Four the road

The country ended the year 2020 with four regular, full-fledged world boxing champions in Manny Pacquiao (WBA welterweight), Jerwin Ancajas (IBF junior bantamweight), John Riel Casimero (WBO bantamweight) and Pedro Taduran (IBF minimumweight). However, of the four world titlists, only two — Casimero and Taduran — actually saw action in the ring.

The dreaded coronavirus literally shut down all boxing activities in March, and professional boxing cards in the United States did not resume until June. Before the lockdown, at least two Filipino boxers figured in a world title fight, albeit with contrasting results.