Philippines, 17 Feb 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


AROY DESERVES A REMATCH


PhilBoxing.com



Alex Aroy.

MAASIN CITY , SOUTHERN LEYTE - The people of Maasin City pinned our hopes on Alex Aroy as our first world champion. We have produced such nationally rated boxers as Romy Roa, Al Tan Lee, Bert Lozano, Jun Tan Sato, among others. But Alex, who is called Batang Maasin and the Maasin Bomber, is the first Philippine Boxing Federation and national title holder from Maasin City, being the current PBF light-flyweight champ.

All went for naught in that forgettable evening when the lights went off in South Africa and the hope of producing another WBC international champion, in the same category as that of Manny Pacquiao, were vanished.

It was caused by an abrupt and doubtful power failure at a time when Aroy appeared to be dominating over the champion. The fight was interrupted by the blackout at the start of the seventh round and the officials decided to go to the scorecards per WBC rules to determine the outcome of the fight. It was quite astonishing that a prestigious hotel and casino such as Carousel in South Africa has no standby power while hosting such a reputed WBC international title fight.

South African promoter Branco Milenkovic was so disgusted by the performance and the controversial victory of WBC International minimumweight champion Zukisani Kwayiba that he considers staging a rematch even if WBC does not order so. Rex ?Wakee? Salud proposed that the rematch will be in time for the Manila convention of the WBC this November in a fight
card to be promoted jointly by himself and MP Promotions of Pacquiao.

No matter how boxing experts look at it, they should find ways and means to stage a rematch to gauge once and for all the skills of Aroy fighting Kwayiba, minus the hullabaloo. And it should be staged in Manila where hotels and fighting venues were better equipped than the mysterious Carousel.

Because of the dream turning a nightmare, Aroy became an instant celebrity in the world of boxing. He became known not only in the country but in the international boxing scene as well.

The Barangay Maria Clara native started his amateur boxing career in the Maasin City Sports Council stable, with this writer as the Chairman, under the tutelage of the late Celestino ?Tiny? Espina. He was sent to different youth amateur and open championships where he showed lots of promise as a future boxing hero. He honed up further his skills from a clumsy fighter to a fine tuned pugilist under current city boxing trainer Ramil Entia at the City Gym. He was scouted by Wakee Salud matchmaker Willie Flores and trained hard in the RWS Gym in Cebu City where he was given big boxing breaks.

He had his pro debut in Jakarta , Indonesia in October 23, 2003 by winning on points against Indonesian Donny Suratin in eight rounds despite hostile crowd. Since then, he compiled straight wins against Roy Fuentes, Ruther del Castillo, Rogelio Bardon, Rex Madrid, Elmar Francisco, Michael Rodriguez, Allan Dugang, and over Rolando Baclayo, in his first fight in Maasin. He tasted first defeat in the hands of Rollen del Castillo. He had a technical draw with Noel Veronque at the City Gym in his first pro fight in Maasin.

Aroy failed in his bid for the WBC youth championship when he lost to Thai Oleydong Sithsamerchai in Petchaboon , Thailand in a bout hounded by controversies. Aroy was not paid his purse by the Filipino promoter in Thailand . He lost to Rollen del Castillo in a rematch. He snatched a string of victories over Rolando Toyogon and Noel Veronque in a rematch in Maasin.

He won the Philippine Boxing Federation (PBF) light-flyweight title over Dennis Juntillano before the cheering Maasin boxing fans. He thus became the first Maasinhon to win a national boxing crown. He lost a technical decision over Milan Melindo in a six-round non-title fight in the undercard of the Z Gorres-Fernando Montiel bout in the Cebu City Sports Center . His last bout was a technical draw over Arnel Tadena of Bohol last Maasin City Fiesta on August 14, 2007.

