighters get so good? Because they see themselves doing it first.

Think about that next time you shadow box.

Grab a free killer boxing training special report that covers shadow boxing and more at Boxing Training Workouts Rob Pilger of http://www.Pilgerstrainingsystems.com is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and Level II USA Boxing Coach. He has successfully trained people using the boxing workout for improved fitness levels, and improved performance in their chosen athletic endeavor . Rob is also creator of The Ultimate Boxing Workout DVD. Please visit http://www.TheUltimateBoxingWorkout.com to begin your quest for an improved physique.

Oscar De La Hoya loses to Shane Mosely twice in the ring, and then offers him a job and stake in his company. Oscar De La Hoya gets knocked out by Bernard Hopkins, and then offers him a job and stake in his company. Oscar De La Hoya loses to the Ring Magazine’s number one pound-for-pound boxer, Floyd Mayweather, Jr., and then purchases the magazine less than a year later.

“If you can’t beat ‘em, buy ‘em.” This seems to be Golden Boy Promotions’ mantra these days, not the sanitized mission statement that you can find on their Web site. De La Hoya’s latest financial coup is a brilliant marketing move, but is likely to raise the ire of many fighters and fans alike (me included).

The question is real simple. Can one expect objectivity in the Ring boxer ratings, if an active fighter (De La Hoya), with a stable of up-and-coming fighters under his promotional umbrella, owns the company that gives out the ratings? I think this will be the case, based on my general belief that Oscar’s intentions are in the right place.

If this is not the case, Oscar De La Hoya and his partners will have a lot of explaining to do. To paraphrase their mission statement, “Golden Boy Promotions strives to become the leading Boxing Promotional Company through integrity, honesty, hard work and determination.”

If any questionable ratings favoring Golden Boy fighters come out, De La Hoya and his partners will not only be under heavy scrutiny, they will become everything that they vowed to rid the sport of - greedy promoters who cared more about money and power than the betterment of the sweet science.

The boxing world will be watching with eyes wide open.

Looking for boxing opinions, predictions and tickets? Visit http://www.FightInsight.com

Have you ever wondered. . .

Why boxers in training do the same core exercises, or “drills” if you prefer, that have been done for over a century?

• They still work on the heavy-bag, the speed-bag, the double-end bag.
• They still do mirror training and shadow box. They are still all doing the boxers bounce to warm up.
• They are still jumping rope to build their coordination, and build their reflexive timing.
• They are still doing roadwork to build stamina and strengthen their cardiovascular system.
• Boxing exercises are still done using the same equipment since way back when.

Why is this so?

It has to be because it works wouldn’t you think? Over the years, or I should say through the years, boxing trainers have come to depend on boxing exercises that get and keep their fighters in shape and on top of their game.

Keep in mind the boxers game is to fight in the ring against another highly trained fighter who’s been doing the very same boxing exercises.

A Boxer doesn’t kick or bite, or use a knife or a gun. The Boxer fights with his/her hands. A Fighter spends whole days learning how to punch someone and not be punched in return. So primitive, and yet a science.

Another question to consider, and believe me it’s debated regularly among trainers and fighters, is; Does resistance training add or subtract from the overall physical conditioning and skills of the boxer?

While it is very practical for some athletes to train certain muscle groups to increase their size and strength - except for the stomach, and occasionally the shoulders and chest, (usually conditioned by push-ups), a boxer usually doesn’t work on increasing muscle mass.

The reason for this, in my opinion, (and many will disagree), is because strength training with heavy resistance increases the risk of injury.

And, (this is probably the most important reason why boxers don’t build muscle mass), building muscle mass does NOT help the fighter anywhere near as much as increasing his boxing skills. These are increased through, (you guessed it), Boxing Exercises.

Keep in mind, as we agreed on before, Boxing is a science. Muscles Mass is great to look at and to marvel upon, but, it doesn’t do the boxer much good at all. In fact, and most trainers will agree, it slows the fighter down. Especially his hand speed. Again, punching ability, hand speed, and hand to eye coordination are all developed best by Boxing Exercises.

Many will argue that strength training is necessary to give the fighter a more powerful punch. Again, I disagree, and most trainers I am certain will disagree also.

A powerful punch is dependent on the velocity, (the speed), of the punch that is thrown. Their are other variables, but, this ONE fact is more true than all others. Fast hands mean powerful punches.

Again, that’s why boxing exercises have not changed throughout all these past years/decades/even
centuries!

Keep in mind. Boxing IS a science. And that is true more than anything else.

Powerful punches are developed through boxing exercises. Any other thing that anyone tries to sell you on is a hoax!

A strong punching ability is developed with training on the heavy bag and speed bag. Even jumping rope, which improves your timing, plays a very important part in throwing powerful punches. Shadow boxing alone will help you to develop powerful punches much more effectively than any expensive resistance machine.

Knowing the proper technique and “form” for each different punch in a boxers bag of tricks is the KEY to throwing fast and effective, powerful punches. Whether it’s the “smokin” left hook or the straight left jab, a rockin’ uppercut, or a blasting right cross - practice, practice, and still MORE practice, is the only way to throw effective, fast, and powerful punches.

