ANY doubts on whether Cebu is the boxing meccah of the Philippines was erased last Saturday when a mamoth crowd showed up for the Nonite Donaire Jr. vs. Zsolt Bedak fight at the Cebu City Sports Center.
If you take one look at the grandstand, which had the cheapest seats, is was so full, fuller than the grandstand for the Azkals matches we hosted.
They sure got their money’s worth though, with the Mark Magsayo and Chris Avalos fight alone that was one of the best fights I’ve witnessed. You have a 20-year-old kid, finding that resolve to recover from a knockdown to score a stoppage win of his own, and against foe who had challenged for a world title to boot.
I have a feeling that the next boxing event that will be hosted at the Cebu City Sports Center will be one involving a title fight for Kid Magnifico. He’s no longer a kid, I know, he transformed into a man against Avalos; but I like to call him Kid Magnifico as a salute to that moment, when he showed his heart, will and courage in turning the fight around.
There’s really a huge difference between events at the prim and proper Waterfront Hotel and places like the Cebu City Sports Center, where boxing fans who can’t otherwise afford to go to the hotel venues can go. Crowd interaction was at an all-time high, and thankfully, there was minimal heckling.
Except for that funny dude who kept singing ?Bayang Magiliw? during the lull of the Paul Fleming vs. Miguel Gonzalez fight, which was a bit of a downer after the Avalos vs. Magsayo contest.
Earlier this year, there were plans to have Donnie Nietes next title defense at the CCSC but that has been moved to Nietes hometown in Bacolod, which is apt. Nietes deserves a fight in front of his hometown, where he is worshipped as a hero and a sports icon.
ALA Promotions has a series of events lined up for the rest of the year, so it would be awhile for another boxing event to be hosted at the CCSC. But because of last Saturday’s success, I sure can’t wait for the next one.
Top Rank has seen how passionate the fans are, showing up enmasse even four hours before the main event, something which surprised Top Rank’s Brad Jacobs.
If last Saturday was a test for future Top Rank events, Cebu just aced it, thanks to ALA, ABS-CBN and most importantly, the Cebuano boxing fans, and yes that guy who sang Bayang Magiliw included.
