The REVOLUTION is officially in full swing, with news that ace bantamweight Ronnie Baldonado will be joining the card on January 30th.
The Mindanao boxer known as JongJong is one of the most exciting strikers in the Philippines, yet has been in relatve obscurity since 2019 due to inactivity.
It's almost ironic that he finally returned in 2022 to two losses, but the merit in the performances provides insight that 2023 will showcase the best version of Baldonado yet seen !
Ronnie Baldonado returned after a 3 year break, jumped weight classes, and took on one of the Philippines most promising fighters Carl Jammes Martin. It's fair to say that JongJong dominated the early stages of that match, even putting Wonder Boy on his butt, before tiring late in the contest. It was a fantastic comeback performance by Baldonado, and was followed up by a points loss in Japan to hot prospect Sho Ishida, a winner of 31 bouts.
2023 provides a fresh start for Baldonado, who at only 26, and having experienced a 3 years break from the sport, is an improving young fighter that is extremely compelling to watch.
So expect to see Ronnie Baldonado turn up on January 30th with all guns blazing !
More updates on the REVOLUTION fight card coming soon.
Jetro Pabustan is the latest to lend his consummate fight talents to the Revolution event in Manila this January 30.
The high level Mindanao southpaw is eyeing off international challenges this year, and is well qualified to do so. A winner of 31 bouts, the Silent Operator has the distinction of being a regional belt winner and also WBO world title contender. Pabustan had two foreign assignments last year, and performed admirably in both.
In August, he dropped a highly debated points decision in the States to the top level Tramaine Williams, in a match where he appeared to outwork and outland the American.
More recently, Pabustan competed in an exhibition bout in Vietnam against cult fugure Le Hoang Hiep, and in a really entertaining contest, he looked good in the unfamiliar four round format.
Jetro Pabustan was last seen in Manila winning against top prospect Brian Tamayo, and it will be great to see him kick off his 2O23 campaign on the classy Revolution card on January 30th.
REVOLUTION full fight card announcement coming soon.
January 30 locked in.
And so is one of the Philippines' most chaotic fighters of all time - the man who wrote the book
"DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES"
Yes it's THE WOLVERINE JonJon Estrada
Full fight card coming soon.
A meteroic two years for the King's Warrior Charly Suarez, a Philippines amateur star and relative late comer to the professional ranks.
Since January 2021 Suarez has had 10 fights,10 wins, a Philippines national title, and also WBA and IBF Regional titles.
Now Philippines #1 and World #52
And you ain't seen nothing yet !
1. Each round shall consist of a three (3) minute duration, with a one (1) minute rest period between rounds.
2. The referee is the sole arbiter of a bout and is the only individual authorized to stop a contest. This rule shall not preclude a video or other review of a decision under the procedures of the applicable regulatory authority if a protest is filed claiming a clear rule violation.
3. All bouts will be evaluated and scored by three (3) judges.
4. The 10 Point Must System will be the standard system of scoring a bout.
5. The Mandatory Eight (8) Count after knockdowns will be standard procedure in all bouts.
6. All professional boxers are required to wear a mouthpiece during competition. The round cannot begin without the mouthpiece. If the mouthpiece is dislodged during competition, the referee will call time and have the mouthpiece replaced at the first opportune moment, without interfering with the immediate action. Points may be deducted by the referee if he feels the mouthpiece is being purposely spit out.
7. There is NO Standing Eight (8) Count.
8. There is NO Three (3) Knockdown Rule.
9. A boxer shall receive a twenty (20) second count if the boxer is knocked out of the ring. The boxer is to be unassisted by spectators or his/her seconds. If assisted by anyone, the boxer may lose points or be disqualified with such a decision being within the sole discretion of the referee.
10. A boxer who has been knocked down cannot be saved by the bell in any round.
11. If a boxer sustains an injury from a fair blow and the injury is severe enough to terminate the bout, the injured boxer shall lose by TKO.
12. Injuries sustained by Fouls:
A. Intentional Fouls
B. Accidental Fouls
a. Partial or incomplete rounds will be scored. If no action has occurred, the round should be scored as an even round. This is at the discretion of the judges.
13. A fighter who is hit with an accidental low blow must continue after a reasonable amount of time but no more than five (5) minutes, or he/she will lose the fight.
Mindanao's Jetro Pabustan will kick start his 2023 campaign with a Manila bout on January 30.
The Silent Operator has made no secret of his ambitions to work toward a title fight again, and is working hard to get the year started on the right foot.
Jetro Pabustan recently competed in Vietnam against local cult boxer Le Hoang Hiep, so is sure to embrace the new year in career best shape.
One of the Philippines best performed international fighters of recent years Mark John Yap will treat boxing fans to the best new year's present possible - a Manila appearance on January 30 as a prelude to looking towards bigger overseas fights in 2023.
Yap returned home and put in a high quality performance in a WBA title clash with Charly Suarez, before overcoming PNG hard man Junior Kauko Raka in October of this year.
More recently, the star pinoy featured in a big show in Vietnam where he battled young gun Phan Minh Quân. The bout was unfortunately stopped due to an accidental head clash, with the cut requiring the CDO boxer to be stitched after the fight.
Not one to be deterred easily, Mark John Yap has informed that he will be in killer form on January 30 and he advises potential opponents - beware the Journey Man!
Many great performances from Vietnam fighters before the pandemic, and now things are returning to normal again, who will be the shining lights in 2023 ?
