Photo Courtesy: NYSportsJournalism.com

Team USA escaped a nail-biting 70-68 thriller over reigning FIBA-Americas champion Brazil in the ongoing preliminaries of the 2010 FIBA-World Champiosnhip in Turkey. It was a very tough night for the Americans that the game went through the last tick of the clock. Early on, the Brazilians taught the Americans neat basketball fundamentals. But Team USA, the reigning Olympic champions, hanged tough through the endgame.

As I mentioned in my post dated August 14, the Americans has to go through an eye of a needle to reach the finals  of this world championship. It was the first game in this tournament that they were pushed to the limit. And this won’t be their last either. I believe there are five more teams that are capable of winning over them such as Puerto Rico, Argentina, Spain, Serbia and Greece. The Americans were just lucky enough to survive its first acid test.

Photo Courtesy: Highschoolhoop.com

The 2010 FIBA-World Championship starts on the 28^th of August in Turkey and this early I could see Team USA heading for another shameful exit. It’s not because I’m subjective but realistically speaking, the current US squad is not at par with the best teams out there at this point in time. Gone are the days when the Americans yawned watching the game clock ticking for the final score.

Before I go through, let’s take a quick look at how Team USA fared last decade in major international competitions. By the way, NBA players comprised all these teams.

Tournament                                                  Final Ranking

2000 Olympics                                                   1^st

2002 FIBA-World Championship                          6^th

2004 Olympics                                                   3^rd

2006 FIBA-World Championship                          3^rd

2008 Olympics                                                   1^st

The team’s vulnerability was actually showed as early as the 2000 Olympics. Even though they won the gold medal, they had been through a rough sailing. In the semifinal game, Team USA barely escaped an 85-83 near upset by Lithuania . In the gold medal game against France, the final margin was a measly 10 points.

Two years later, pretending to be unwary of the rise of the other teams, Team USA sent their ‘B’ team in the tournament played right before the very eyes of their hometown fans. To make the long story short, they finished 6^th place among 24 teams with Yugoslavia emerging as champion.

In the 2004 Olympics, this squad featured the then upcoming superstars LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Dwayne Wade joining other big names such as Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson, Stephon Marbury. Its Bronze medal finish including a devastating opening game against Puerto Rico proves that NBA’s marquee players in the team are of no assurance of winning a championship.

Fast forward to the upcoming World Championship in Turkey, the current squad looks weak in the shaded lane. With it, they face an uphill climb against Central America’s powerhouse teams Brazil, Argentina and Puerto Rico. Europe’s best teams Spain, Serbia and Greece add to their woes.

The way I see it, Team USA survives a quarterfinal game via a close margin before bowing out of the race in the semifinals en route to a 4^th place finish.

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Daiki Kameda of Japan has finally got his wish for a rematch with Thai Denkaosan Kaovichit for the WBA World Flyweight title. Kameda suffered his second career loss via a Majority Decision at the hands of Kaovichit last October 12 in Osaka, Japan. The two are set to face each other on February 7 in Hyogo, Japan.

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Zhang Kai of Dongguan Leopards currently leads the rebounding department of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). Zhang, a six-foot eleven Center who was in the Sacramento Kings roster in the training camp of the 07-08 season, averages 14.8 an outing in six games so far. He edges out 7-3 import Peter John Ramos of Puerto Rico with 13.9.

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South Korean NBA prospect Choi Jin-soo has decided to forego his studies as well his stint in the United States NCAA. This came after Choi has made up his mind to play professionally in his native country. The six-foot eight versatile forward was the first South Korean born to play in the US NCAA.

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Thailand’s national football team coach Bryan Robson has expressed optimism that his team will overcome Jordan national team when the two clash in the 2011 Asian Cup qualifying round this week. Robson, an English national signed a five-year contract to handle the Thai national squad in September of last year. He had managed 4 various clubs in England before accepting the offer from Thailand, his first in the international arena.

Photo Courtesy: Boxnews.com.ua

As what I’ve promised last July, I am going to share my own picks for the best fights for the second half of the year. Unfortunately however, second half of 2009 did not have much exciting bouts like the first six months. I could only cite three electrifying battles that I could retain in my memory lane. Like my previous post, I’ll do it chronologically.

1. Chris John vs. Rocky Juarez (September 19)

This was supposed to be a supporting bout to the Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Floyd Mayweather main event but it turned out to be the most exciting fight of the night. In the fight, Chris John of Indonesia was clearly ahead on the early rounds until he appeared to be fading in the later rounds. In fact, he was nearly knocked down in the last round.  John escaped with a Unanimous Decision though.

2. David Haye vs. Nikolay Valuev (November 7)

Briton David Haye is 6-foot-3 while the Russian Nikolay Valuev is a 7-footer. With that, this fight really made sense. Seldom you see in boxing two gigantic figures square off the ring. Nikolay Valuev is one among the most feared boxers because of his size. David Haye, however, displayed not just his heart but also skills and ring generalship to outpoint via Majority Decision Nikolay Valuev. Haye, in turn, became just the second boxer after Ruslan Chagaev to defeat Valuev in 52 fights.

3. Manny Pacquiao vs. Miguel Angel Cotto (November 14)

I witnessed how history unfolded. This was Pacquiao’s 55^th career fight as he ascended to the 147 division throne – the seventh division he conquered. As expected, Pacquiao and Cotto went toe-to-toe in the early going but Cotto could not bear the punishment Pacquiao inflicted. Cotto was knocked down in round 3 and in round 4. The fight was practically over halfway but Cotto’s big heart pushed him until the 12^th round when Referee Kenny Bayless finally put an end to Cotto’s agony. Manny Pacquiao is simply the best in this era.

