FILIPINO BOXING POST PACQUIAO: KEYS TO SUCCESS

1. The conditioning regimen of Filipino boxers from the Philippines must be improved.

How many times have we seen talented Filipino boxers be given opportunities to display their skills or fight a ‘known’ fighter only to fall short at the end due to their poor conditioning. Most of the time, the conditioning can be attributed to the work ethic of the fighter; but when it’s consistently a problem and not attributed to just one boxer, then the conditioning regimen must be evaluated.

Losing to an opponent because he was better or more skilled might be easier to accept than losing due to poor conditioning. These young Filipino boxers have had to sacrifice a lot of things, which include being away from their families and should be given the best preparation before their bouts.

2. The trainers must be evaluate teaching methods and provide Filipino fighters a more versatile game plan.

When watching many of the Filipino fighters from the Philippines today, it seems that fighters from certain boxing stables have similar styles. From the outside looking in, one can reasonably assume that fighters are being pigeonholed to a specific style. It might assist the fighters attain some level of success but it might not necessarily be conducive in maximizing their talent and athletic abilities

Sometimes it is wiser to suit one’s training methods to a fighter’s own style and physical abilities. Manny Pacquiao is considered one of the best boxers in history and a great percentage of that can be attributed to the guidance of Freddie Roach. But what is overlooked is how Roach never changed Pacquiao’s style. Instead, he polished his skills and added techniques to further enhance the effectiveness of Pacquiao’s agressive and unorthodox style.

Also, there have been numerous fights involving Filipino fighters, where they were clearly winning the early rounds only to lose when their opponent adjusted to what they were doing earlier in the fight and they failed to do the same. The trainers must create a more creative game plan that includes multiple strategies depending on the adjustments made by the opponent.

3. The people who are responsible for managing the young and talented Filipino boxers should place more importance in those decisions that can affect their careers positively in the long term.

In many cases, young Filipino boxers are rushed to take advantage of the rising Filipino market in boxing. In the short term, the boxers and their handlers can quickly make a paycheck.

But is it beneficial for their career in the long term?

Remember Fernando Lumacad, who fought Fernando Montiel? He was outclassed and completely dominated. What is worse is that most people perceive him now as a ‘quitter’, even though he was put in a position where the outcome of the fight was to be expected. Bernabe Concepcion also had a fight with Steven Luevano and was disqualified due to a late hit. He was successful in first couple of rounds, but became frustrated when the Luevano adjusted and started controlling the fight with his jab.

The problem is many times such as the case for Lumacad and Concepcion, is that they’ve never been with any notable opponent prior to facing Montiel and Luevano respectively. They had never even fought a top ten contender before facing the fighters mentioned above. Young fighters must be put in the best position to win, and pitting them against elite opponents without preparing them properly can most often than not affect their career negatively.

4. Young Filipino boxers should be brought along slowly, but at the same time pitting them against fighters that will help them become prepared in future fights against elite opponents.

This includes not padding their record by constantly feeding them journeymen fighters, washed up Thai champions and fighters, whose styles are tailor made for them.

Fighters must be brought up slowly, but the quality of their opponents should also improve in each of their succeeding fights. They should be pitted against fighters of different styles so they can learn to adjust independently inside the ring.

Another important fact that must be considered is to let the best Filipino fighters fight each other. One of the main reasons that many young prospects from the Philippines have not attained the success once envisioned for them is the lack of quality of opponents in their resume. How can one maximize his potential when he doesn’t fight the best? Today it’s rare for a Filipino fighter to fight another Filipino fighter of equal talent.

You will never see a Bernabe Concepcion vs. Rey Bautista because their handlers want to build them up and doesn’t want them to face another high profile Filipino prospect because it might hinder them from getting a chance to fight abroad. In the short term, a greater number of hyped up prospect will receive the chance to be fight abroad and in front of a wider audience, but if they keep achieving only a level of mediocrity, the interest from promoters abroad will soon subside and Filipino boxers might fall again into obscurity especially after Pacquiao retires.

Author: Oliver Suarez

Source: boxing.fighthype.com