Mark F. Villanueva

By Mark F. Villanueva Other things could have happened at the eighth round that ended in a stoppage. Amidst that hellfire targeted at him, the defending WBO Featherweight World Champion could have used the ropes and shelled himself for a defensive cover, moved around the ring to buy him more time to clear his head, or, he could have realized in a flash that it was the best … [Read more...] about Orlando Salido: A Blue Collar King

By Mark F. Villanueva Breaching the depths of accepted lows one time a friend asked me how I cope, and I said “God loves a fighter. He knows how tough I am; that I always put up a fight, and that I don’t ever think of breaking as much as I’m able to.” … [Read more...] about Erik Morales: Gotta Love The Stubborn Mexican

By Mark F. Villanueva People come and go, yet it’s not in the leaving itself that empties you, but the realization that those who used to believe in you and with whom you have drawn strength from have actually lost faith in you. That they have taken that one final step to drift away cracks you lonely like a dried up riverbed under a glaring sun, and when that happens time … [Read more...] about Zab Judah: Keep The Faith

By Mark F. Villanueva Sometimes I feel like Boxing is all I have, and now life is a brawler. So I sat back all alone to view it all from a distance. I took my time and watched the sun beam from a break in the clouds up ahead that spilled a golden sheath across the running river that passed through an arc bridge. Somehow it evoked a literary description of the sea glimmering … [Read more...] about Donaire’s Back Up and Rios’ Victory

By Mark F. Villanueva When Fernando Montiel’s rude awakening came he was laying on his back with both hands up as if in surrender, except he was actually trying to stand back up and fight. He had just been hit by a flash insight by way of a blazing left hook to the chin that caused him to crumble involuntarily to the canvas. He zigzagged toward the ropes to make a last stand … [Read more...] about It’s Nonito Donaire’s Time

By Mark F. Villanueva If Nicaraguan “El Matador” Ricardo Mayorga was as good in boxing as in hyping up fights there’d be a very good chance he’d still be a world champion up to this day. Known to some as being the craziest man in the sport of boxing, he is also credited for luring Oscar Dela Hoya out from a near two year inactivity when he extended his trash-talking game … [Read more...] about Ricardo Mayorga: Got A Light?

By Mark F. Villanueva When the time comes for you to step in you know you are in it on your own and all the people you trust for guidance are backed up behind you knowing what you must do once you get into that sacred place must be done by you and you alone. Nobody does the fighting for you. You step inside with the knowledge that one can only be as strong as the values upon … [Read more...] about Life And Boxing: A Look Into Donaire Jr. Versus Montiel

By Mark F. Villanueva The combination of two undefeated boxers mixed up in the same ring is a rarity these days. It’s as if that breed of fighter that is willing to risk all- that glittering unblemished record accumulated throughout their careers in the pursuit of a higher honor is extinct or as long gone as the golden years of the sport. I personally do not think Boxing … [Read more...] about The Super Fight

By Mark F. Villanueva At thirty nine years of age there seems to be no indication yet that “Sugar” Shane Mosley plans to take it slow in terms of pursuing his boxing career and fighting the big fights. With an amassed record total of 54 professional bouts since 1993 it is amazing how Mosley, who used to be an undefeated lightweight champion of the world, is able to maintain … [Read more...] about Evaluating “Sugar” Shane Mosley

By Mark F. Villanueva When promising jockey Stathi Katsidis died last Oct. 19, 2010 of an undetermined cause many believed the upcoming fight between his younger brother, Michael Katsidis and Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez was going to be canceled, or at least most would have canceled it had they been in his shoes undergoing such a tragic loss within the family. But “Mick” … [Read more...] about Michael Katsidis: A True Warrior to A Fault

By Mark F.Villanueva Almost in the same breadth that in this modern day and age presidents can govern over nations from an aircraft thousands of feet above the air Manny Pacquiao’s job as a congressman of the province of Saranggani, Philippines does not cease the moment he steps out of his office, nor is it suspended when he travels from one place to another for business or … [Read more...] about Two Bishops Can’t Checkmate The King

By Mark F. Villanueva At some point in that long, arduous and deadly twelve round stretch the fight should have been stopped but it kept rolling. I wanted to hear what Coach Robert Garcia was saying in his corner but the cameras were too far to capture his words clearly and the din of the crowd was peaking. His fighter had not won a single round even at his most conditioned … [Read more...] about Manny Pacquiao vs. Antonio Margarito: MERCY IN THE RING