When Czar Amonsot first fought Indonesian Simon ButarButar in Jakarta in May 2005, the Boholano fighter felt he was still a bit wet behind the ears and was thus caught unaware as he was dealt his first and only loss in his young career via 5th round TKO.
In September of 2006 he had already gained quite a good measure of experience including training with the celebrated Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Gym and two won fights in Las Vegas. He then had an impressive record of 17 wins (10 KO’s), 1 loss and 1 draw, the only blot coming from that forgetful night in Indonesia.
He was champing at the bit when the opportunity presented itself again that September especially because he was one of the fair-haired boys of the famed ALA Gym of Cebu. Its patriarch,Tony Aldeguer, was confident that together with such prot?g?s as Boom-Boom Bautista, Z Gorres, AJ “Bazooka” Banal et al, Amonsot could make waves in the international fistic scene.
The world was at Czar’s feet. Little did he know it was to come crashing down loudly in the first 47 seconds of the fight.
Czar Amonsot, WBO Asia Pacific Super Featherweight Champion, ran into a wicked right from the Indonesian challenger and hit the deck with a loud thud. He gamely tried to get up but instead wobbled across the ring clearly out of it and could not gain his footing despite being held up by referee Bruce McTavish.
It was a sad sight indeed. What made it even sadder was it might as well have been a self-inflicted shot that felled him. A mere two weeks before the fight, Amonsot was caught drinking alcoholic beverages and smoking, two of the most vile violations one could commit in the ALA Boxing Gym, or any self-respecting gym for that matter.
He was immediately ejected from quarters and was not allowed to wear the official ALA uniform come fight night. Worse, he came in 5 lbs overweight and was stripped of his title even before the fight.
Still, he came in cocky that fateful evening in Tagbilaran but had to be helped down in a daze and in disgrace just a few moments later. It was heart-tugging to watch his mother wailing uncontrollably at ringside at the misfortune brought about by her own son’s juvenile folly.
The criticism that followed was vicious. It could not be fathomed how someone who was given all the opportunities could chuck it all away in such an unthinkable manner. Amonsot, all of 21 years old was considered by many as a has-been not even worthy of further discussion.
Someone once said:” Opportunity knocks only once, but temptation leans on the doorbell.” Amonsot rushed to answer it and was now to pay the prohibitive price.
But it seems we may have sold the guy short. Rather than sulk and bemoan his tragic mistake, Amonsot set to right himself and went on a drastic lifestyle change.
He did the transformation by himself before going back to Tony Aldeguer to ask for forgiveness and a second chance. Although a strict disciplinarian who puts adherence to rules at the top shelf of priorities, Aldeguer also prides himself in being perceptive to the sincerity of people he deals with.
He has given Amonsot the proverbial second chance, under the management of Aldeguer’s son, Michael. I had a chance to speak with the latter yesterday, and he was ecstatic at the new Czar.
“He has never been more focused, disciplined and committed in his training. And providentially, another big opportunity has come his way with a world championship fight”, Michael enthused.
In less than a month’s time (July 21), Amonsot will challenge for the WBO Lightweight crown against interim champion Michael Katsidis of Australia who totes a sensational 22-0 (20 KO’s) record. The fight is in the undercard of the big Bernard Hopkins-Winky Wright match at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas.
Valuable lessons have been learned. Now it’s time to use that knowledge to blot out the mistakes of the past.
He is faced with a daunting task, but bolstered by that painful experience of last year, it is hoped that the Czar of Bohol will be better armed for this encounter and will home that elusive world crown.
Everyone deserves a second chance but not everyone gets it. Amonsot realizes this. He should be all the better for it.
