The law of gravity finally caught up with Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao this year. Fortunately for Philippine boxing, as the PacMan’s career came to a screeching halt, Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. accelerated at break-neck speed.

Overall, the country is closing the year on a winning note with four world champions. Donaire heads the list as WBO super bantamweight king, followed by WBA-WBO flyweight titlist Brian Viloria, IBF light flyweight champ Johnriel Casimero and WBO light flyweight counterpart Donnie Nietes. They accounted for nine title fight victories, with Donaire going unbeaten in four, Viloria in two, Casimero in two and Nietes in one.

Donaire, 30, enjoyed a phenomenal year. In February, he captured his fourth division crown by decisioning Puerto Rican Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. for the WBO super bantamweight (122 pounds) title. On July 7, Donaire unified the WBO and IBF belts by breaking the jaw of South African Jeffrey Mathebula in a lopsided decision win. On October 13, Donaire gave up the IBF crown but still defended the WBO belt with a methodical ninth round knockout of Japanese Toshiaki Nishioka. Donaire ended the year by bamboozling Mexican Jorge Arce in three rounds on December 15 for a career-high $1-million purse.

Viloria also provided fireworks with two impressive wins. On May 13, the “Hawaian Punch” defended the WBO flyweight crown for the second time by stopping Mexican Omar Nino Romero in nine rounds. On November 17, Viloria walked the tightrope before stopping Mexican Hernan “Tyson” Marquez in 10 rounds for the combined WBO-WBA flyweight belts. The 32-year-old Viloria is enjoying a career revival, having won his last six fights since suffering a traumatic knockout loss to Carlos Tamara in 2010.

Casimero and Nietes found themselves sharing the light flyweight (108 pounds) throne. Casimero captured the interim IBF belt in February by stopping Luis Lazarte in 10 rounds in Argentina. A pro-Lazarte crowd went nuts after the fight and threw debris into the ring, spoiling Casimero’s celebration. Lazarte, who repeatedly fouled Casimero with head-butts, low blows, and bit him twice, was banned for life by the IBF after the match. Casimero was subsequently recognized as regular IBF champion and he successfully defended the hardware by hacking out a split decision over Mexican Pedro Guevara on August 4.

Nietes, 31-1 with 17 knockouts, was a disappointment throughout the year. He only remained WBO champ because he hardly fought. Nietes made only one successful defense, a lukewarm decision win over Felipe Salguero on June 2.

Journeyman Sonny Boy Jaro, 34-11, 24 knockouts, became boxing’s latest Cinderella Man on March 2, when knocked out dominant Thai champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam in six rounds for the WBC flyweight strap. While his victory made for a fairy-tale story, Jaro’s reign did not have a happy ending as he was dethroned just four months later by Japanese Toshiyuki Igarashi.

Jaro’s win contributed to the total of 10 victories posted in title fights by Filipino pugs this year, but he also added to the seven title-fight losses Philippine boxing suffered. In addition to Jaro, those who ended up biting the dust in title fights were Jonathan Taconing, who was stopped in five rounds by WBC light flyweight champ Kompayak Porpramook on May 3; Pacquiao, who yielded his WBO welterweight title to Timothy Bradley on a disputed decision on June 9; Sylvester Lopez, who dropped a decision to WBC super flyweight titlist Yota Sato on July 8; AJ Banal, who was halted in 9 rounds by Pungluang Sor Singyu for the vacant WBO bantamweight crown on October 20; Michael Farenas, who dropped a decision to Yuriokis Gamboa on December 8 for the interim WBA super featherweight belt; and Mercito Gesta, who was humiliated in 12 rounds by IBF lightweight champ Miguel Vazquez on December 8.

Then again, the hardest defeat to swallow came in a non-title fight involving Pacquiao. Figuring in his fourth meeting with Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez on December 8, Pacquiao was brutally knocked out in six rounds. The loss snapped Pacquiao’s 15-bout winning streak and placed his career in limbo. Fortunately for Philippine boxing, Donaire demolished Arce a week later and provided the sport with a huge shot in the arm.

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For comments, the writer can be reached at atty_eduardo @yahoo.com.