THIS SUNDAY May 6, a Filipino boxer challenges for a legitimate world boxing crown in Tokyo. It’s hard-hitting Rodel Mayol of Mandaue City who will try to wrest the crown from Eagle Kyowa, also a power puncher originally from Thailand but now fighting out of Japan. Solar Sports will air the fight on a slightly delayed basis (about 30 minutes delayed) over the Solar Sports channel and IBC-13 starting at 9 p.m.
Talking with Mayol before he left for Tokyo in my radio program “The Scene Around” on Sports Radio, I asked him if he felt the fight would go the distance or would end in stoppage. Although wary about sounding cocky, he said he will try to go for an early knock-out win as he didn’t want to risk losing by hometown decision. (And that’s not an empty threat, he has scored 17 knock-outs in 22 wins, no losses).
Mayol acknowledged that Kyowa boasts of a lethal combination anchored on a right straight. He has seen it several times on tape and a couple of Kyowa fights he has personally seen. The fighter known as “Batang Mandaue” felt he could take the punch of the champion, and said he had been working hard on his stamina. He and trainer Brix Flores have been extra busy the past couple of months, getting up early, hitting the road and then working heavily in the gym and sparring over a hundred rounds going into the last few days before the fight.
He will not have a problem making the weight limit of 105 lbs as he was 110 lbs two weeks before the judgment day. He asks for the prayers of his countrymen and says he wants to win the crown and bring it home to his countrymen.
In the undercard, former WBC flyweight champion Malcolm Tu?acao defends his OPBF Bantamweight belt against local boy Yoshio Kijima. Hope you can catch the fights on television.
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One of the perks of being a broadcaster is being able to travel for various sporting coverages. It’s always a thrill to see different places, observe local culture and scenery and make the acquaintance of various local folk.
In my trip to Bohol last week-end for the “Stars of the Future” boxing coverage, I had the opportunity to see Panglao island for the first time. This island paradise is connected to Tagbilaran by 2 land bridges and is only a 20-minute drive away.
We checked out a new place named “Amarela” which was on a dry run. It is owned by a charming and good-natured couple, Doy and Ludichi Nunag. Basketball die-hards will find their last name familiar as their son, Xavier or “Xavi” played for the U.P. Maroons in the UAAP and was an assistant coach to Ryan Gregorio at Purefoods. Their other son is JV and they have one daughter, the vivacious Bianca.
I met the couple through ABC-5 production staffer Sharleen Tan who was Bianca’s classmate at the Ateneo Communication Arts College. We were invited to be “trial guests” at their tastefully appointed resort which used mostly indigenous materials and the famous Boholano artisans in their construction. The rooms were very comfortable, and the dining area had a majestic view of the sea. Antique furniture, floors, doors, even lattice work and objets d’art give the place a historic, melancholic yet homey flavor.
On separate occasions, they had Eric Altamirano, Ronnie Magsanoc and Tony Boy Espinosa a few days before us.
Doy and Ludichi were classmates at the UST College of Law. Doy went into corporate law with Quisumbing and Torres, a Philippine associate of the international law firm Baker & McKenzie; Ludichi is currently the Clerk of Court of the 2nd Division of the Supreme Court.
Doy retired in 2004 and immediately buckled down to the project of putting up a one-of-a-kind resort in Panglao. Amarela (Portuguese for yellow) boasts of a great beachfront with white sand and a pool with magically warm water even at nighttime, even if it doesn’t have a heater!
One early morning the Nunags invited us to take a boat ride to watch dolphins frolicking in the Bohol Sea and it was a fantastic experience. A few lucky souls even had a whale sighting!
Truly, Panglao is magical. While Boracay is hustle and bustle and hobnobbing with the “in crowd”, Panglao is peace, tranquility and a serious communion with nature.
Plans are definitely afoot for a future trip back to Panglao. And if I had my druthers, no doubt it would be to Amarela.
