AFTER BACK-to-back losses at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan, some doomsayers have sent us pessimistic messages saying Filipino boxers are starting to lose and that luck has already run out of our local pugs.
It is true that in a span of a fortnight, promising boxers Rodel Mayol and Jimrex Jaca were both defeated in that fabled boxing venue in Japan. Although the losses were both convincing, they were not one-sided affairs as our boys also had their moments in their respective assignments
Meantime, in the undercard of the Mayol fight, Malcolm Tu?acao won over his Japanese rival in grand style, stopping Yasuo Kijima in 11 rounds to retain the OPBF Bantamweight crown.
In Las Vegas, Nevada, Boholano Czar Amonsot scored an impressive win over Jose Reyes of Puerto Rico, while his stable mate Along Dinoy settled for a draw.
Yesterday, Dondon Sultan, who is one of our heaviest fighters as a welterweight, snared a Pan-Asian Boxing Association championship in far-off Surgut in Russia, knocking out the heretofore unbeaten Russian champion, Anton Solopov in the very first round.
Of course, the most recent celebrated victory was Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista’s high-profile conquest of Nicaraguan Roberto Bonilla in the undercard of the Marco Antonio Barrera-Rocky Juarez card at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, which a lot of boxing fans watched on television last Sunday morning.
Yes, the fact remains that we’ve gotten our share of winners and losers in this sport. And that’s how it’s always been, that’s how it’s always gonna be. One cannot expect perfection in a sport which depends on so many variables as well as human strengths and weaknesses, physical and otherwise.
On several occasions, we have pointed out that boxing in the Philippines has enjoyed an epiphany in recent times. This was occasioned by the popularity and impact of Manny Pacquiao in the world boxing stage. We have urged that we capitalize on the interest borne out of the Pacman phenomenon as this is an opportunity that may not come again in along while.
And so many are now being rewarded with offers not just to fight, but also to train under the very best trainers in the business, foremost of which is Pacquiao’s own corner man, Freddie Roach. Of course, training under the best trainer is no fool-proof assurance that a boxer will win. It just increases his winning capability.
But the truth is, the Filipino boxer is in demand in so many places where boxing is popular. We hear of bouts in Mexico, Japan, Russia, South Africa, and all over Asia top-billing Pinoy boxers. Again, we have to strike while the iron is hot.
We call on the Games and Amusements Board to support this awakening, and see to it that our boxers not only get to fight, but that they get a fair deal, are treated properly and are not exposed to exploitation. It is high time that the GAB takes a pro-active role in this situation and backstops each and every fighter that goes out to fight here and abroad. That’s the least the government can do to prove that it is not oblivious to the plight of our fighters.
We are overjoyed that finally, our boxers are getting recognition and opportunities all over the world. Yes, we will experience losses with the wins because such is the nature of the beast. But at least, doors have been opened and we now have more than just a fighting chance.
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One of the first to interview the victorious Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista is our colleague, Bulletin correspondent Dennis Principe. He will air his incisive overseas conversation with the Candijay, Bohol native in his early morning radio show “Sports Chat” on Sports Radio DZSR (918 kHz) tomorrow Wednesday, starting at 6 a.m. till 7 a.m.
