From Cebu City, we receive word from good friend Tony Aldeguer of ALA Promotions of an upcoming explosive fight between the ?fiery, frightful and ferocious? Luis Melendez of Colombia and former World Boxing Organization Oriental (WBO) bantamweight champion Michael Domingo on May 23 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
Aldeguer says that ALA Promotions will collaborate with ABS-CBN to bring to Philippine shores the much-awaited showdown that has captured boxing aficionados? interest not seen since the classic battle between the now-retired Z. Gorres and the Australian-born Armenian, Victor Darchinyan in the Pacific ballroom of the same venue.
It will be recalled that the rugged Melendez, who sports a fearsome 21 knockouts out of 26 wins, achieved ?notoriety and animosity? when he sent the well-liked Gorres for emergency neurosurgery in November last year at the University Medical Center in Las Vegas. Aldeguer recalls that it took only a single lethal blow (a few seconds before the final bell) to end the promising career of Gorres who was regarded as the next Filipino world champion.
Aldeguer says Martin Valdez Melendez?s trainer claimed his fighter was cheated when the time was cut short by a minute after the Colombian hurt and floored Gorres in the last round. ALA Promotions says Melendez has fought the best in the world and should also be remembered for his closely fought battle with WBO super flyweight champion Fernando Montiel whom the Colombian knocked down in the early rounds in an unsuccessful bid to wrest the title from the Mexican.
According to Aldeguer, when asked to assess the chances of his stablemate Domingo (who has fought in a boxing promotion in the first district of Quezon City that Aldeguer put together with Councilor Joseph Juico), Gorres warned that ?(Domingo) should not make the same mistake I (committed). I relaxed my defense believing I was (way) ahead on points. You cannot do that with Melendez. He is too dangerous.?
Aldeguer says that Domingo regards the fight with Melendez as ?personal.? Domingo says that the fight is a very emotional one for him. ?I cried when I learned what happened to Gorres. I am dedicating this fight to him?, adds Domingo.
The fight card will also feature Jimrex Jaca (29-6-3, 14 KOs) who will attempt a second successful comeback under ALA Promotions when he faces James Kimori (15-3, 11 KOs) of Kenya. Reservations for tickets are being accepted at 032-236 4611.
* * *
Martin Rogers of Yahoo! Sports is right: ?(Floyd) Mayweather?s points victory over Shane Mosley at the MGM Grand Arena on Saturday night (Sunday morning in Manila) was a masterful display of technical boxing and the work of a brilliant athlete at his peak. And it was boring as hell.?
Although boring because it was one-sided, I watched with admiration as Mayweather imposed his will on Mosley and methodically picked him apart from the third round onward. The 38-year old Mosley had Mayweather in trouble in the second round, the only round, I thought Mosley won. It seemed to me that Mayweather?s ego may have been pricked by the solid shots unleashed by Mosley prompting the loquacious Mayweather to do an ?un-Mayweather? act ? to lock the arms of Mosley in a clinch as Mayweather cleared his head of cobwebs.
After the uneventful fight, boxing is again in search of the fight that will inflame the hearts and minds of both the boxing aficionado and the mere observer. And everyone seems to be looking at the direction of Manny Pacquiao who failed to make it to GMA 7 to serve as a commentator to the local broadcast of the fight. The explanation given was that Pacquiao was too tired from the labors of his other interest in life: electoral politics. Pacquiao had, according to The STAR?s Abac Cordero, gone home late from his political sorties and caucuses and was not in any position to honor what may have been a commitment to the network and the public. Just goes to show that multi-tasking does have its limits.
Let?s see how things develop: right after the bout, Mayweather announced that he was ready to fight Pacquiao if the latter agrees to the blood testing protocol that he insists on. Pacquiao, it is said, is not bothered by Mayweather?s requirements but he needs to consult his family about the wisdom of continuing a career that has so far been so good to him and his loved ones.
* * *
My eldest brother Sonny who took up boxing lessons with me under Cely Villanueva, father of my sparring partner, Anthony, in the late 50s says, ?I can still recall the smell of the massage lotion and smell of sweat of the gym (Philippine Boxing Association) when we?d go there.? Those were the days.