Again, the boxer becomes proficient at throwing effective punches through boxing exercises. Not weight lifting or some other kind of so-called strength training. S/He learns to throw powerful punches by doing a “boxer’s workout routine”. There simply is NO other way!

My point is simple. A body-builder, although s/he’s doing what s/he wants to do, is NOT a fighter. That’s not saying that s/he couldn’t be a fighter, but, the two are NOT the same.

Body-building is a science and so is boxing. But, there the two separate. You can not train to be a boxer effectively and train in body-building at the same time. One negates the effects of the other. You would just be wasting your time.

If you want to be a boxer and do boxing exercises, you don’t need expensive machines to get in shape.

A Bowflex, or Weight Machine can be a lot of fun. I personally use a bowflex for a type of stretching I do to limber up and warm up muscles before I start Boxing Exercises.

Heavy Resistance Strength Training can be risky for a fighter. A boxer can’t afford to have sore, swollen, and strained, muscles and ligaments. Anything that compromises the boxer’s ability to punch and avoid punches is suicide for a fighter!

If your going to box you have got to do traditional boxing exercises and depend on those to get you into the shape you need to be in for the ring.

All other exercises intended to build muscle mass is a waste of time in the least, and dangerous for a fighter in the worse case scenario. If your a boxer, your job is to punch. Stick to tried and true boxing exercises to accomplish the job of making your punches effective!

In summary; You don’t need anything fancy to be a boxer. You need “heart”, (= true grit), and “spirit”. You need to practice technique and punching form. Getting your reflexive timing and coordination in sync is far more important than building big muscles that won’t do you any good at all. Don’t waste your money on fancy machines unless you have money to waste.

For all you youngsters, (and you oldsters too!), that want to learn how to box - there will be plenty of opportunity to spend money on handwraps and punching bags, and gloves and protective gear, etc. Don’t be hustled by the big name producers of exercise equipment that promises to make you look
like “Pretty-Boy-Floyd”. Stick to boxing exercises, tried and true. That’s how the really tough got tough - and stay that way!

One other thing; There is no fighter in the world “Prettier” than, (you guessed it!), Muhammad Ali. I
guarantee you this. In his prime, and even years past his prime, Muhammad Ali Would have taken any muscle bound - body building “Pretty-Boy-Floyd” into the ring and turned him into a “Sissy-Boy-Floyd”. Boxing exercises work! Period. Who says boxers can’t be pretty?

By the way, all you guys named Floyd please don’t take Offense. If I don’t watch what I say some guy named Floyd is going to send ME to the moon! More power to you Floyd if you are able - but you better bring some lunch! ‘Cause I do Traditional Boxing Exercises! Do YOU?

Doug LaLonde writes about boxing and boxing legends. Doug is happy to be breathing in and out at;
http://boxing-exercises.com/

The wacky world of boxing recently took another curious turn, as Floyd Mayweather announced that he had just signed to appear on the popular television series Dancing with the Stars.

Is this announcement disrespectful to boxing? Is it disrespectful to Mayweather’s upcoming challenger, the undefeated Ricky Hatton? Well, yes and no.

I’ll start with the no. Anytime a boxer gets mainstream media attention by appearing on a show such as Dancing with the Stars, I feel that it is a good thing for boxing. For a niche sport with an often negative public perception, any event which humanizes fighters and makes them accessible to the masses is a good thing. Sure, Mayweather’s appearance on the popular show will satisfy his attention-seeking addiction but it will also do wonders for promoting his upcoming showdown with Ricky Hatton in December.

So you may be asking, how are Floyd’s actions disrespectful? The answer is simple: it shows that he is taking Ricky Hatton lightly. I am sure he and his handlers will say things like, “this is simply a great opportunity to help increase Mayweather’s star power,” “what a great opportunity to hype the fight to the general public,” and “not only will this generate PPV ratings, the dance lessons will also have the added benefit of improving Floyd’s already stellar footwork.” I am not buying it. I’ll take the sparring sessions, road work and calisthenics, and leave the dancing to R&B crooner Chris Brown. Boxers’ training leading up to super fights are short on distractions, and long on isolation, narrowing a boxer’s tunnel vision exclusively on his opponent. Appearing on the Stars can not help Mayweather achieve this goal.

Dancing with the Stars is great for Floyd Mayweather’s rising star power and may just help his mega-fight with Ricky Hatton garner more pay-per-view buys. However, it also shows that he is taking Hatton lightly, which seemingly increases Hatton’s chances for the upset. Will Dancing with the Stars lead to Floyd Mayweather seeing stars? Or will it lead to Mayweather taking his fancy footwork too far, dancing his way to a dull decision. I am sure Hatton wishes for the former. I am just hoping for a good fight.

Boxing news, previews and views at http://www.FightInsight.com

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.

Joem Hughes writes occasional articles on Internet marketing at Online Marketer’s World. He currently writes about Philippine boxing and other boxing topics. He hopes that his articles will contribute to creating more fans for the sport of boxing and also support the growth of Philippine boxing or Filipino boxing.