Study the styles and performances of many of Vietnam's best boxers at the VSP Promotions You Tube site :
Charly Suarez has had a busy 2 years since turning professional.
Check this out :
14 fights
14 wins
WBA Asia title
RP National title
IBF Asia title
And we aren't slowing down in 2023 !
Expect to see the King's Warrior back in the ring and doing what he does best this coming March.
Charly Suarez wins the IBF Asia belt over Indonesia #1 and former WBC regional champion Defry Palulu :
JonJon Estrada is set for a January 30 return to the ring, after a dominant performance in Vietnam earlier this month.
News on an opponent and January fight card coming soon.
THE NEW IBF ASIA CHAMPION CHARLY SUAREZ
Another torrid test for Vietnam Lightweight champion Quân, who had to dig deep after having issues making weight.
Arnel "the Silencer" Baconaje provided constant pressure with his accuracy and power shots, which were definitely not accurately reflected on the scorecards.
The King's Warrior now owns both IBF and WBA Asia titles with this superb performance against Indonesia’s Defry Palulu.
This was shaping to be a rugged clash, unfortunately cut short due to an eye injury caused by a Suarez right hand in the second round.
That's Boxing - but still a great result for the Philippines and Team Suarez.
VSP Promotions are looking towards doing many more events next year after the recent success of "Fortunes of War".
VSP Boxing will host 10 events in 2023 for local Vietnam boxers who are wanting to join the pro ranks. These will kick off in February.
We will also be doing 3 big international shows bring top foreign boxers into Vietnam - the first of these being scheduled for March.
And Victory8 will be back !
Think Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi and 25,000 people!
More updates on a massive 2O23 coming soon !
Former HCMC youth champ jumps to the big stage and takes on the might of 3x OPBF winner Mark John Yap.
Super entertaining bout that was unfortunately stopped early due to a head cut to the Philippines star.
Charly Suarez is rapidly running out of opposition on his way to a world title.
This guy from Japan is useful, he is in the region, and ranked #9 in the world.
So c'mon Japan, stop hiding, let's get this done in March - Suarez should be easy for you !!!
Hanoi Hitman takes on unbeaten Indonesian prospect Paisal "Geronimo" Panjaitan.
Both fighters were looking for the KNOCKOUT !
Crazy Junior King Kong aka Young Blood and former Russian gang member Le Hoang Hiep jumps two weight classes and meets Philippines' Jetro Pabustan in centre ring.
Pabustan is a winner of 31 fights and previously contested a WBO World Title.
Opening bout action between the merciless Wolverine JonJon Estrada and Muay Thai champ "Nak Su" Thai Hoang Huy.
Estrada brings his trademark violence to Vietnam!
Philippines Mark John Yap received a solid workout at Fortunes of War, a great bout unfortunately cut short in round 3 due to accidental head clash.
Yap and Vietnam opponent Phan Minh Quân both enjoyed good moments early on, with the pinoy star getting a cut above the right eye very late in round one.
The Philippines boxer got the best of the second round, and the fighters followed that with toe to toe action, only to be halted by the ring doctor shortly after.
This was a great display by former HCMC youth boxer Quân, who clearly relished the challenge of fighting an established star like Mark John Yap.
You can watch the full fight here :
JonJon Estrada enjoys the flowers and trophy moments after experiencing his first time victory in Vietnam. The Wolverine debuted in the only way he knows how - with a stoppage win, over local Muay Thai fighter Thai Hoang Huy. Estrada appeared very relaxed in the opening round, yet dropped his Vietnam opponent with a two punch combo. He then closed the show in the 4th round with Thai Hoang Huy unable to answer the Wolverine's beserk attack while pinned to the ropes.
Hanoi strong man Nguyễn Văn Hải made an impressive return to the professional arena, stunning unbeaten Indonesian Paisal Panjaitan with a stoppage victory.
The bout began quite evenly, with the visitor boxing carefully, and even dictating ring position, but then BOOM!
The Indonesian fighter began to launch heavy shots at Nguyễn Văn Hải, and found himself side on to his Vietnam nemesis. Quick to sieze the moment, Hải unleashed a perfect left hook to surprise the chin of Panjaitan.
It was a superb performance from Nguyễn Văn Hải against a confident and unbeaten opponent. His distance and timing were a big improvement on his loss in Manila, which was also against an unbeaten prospect named Jerald Into.
The Hanoi champion advances to 3 wins and 1 loss, and appears a potential professional star for Vietnam boxing.
FORTUNES OF WAR FIGHT REPLAYS
All the action from 7 great bouts at The Grand Ho Tram Resort and Casino :
Last night in Vietnam, Philippine Army enlisted personnel Charly Suarez won the IBF Asia title with an impressive but unfortunate victory.
The King's Warrior boxed just two rounds with Indonesia’s champion Defry Palulu and undoubtedly looked all class and set the scene for a spectacular battle.
Unfortunately, in the second round, southpaw Palulu suffered some eye damage that required the ring doctor to stop the fight.
Charly Suarez is now confirmed ruler of Asia, owning both the WBA and IBF belts.
Before joining the Army's regular duty in July 2022, Private Suarez was a reserve Staff Sergeant, as may be remembered.
Private Suarez was named WBA Asia's Boxer of the Month for March 2022. Suarez competed in the 2016 Rio Olympics in Brazil and won gold medals in various boxing events at the Southeast Asian Games in 2009, 2011, 2019, and 2022.
His coach is army reservist 1st Lieutenant Delfin Boholst.
