Angel Acosta Finally gets Opponent for his Title Defense
World Boxing Organization Light Flyweight World champion Angel "Tito" Acosta finally has an opponent for his first title defense on June 16th in his hometown at Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot, Hato Rey Puerto Rico. Acosta will face WBO rated no.12 Carlos Buitrago of Nicaragua.
Knock out artist Angel Acosta (17-1,17) who is fighting under Miguel Cotto Promotions won the title after stopping Mexican Juan Alejo by the way of tenth round TKO. Angel Acosta was originally scheduled to make his first defense on April 7 at the Coliseum of Puerto Rico, José Miguel Agrelot against number one contender Ryuji Hara but the Japanese challenger was injured that force him to pull out of the title fight. At that time Miguel Cotto Promotions had tried to salvage the fight card but the substitute challenger Filipino Merlito Sabillo is not able to travel to Puerto Rico due to visa problem. The problems on Acosta's opponent has forced Miguel Cotto Promotions to rescheduled to fight with a different opponent.
Carlos "Chocorroncito" Buitrago (30-3-1,17) is a former 105 lbs. interim WBO World champion and a four-time world title challenger. He has (0-3-1) wins-loss-draw record in world title fights including a draw with Merlito Sabillo in 2013 and two losses against Thammanooon Niyomtrong in 2014 and 2016.
WBO orders Donnie Nietes - Aston Palicte for the Vacant Title
Another all Filipino World Championship fight is on the line after WBO orders number one rated Donnie Nietes and rated number two Aston Palicte to negotiate for the vacant WBO World Super Flyweight Title. The WBO title became vacant after recent champion Naoya Inoue (15-0,13) vacated the title to move up in the bantamweight and fight for another world title.
According to the letter from WBO (World Boxing Organization) World Championship Committee chairman Luis Batista Salas that was sent to ALA Promotions (Nietes' Promoter) and Roy Jones Jr Boxing Promotions (Palicte's promoter), both sides have ten days to negotiate an agreement for the vacant title.
Please be advised the parties have ten days to negotiate an agreement for the Vacant WBO World Jr. Bantamweight Championship bout between Donnie Nietes vs. Aston Palicte. If an accord is not reached within the time frame stated herein, a Purse Bid will be ordered. said Salas
The WBO also issued an agreement that the winner of the fight will face the mandatory challenger designated by them within 90 days.
The WBO Championship Committee ordered this Purse Bid with the provision that the winner of the contest must face the Mandatory Challenger designated by the Championship Committee within 90 days from the date of the bout.
Aston Palicte (24-2,20) who is a long time world contender finally will get fight for the world title sooner but his quest to become a world champion will not be easy for him. Palicte will face his countryman Donnie "Ahas" Nietes (41-1-4,23) who is chasing for his fourth divisional world title.
Aston Palicte has all the advantage in this fight. He is taller standing 5'7" compares to 5'3" Nietes, He is also six years younger compares to 35-year-old Nietes. The biggest factor of this fight is the weight class which is the natural weight class of Palicte while Nietes is originally coming from minimum weight division (105 pounds) but also won world titles at light flyweight (108 pounds) and flyweight (112 pounds) divisions. Donnie Nietes' only advantage is his experience in world title fights.
In another all Filipino World Title fight, IBF Super Flyweight world champion Jerwin Ancajas is scheduled to face Jonas Sultan on May 26 (May 27 in the Philippines) in Fresno California.
Chris Tiu Earns Player of the Week Plum
If you still have any doubts as to whether or not Chris Tiu still belongs to a PBA that has been dominated by big men, and younger and flashier guards, that's the beauty of it because despite being at the age of 32 years old, Chris Tiu still belongs to the PBA and he doesn't even need to score 20 points or more to do that.What Chris Tiu exceptionally does to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, his leadership skills, has been one of the things that are keeping the Elasto Painters competitive, to say the least. And that leadership has, in fact, led to the Elasto Painters opening the PBA Commissioner's Cup still with an unblemished record at 2-0.
Thanks to Rain or Shine's blazing start to the mid-season conference, Chris Tiu earned the Player of the Week plum for the first week of the conference. Even though the numbers weren't as flashy as they were used to be when Chris Tiu was the star player of the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles, still it's worthy to take note that Chris Tiu's consistency is something that we should admire about.
Stellar Numbers Indeed
In those two games, the former Gilas Pilipinas playmaker averaged 14 points, 6 assists, and 3 rebounds. Against the Alaska Aces in a game that went to an overtime period, Chris Tiu had 18 points, 6 assists and 3 rebounds to back the hulking effort of import, Reggie Johnson which led to the 109-103 victory over Calvin Abueva and company.
In their next game against the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings- a game which saw Tim Cone later apologized to the fans for what he called was a horrible performance from the Gin Kings, Chris Tiu came through with 10 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists while playing for 20 minutes off the bench.
Conclusion
Chris Tiu maybe 32 years old already but that doesn't mean he can no longer contribute to his team. Sure, there are many younger and faster guards who can easily slash their way towards the basket but when it comes to leadership, when it comes to consistency, when it comes to maintaining competitiveness even at an old age, Chris Tiu still has it. And he can still produce stellar numbers given the minutes. That's why he remains as one of the most beloved players in the PBA right now (also because he's one of the good-looking guys in the PBA). That's why he has earned the first Player of the Week plum this conference.
