Top Filipino fighters lead WBC ratings

Fourteen Filipino fighters, including six former world champions, made the grade in the latest ratings released by the Mexico City-based World Boxing Council.

Heading the roster are a pair of four-division titleholders in Nonito Donaire and Donnie Nietes while the other ex-world champs who joined them are Mark Magsayo, John Riel Casimero, Pedro Taduran and Rene Mark Cuarto.

Casimero, a three-division titlist, is No. 6 while Jammes Carl Martin is No. 14 in the super-bantam class.

Donaire is rated No. 1 in the bantamweight class with Reymart Gaballo (No. 3) and Vincent Astrolabio (No. 5) also making the 118-lb list.

Nietes is sixth in the super-fly division while Jay-R Raquinel is eighth while dave Apolinario is the lone Filipino bet at fly at No. 14.

At light-fly, Joey Canoy is No. 11 while at strawweight (minimumweight) there are four: Garen Diagan (No. 3), Taduran (No. 4), Cuarto No. 14) and Lito Dante (No. 15).