Boxing fans were disappointed of the outcome of the PBF championship fight since they expected an effortless knockout victory by the Maasin Bomber in the early rounds as the local hero handed merciless punches to the body of his foe. Aroy, who was known for stopping his opponents in the early stages of his fights, was clearly ahead on points when an accidental head butt gashed Tadena?s head, prompting referee Tony Peasons to stop the fight in the second round upon the ring physician?s advice. Hence, the PBF championship belt remained on Aroy by virtue of the draw.

PhilBoxing.com would like to give a warm welcome to its newest contributor, Mayor Maloney L. Samaco of Maasin City, the bustling capital of Southern Leyte, Philippines. Mayor Samaco is one of the thousands of Filipinos who have been bitten by the boxing bug and apparently would like to give his support and develop boxing talents in his area.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • LEIGH WOOD OUTLINES PLAN OF ATTACK FOR SOLD OUT REMATCH AGAINST JOSH WARRINGTON
    , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • Cain Velasquez released from a California State prison
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • Patrick Rivera wins Pacman's Cue Club 10-Ball Tournament; pockets P100,000
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • Undefeated Brooklyn heavyweight Pryce Taylor Fighting again in Detroit this Sunday on Claressa Shields’ card
    , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • TRAINING CAMP NOTES Gabriela Tellez Ready to Make a Statement This Friday in Orlando
    , Tue, 17 Feb 2026
  • Rapista wins WBC Far East Silver super flyweight title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 16 Feb 2026
  • IM Christian Gian Karlo Tade-Arca faces tough competition in Manny Pacquiao International Open dubbed as 87th Kalilangan Chess Festival 2026
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 16 Feb 2026
  • Efe Ajagba vs Charles Martin: Zuffa Heavyweights Square Off on Sunday
    By Chris Carlson, , Sun, 15 Feb 2026
  • “The Nightmare” Back in Action: Oguni vs Tapales April 3 in Japan
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Feb 2026
  • Cold Comfort: Tapales and Vitor Frozen Out in Moscow Heartbreaker
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 14 Feb 2026
  • WBC Celebrates 63 years of dedication to the sports and fighters
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 14 Feb 2026
  • BOXING STARS FROM AROUND THE WORLD LINING UP FOR 2026 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND IN "BOXING’S HOMETOWN"
    , Sat, 14 Feb 2026
  • Filipino Boxers Make Weight in Brico Santig's Valentine's Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 14 Feb 2026
  • Filipinos Vitor and Tapales Take on Russians for IBF Asia Titles in Moscow Today
    By Dong Secuya, , Fri, 13 Feb 2026
  • Manny Pacquiao Promotions Returns to Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. with a Pair of World Championship Bouts
    , Fri, 13 Feb 2026
  • IOAN CROFT AND GARAN CROFT SIGN FOR MATCHROOM BOXING AS EDDIE HEARN LOOKS AHEAD TO BRIGHT FUTURE FOR EXCITING WELSH TWINS
    , Fri, 13 Feb 2026
  • 3 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
    , Fri, 13 Feb 2026
  • Day One Concludes at 2026 USA Boxing International Open
    , Thu, 12 Feb 2026
  • Female Boxing GOAT Katie Taylor to be Special guest at All-N.E. Golden Gloves Thursday, Feb. 12, in Lowell, MA
    , Thu, 12 Feb 2026
  • Brandon McCarthy Signs with Wise Owl Boxing, Set to Make Noise at 135 lbs
    , Thu, 12 Feb 2026
  • Filipino Boxers Set for Action on Valentine's Day in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • Oklahoma Outplays LA Lakers, 119-110; Arrests Skid to Hold on to League Lead
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • Malaya Vibrations to play gig at 5th MFPI Mindanao Summit
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • Fight of the Night in Thailand: Ador Torres and Sairike Tuolewutayi Battle to a Thrilling Draw
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 11 Feb 2026
  • Young Australian Benji Birchell Claims Title Win in Thailand
    , Wed, 11 Feb 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.