EVER since the day the diminutive Pancho Villa conquered America and came home with the world flyweight boxing crown, every Filipino fighter has always looked at the proverbial land of milk and honey as the ultimate destination to achieve their dream of fame and fortune.
Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde won the world junior lightweight title by knocking out Harold Gomes in California while Manny Pacquiao?s emergence from obscurity to become the best fighter in the world pound-for-pound was ushered by his fight against Lehnoholo Ledwaba for the world featherweight title.
Talk about fights in America and the eyes of the every Filipino fighter would twinkle.
This was what I saw in the eyes of Philippine bantamweight champion Glenn Porras when he was told that my new boxing partner, Vincent Scolpino, better known as the New Jersey-based manager of former Pacquiao opponent Joshua Clottey, was able to get a promotional contract for him from Gary Shaw Boxing Promotions.
Porras, 25, a relentless fighter who will certainly entertain American boxing fans by his fighting style, will appear in his first bout in the US on September 30 at the Chumash Resort and Casino in Sta. Inez, California.
This is a big break for the unschooled young boxer from M?lang, North Cotabato who has long dreamed of making a name in professional boxing.
Porras will not be the only boxer from Mindanao who will get the chance of displaying his talent in America.
Former World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia Pacific bantamweight champion Jundy Maraon, who was out of the ring for two years because of a hand injury, has also been signed up by Vinny Scolpino in a business advisor contract.
Maraon, 26, a southpaw like Porras, is undefeated in 14 professional fights with 10 KOs and 1 draw.
Both Porras and Maraon will be handled by trainer Nonito Donaire Sr. and will be based in San Leandro, California where they will train alongside Glenn Donaire, older brother of world bantamweight champion Nonito, Jr.
The break that Vinny Scolpino is giving these two young fighters from Mindanao will certainly inspire other upcoming boxers and encourage them to train harder.
