Since Smart is a major sponsor of the Manny Pacquiao-Fahsan 3-K Battery duel on Dec. 11, there?s talk that one of the telecommunications giant?s popular endorsers will rock the Fort as the ring announcer for the scheduled 12-rounder.
If you ask me, it sounds like a smart idea.
New Jersey promoter Murad Muhammad initially toyed with the thought of bringing in Michael Buffer who patented the rabble-rousing battlecry “Let?s Get Ready To Rumble” for the job. But it didn?t seem like the smart thing to do.
Firstly, Buffer is an overpriced commodity. He probably wouldn?t agree to fly 10,000 miles to the Philippines unless his wife comes along and they only ride first class. Then there?s the matter of paying his fee which is likely to be at least $10,000. If you add up board and lodging costs, Buffer will set back the promoters by over P1 Million.
Obviously, it?s not worth paying that kind of money for a ring announcer who has difficulty pronouncing Pacquiao. Fans will buy tickets to watch Pacquiao fight whether or not Buffer is the ring announcer so what?s the use of throwing good money for a bad idea?
Secondly, it makes more sense to draft a Smart endorser with stage presence. The name that comes to mind is Martin Nievera. I think he?ll make an excellent ring announcer. Imagine Martin in a tux and with his booming voice, he?ll bring the house, or the Fort, down. Besides, the Madman is a sports buff. I remember he used to be a huge Ginebra fan in the Philippine Basketball Association. I?m sure if Martin had the time, he?d troop over to the Big Dome and watch the likes of Mark (The Spark) Caguioa, Eric Menk, Romel (The General) Adducul and Jay-Jay (The Fast) Helterbrand do their thing every game.
I?ll bet my last peso Martin?s a big Pacquiao fan, too. Who isn?t?
But if Martin isn?t available, what about Robin Padilla? He?s also a Smart endorser. And I hear Manny and Robin are co-hosting a reality boxing TV show to be aired next year.
The thing about Robin is he?s a man of few words because he?s a man of action. I?m not sure if he?ll fit the bill as a ring announcer. The job suits the Madman a lot more.
A source said Ted Lerner, an American who lives here, is applying for the job. Ted is a veteran ring announcer who called Pacquiao?s title defense against Fahprakorb Rakkiat Gym in Davao two years ago. He does ringside commentary on Marty Elorde?s TV show “Ringside.”
The late Smokin? Joe Cantada appeared in a cameo role as a ring announcer for the Thrilla In Manila between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier at the Big Dome in 1975. He was perfect as a boxing host. Smokin? Joe had the voice, the flair for drama, the gait, the stage presence and the personality. Buffer is nothing compared to Smokin? Joe.
Menny Gaudinez and Joe Climaco used to be popular ring announcers in past decades. Menny?s trademark was overenunciating the word “pounds” when he announced the fighters? weights. The late Maning Soriano, a former fighter, was another popular ring announcer.
The top Filipino ring announcers today are Boy Villanera and Rico Navarro. Boy lives in Binan and does a lot of Metro Manila fights while Navarro is a fixture in big Cebu cards.
As for Pacquiao, he?s busy training in Davao. Three sparmates are alternating in the ring with Pacquiao. His local trainer Buboy Fernandez is back from the US so he?s taking charge of supervising the workouts until Freddie Roach arrives next week.
But what?s this I read in the papers the other day that Manny is participating in a billiards tournament a week before the Fahsan match? I hope that?s not true. Manny?s focus must be 100 percent on boxing with the Fahsan bout fast approaching. There will be time for billiards after the fight which is crucial because it?s Pacquiao?s final tuneup for the Juan Manuel Marquez rematch in February.
It?s difficult to be Pacquiao because he?s forever in the center of a tug of war. Brand managers are queuing to sign him up as an endorser. TV and move producers know he?s a hot draw. There are offers to make easy money?certainly easier than trading punches in the ring?promoting products, showing up for events and appearing on TV. Pacquiao?s passion for billiards is another factor.
Pacquiao must realize he wouldn?t be what he is if not for boxing. So when it?s time to focus on boxing, he must be uncompromising in his concentration. He?s a national hero so the pressure to excel as a champion weighs heavily on his shoulders. It?s a responsibility that goes with being Manny Pacquiao.
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