Triumphant homecoming for Donaire and Viloria.

The Philippines' finest: IBF Flyweight Champion Nonito Donaire Jr. scored
a victory against Mexican-American Raul Martinez.
(Yahoo! Sports/AP)

I wasn't sure about watching the boxing match last Sunday but since I've already started catching up with the sport, why not. Glad I made the right decision. True enough, it didn't disappoint. The good thing about it, I didn't have to spend a single centavo to watch the fight. Thank goodness it was aired on free TV. It was sort of "live" but it's all good. I'm not very knowledgeable nor an expert in boxing, I just enjoy watching it that's all.

Floored @ 8.

Didn't catch the other under-card matches but this particular bout was just amazing. Sonny Boy Jaro, one of the new breed of fighters in the Philippines, floored his opponent (not sure if he's Mexican) in 8 measly seconds of the first round. That has got to be one of the quickest fights I've ever seen in my life. I'm not certain if it was a title match but nevertheless that match is clearly one for the books.

Man on a mission.

Fil-am Brian "The Hawaiian Punch" Viloria got his eyes set on one thing: regaining the IBF Light Flyweight Championship from Mexican Ulises Solis. And that's exactly what he did but clearly, he knows it won't be an easy one at that. Known as "the Filipino Executioner", Ulises Solis seemed like he had an advantage over Viloria, or so he thought. The moniker given to him would soon be blemished, nay, erased by "The Hawaiian Punch" on Philippine soil.

Mexican resilience.

The first 3 rounds looked like it favored Solis but it was back and forth the rest of the way. Then the 5th or 6th round was the turning point of the match (I think) Solis was the receipient of a Viloria left hook (or was it a straight) thus cutting his right eye brow. Half of his (Solis') face was already scarlet red. Surprisingly, Viloria got minor damages despite taking most of the Mexican's killer jabs.

Dude wouldn't go down that easily. The blow on Solis made him even tougher. The fight would soon become tougher. Solis' resiliency would soon take it's toll in the 11th round.

Hawaiian Punch.

The fight was certainly heating up. It was already round 11, seemed like both fighters already gave it all until Brian Viloria saw an opening that would end the Mexican's misery. Viloria avoided Solis' desperation left hook then "The Filipino Executioner" was decked with a beautifully executed right straight punch. Lights out, it's all over. Brian Viloria wins the IBF Light Flyweight title.

Hitting the canvass: Fil-am Brian Viloria KO'd Mexican Ulises Solis
to reclaim the IBF Light Flyweight crown.
(Yahoo! Sports/AP)

A redemption indeed for Viloria in his struggling boxing career. He's now back on top of the mountain. It was his best fight to date. What a way to winning a title match on your home turf. The midcard fight looked it was the main event. A show-stealer, literally. Fans at the Araneta Coliseum who payed for the tickets in the fight got their money's worth.

The Donaire-Martinez fight was next.

Homecourt advantage.

The edge was on the defending IBF Flyweight champ Nonito Donaire Jr. obviously. Other than the fight being in the Philippines, the height difference and reach favored "The Filipino Flash" over Mexican-American Raul Martinez. The only advantage Martinez has is that he's undefeated with a 24-0 record while Donaire is 21-1.

Streak on the line.

With Martinez's unblemished record in jeopardy, there's a lot of pressure on him in winning a title match. Everything he does has to be consistent. Scoring a huge upset in Manila could be a confidence booster but a tarnished win-loss card is a different story.

Jitters.

I believe this is Donaire's first ever fight here in the Philippines (I may be wrong on this). Fighting front of your homecrowd can be tough. Expectations are quite high and I don't blame him from getting butterflies in his stomach, so to speak.

A short fight.

I expected the fight to be as long as Viloria's which is also a 12-rounder. Donaire was dominant on Martinez right from the start. I noticed that the Mexican-American fighter was losing his footwork everytime he tries to dodge Donaire's punches. I figured something was wrong and dude could go down anytime. Martinez actually went down twice in the first round. He went down the third time, I believe in the 2nd round.



Martinez's legs looked wobbly in the 3rd round. It could be nap time for him soon. Donaire was ready to go for the kill. He would seal his fate in the 4th round as he floored him with a left uppercut right in the kisser. Referee stops the match. Crowd roars. Donaire successfully defends his IBF title. A great main event.

Fighters on the rise.

Nonito Donaire Jr. and Brian Viloria could be the next Filipino greats in boxing. Both these fighters might even have the same success as Manny Pacquiao. Pacman will soon be hanging up his gloves. They are the Philippines' finest and inspiration to every Filipino. Let's all support their upcoming fights may it be title or non-title matches like we all did for Pacquiao.

Speaking of which, I'm looking forward to the Pacquiao-Hatton fight on May 3 (May 2 in the US). That would be a good slugfest I'm sure.

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!