The year that is about to give way to a new one wasn’t as bad as the previous one as far as Philippine boxing is concerned.

The year 2024 actually looked a lot better than 2023.

Consider this:

Melvin Jerusalem became the World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight champion by upsetting Japanese Yudai Shigeoka last March in Nagoya.

His good fortune remained with him until December after receiving a plaque from the WBC during the boxing body’s annual convention in Hamburg, Germany.

The WBC’s show of support also stemmed from his shockingly easy mandatory defense against Mexican Luis Castillo last September in Mandaluyong City.

It was also this year when another upset rocked Japan when Pedro Taduran beat up Yudai’s more accomplished brother Ginjiro to take the International Boxing Federation minimumweight jewels in late-July in Otsu City.

The victory was so convincing that it is undoubtedly the biggest upset win by a Filipino fighter this year.

While the year wasn’t a great one on top of the ring for Manny Pacquiao, his formal election in the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York in early December.

The enshrinement will take place in the first week of June 2025, making the incoming year something to look forward to.

Also in 2025, the 50th commemoration of the epic Tnrilla in Manila starring Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier happens on 4 October.

Pacquiao is leading the way in this momentous event as he is targeting the staging of a triple world title fight featuring the country’s top punchers.

Despite the botched bids of Jerwin Ancajas and Dave Apolinario in their respective world title bids, these setbacks were forgotten going into the final stretch when the top world contenders solidified their status by posting wins.

Mark Magsayo and Marlon Tapales as well as Carl Jammes Martin kept their positions intact.

Although he registered a smashing knockout win in Yokohama, three-division champion John Riel Casimero received a costly one-year ban in Japan for coming in overweight against Saul Sanchez.

Instead of getting a jolt in the ratings, Casimero dropped in the monthly ratings because of Japan’s decision to suspend him for 12 months.

Still, Jerusalem and Taduran’s world title wins and Pacquiao’s looming induction were enough to stop critics from saying that Philippine boxing is reeling on the ropes.

Just don’t tell Jerusalem and Taduran that.