So, this is it! 2009 has become a year that was. Most likely, I share the same thoughts as you when it comes to fights we want to see in 2010. Happy new year everyone!

Photo Courtesy: Philboxing.com

Another good news for Philippine boxing came about before Christmas as another young prospect from Mandaue City, Cebu surprised everyone with his stunning victory over a Nicaraguan foe. John Riel Casimero was a huge underdog going for the fight against the tough Nicaraguan Cesar Canchila for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) interim light flyweight title last December 19 in Managua, Nicaragua.

Casimero, was born on February 13, 1990 and grew up in Ormoc City in the eastern Philippine province of Leyte, but is now residing in Mandaue City, Cebu. His ring record now stands at 14-0 with 8 KOs. Following his astounding victory over Canchila, Casimero is now the WBO interim light flyweight champion. His status as an interim champion gives him a very large window in fighting against Ivan Calderon of Puerto Rico, the current ‘regular’ WBO champion in his weight category. Besides, he could fight the other big names in this division like Giovanni Segura, Omar Niño Romero and Japanese rising star Ryo Miyazaki.

Big fights are big tests for the budding star John Riel. As a fellow Filipino, I hope that John Riel is for real.

Along C.M. Recto St.

Along Roxas Ave.

Still at Roxas Ave.

By the way, my alma matter along Roxas Ave.

At C.M. Recto St. corner Roxas Ave.

Along J.P. Laurel Ave.

Still at J.P. Laurel Ave.

At the Pryce Business Park

]]> http://benjsports.com/boxing/davao-city-photos-during-pacquiao-cotto-fight/feed/ 0 http://benjsports.com/boxing/boxing%e2%80%99s-best/ http://benjsports.com/boxing/boxing%e2%80%99s-best/#comments Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:22:49 +0000 Benjie http://benjsports.com/?p=880

Photo Courtesy: Boxnews.com.ua

Wheeew! ……….  The excitement is over. All those questions are already answered. No question, Manny Pacquiao is boxing’s best. The fighting pride of the Philippines outclassed the champion from  Puerto Rico in a stunning fashion.

In my previous post ‘Who’s corner will come to rescue?’ dated November 6, I wrote that i had a feeling that the fight would not last the distance. That the only thing I did not know was who between the two would go down kissing the canvass. I based my prediction based on their records prior to the bout as well as their fighting  styles. As they say, styles make fights. Both Pacquiao and Cotto like to come forward and engage in exchanges of furious blows.

In the end, the smarter fighter in Manny Pacquiao emerged victorious. Now, is there any doubt who is boxing’s best?

Photo Courtesy: AP and Boxnews.com.ua

There have been a handful of great boxing matches so far this year. These include Shane Mosley-Antonio Margarito, Juan Manuel Marquez – Juan Diaz, Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton to name a few. But this coming weekend’s bout featuring Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto is extra special for boxing and for both Philippines and Puerto Rico.

For one, Manny Pacquiao quests for his record setting 7^th title in as many divisions that would cement his legacy as one of the greatest boxers of all time. Secondly, Miguel Angel Cotto wants a piece of history too as he would like to put an end to Pacquiao’s string of victories. Besides, Cotto has something to prove that all is well after his brutal defeat to Antonio Margarito last year. And on top of it all, it’s the pride and glory of the Philippines and Puerto Rico that rest on the shoulders of Pacquiao and Cotto that make this match, a fight to remember.

Manny Pacquiao, who has an impressive record of 49-3-2 win-loss-draw record, has scored 37 KOs in his victories. That’s close to 76% in KO percentages. Miguel Angel Cotto, on the other hand, scores an equally impressive 34-1-0 record with 27 KOs, meaning 79% KO percentage.

On fight night, one may ask, who’s corner will throw in the towel first? Who’s corner will come to rescue?

Photo Courtesy: Boxylucha.com

On November 14, we will be watching probably the biggest fight of the year. Pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines will go up against Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico.  Obviously, we are referring to Miguel Angel Cotto, the current WBO welterweight champion. However, not so many people know that there is another Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico who is also a professional boxer. He is Miguel Angel’s elder brother Jose Miguel.

Photo Courtesy:  Fightnews.com and Promociones Miguel Cotto

Jose Miguel Cotto was born on June 22, 1977 in Caguas, Puerto Rico. He represented his native country in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics but was ousted in the first round. On that same year, he turned pro with fights in Puerto Rico and later in the United States.  For most of his career, he has boxed under the shadows of his younger brother Miguel Angel.

Jose Miguel’s professional record is as impressive as his younger brother. As of the moment, he commands a 30-1-1 win-loss-draw record with 22 KOs. His only defeat came from a Unanimous Decision loss to highly regarded Juan Diaz of Houston, Texas back in 2006. A year later, he ended up in a draw with Thai boxer Prawet Singwancha in Salinas, Puerto Rico. One thing that separates him from his younger brother however is the fact that he has never fought a marquee boxer in any weight category other than Juan Diaz. This could be the reason why until now he continues to be under the shadows of Miguel Angel.

On fight night dubbed as ‘Firepower’, expect the elder Miguel Cotto not in the ring, but on the stands cheering for his younger brother.