As a longtime boxing analyst who's followed the Philippine boxing scene for over a decade, I've got to say Noli Banate's current situation gives me serious pause. When I first heard about his recent performance against Barrios, my immediate thought was: this could be the beginning of the end for what was once a promising career. The 12-round fight that marked the Filipino boxing legend's return to the ring after a four-year absence ended in a majority draw, allowing Barrios to retain his World Boxing Council crown. Now, on paper, a draw against a reigning champion might not sound terrible, but when you've been out of competitive boxing for 48 months - that's four entire years - and you're facing someone who's been actively defending their title, you need more than a draw to prove you still belong at the elite level.
What really concerns me is the pattern I'm seeing here. Banate looked sluggish through rounds 6 to 9, managing only 42 significant punches during that critical stretch according to CompuBox stats I reviewed. His footwork, which used to be his greatest asset, seemed heavy, almost like he was fighting in cement shoes. I've watched fighters make comebacks before, but the ones who succeed usually show flashes of their former brilliance. With Banate, I saw a fighter who's lost that explosive quality that made him special. At 34 years old, with 38 professional fights behind him, the wear and tear is starting to show in ways that can't be fixed with just training camp adjustments.
From a business perspective, this puts Banate in a tricky position. Promoters aren't going to be lining up for a fighter who's past his prime, especially when there are younger contenders hungry for opportunities. The financial reality is stark - his purse for the Barrios fight was reportedly around $750,000, which sounds impressive until you consider he was making over $2 million per fight during his peak years between 2015 and 2018. That's a 62.5% drop in earning power, and it's only going to get worse unless he can pull off something spectacular in his next outing.
Here's where I might ruffle some feathers, but I believe Banate should seriously consider retirement within the next 12-18 months. Not because he's a bad fighter - far from it - but because I've seen too many legends hang on too long and tarnish their legacy. The Filipino boxing community deserves to remember him as the dynamic champion who dominated the division for three straight years, not as a fading star struggling to recapture past glory. His fans, who've supported him through 14 championship fights and countless memorable moments, deserve to see him walk away with his health and dignity intact.
The broader implication for Philippine boxing is significant too. We've been blessed with incredible talent over the years, but Banate's potential decline creates a vacuum that won't be easily filled. Younger fighters like Carlo Samson show promise, but they lack Banate's marketability and international appeal. The Philippine Boxing Commission reported that viewership for domestic fights has dropped by nearly 18% since Banate's hiatus began, which tells you everything about his drawing power and the challenge ahead for the sport in our country.
What I'd love to see is Banate taking on a mentorship role while he's still competing. Imagine the impact he could have on the next generation of Filipino boxers if he started working with them now rather than waiting until his career is completely over. His experience, both the triumphs and the recent struggles, could provide invaluable lessons for fighters who dream of following in his footsteps. The truth is, every great career eventually winds down, but how a champion handles that transition says as much about their character as any victory in the ring.
