Philippines, 05 Dec 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Column -- Triple G and the missing sportswriter


PhilBoxing.com




CHICAGO -- When Boss Dong Secuya decided to green light my request to attach an NBA page to his world-famous PhilBoxing.com website back in April 2011, Nicholai Rhiz Roska was the first writer I recruited to join our stable.

Nick, a Los Angeles denizen by way of Capitol, Cebu City, covered the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA teams that visited Staples Center.

A U.P. High alum with a soaring flair for words, Nick eventually spread his literary wings and flew joyfully onward to NBA.com Philippines and SPIN.ph as a contributor, two equally reputable sites where I also happened to serve separately as U.S. editor.

Nearly two years ago though, after covering the 2018 NBA All-Star Game in his L.A. backyard, Nick mysteriously disappeared, never again to surface at Staples Center or any NBA arena near you.

As it turned out, Nick was leading a double life.

Outside of the playing field, he was actually a registered nurse. Happily married to Kathleen Maye and doting father to their little princess --- Katareena Roska.

More family time beckoned, so Nick had to reluctantly surrender his NBA credentials. Nick is also pursuing a lifelong dream of being a pilot and is close to getting his license.

From sports scribe to wearing scrubs to being captain of the skies.

Life is beautiful.

Early today, though, with some disposable time on his hands on a gorgeous Sunday morning in the city of angels, Nick meandered over to the MG Studio downtown for a Manchester United event.

A lifelong soccer fan who had worshiped at the altar of Man U since 1995, Nick went to the venue with the urgency of a bank robber being chased by the wailing sirens of three police cars.

Once he got to the shindig, he met a fellow diehard, who happens to be one of the greatest boxers who ever lived, the three most dangerous letters in boxing.

G.G.G.

Gennady Gennadyevich Golovkin.

Triple G.

"He was exceedingly nice. As welcoming as our parish priest," Ncik told PhilBoxing.com.


Trip G (R) poses with former Philboxing writer Nick Roska.

As if his Sunday couldn't get any better, the event served free unlimited adult beverages to go along with carne asada, tacos, fish and chips.

Unfortunately, Nick is a disciplined vegetarian who is partial to quinoa and leaves, and has renounced all things alcoholic.

Even without the booze and the wretched excess of fried treats, though, Nick Roska, a once upon a time sportswriter, had a Sunday to remember.

EDITOR's NOTE: The Chicago-based author is a regular columnist at SPIN.ph. He began his career as a newspaper reporter in 1993. He is the former U.S. editor of NBA.com Philippines and is currently the U.S. editor of Sports on Air. Sayson, who considers boxing a first love and basketball a beloved mistress, also has a regular NBA segment at "Power and Play with Kom Noli " hosted by former PBA Commissioner Noli Eala every Saturdays at Radyo Singko FM.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Thailand’s Niyomtrong “Knockout CPF” Decisions Junior Zárate, Becomes World Champion Again
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 05 Dec 2025
  • WORLD RANKED FILIPINO BOXERS AS OF DECEMBER 2025 BY THE RING, WBC, WBA, IBF, AND WBO
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Fri, 05 Dec 2025
  • Shinard Bunch Takes on John Paul Magalong on Tuesday, January 13th at The UFC Gym North Brunswick in North Brunswick, NJ
    , Fri, 05 Dec 2025
  • Severino and Mendoza win Blitz Asian Chess Championship for Players with Disabilities
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 05 Dec 2025
  • Herlan Gomez Departs for Australia for Moloney Fight Saturday on DAZN
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 04 Dec 2025
  • KENNETH LLOVER DEFENDS OPBF TITLE IN FOURTH FIGHT OF 2025
    , Thu, 04 Dec 2025
  • Canoy, Mama, Into Contend in IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships in Dubai
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 04 Dec 2025
  • CHAMPIONING MENTAL HEALTH 2: REMATCH SEASON FULL FIGHT CARD SET
    , Thu, 04 Dec 2025
  • MERRY FISTMAS! World-Ranked KO Artist Ramon Cardenas Faces Erik Robles in ProBoxTV Main Event at War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Thursday, December 18
    , Thu, 04 Dec 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 2 DECEMBER 2025: Kavaliauskas Wins by Split Decision Over Molina; Whittaker Stops Gavazi in 1; Malajika Wins by UD Over Paras
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 03 Dec 2025
  • WBC Strips Terence Crawford of Super Middle Title
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 03 Dec 2025
  • Soledad wins WBC Asian Continental title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 03 Dec 2025
  • A night of power, legacy, and UAE pride: IBA Men’s World Boxing Championships opens in spectacular fashion in Dubai
    , Wed, 03 Dec 2025
  • OKC Thunder is NBA 2025-2026 Strongest Team
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 03 Dec 2025
  • Who was Clever Sison?
    By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 03 Dec 2025
  • MATCHROOM BOXING RETURNS TO FONTAINEBLEAU LAS VEGAS WITH MURATALLA-CRUZ FIGHT, JAN. 24, 2026
    , Wed, 03 Dec 2025
  • TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Undefeated Featherweight Luis Nuñez Prepares for Hector Sosa Showdown on PBC on Prime Video
    , Wed, 03 Dec 2025
  • Darry Bernardo, 4 other Pinoys in hot start in 3rd Asian Chess Championship 2025 for players with disabilities
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 03 Dec 2025
  • Two Pacquiaos on same card?
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 02 Dec 2025
  • OLYMPIC BOXING 4: 1924 OLYMPICS AT PARIS, FRANCE
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Tue, 02 Dec 2025
  • Cebuana Lhuillier-Backed UTP National Team Shines at 40th Penang Open, Captures Multiple Titles
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 02 Dec 2025
  • WBC 63th Annual Convention Opens in Bangkok
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 02 Dec 2025
  • Undefeated Brooklyn heavyweight prospect Pryce Taylor closing out a strong 2026
    , Tue, 02 Dec 2025
  • USA Boxing Announces Partnership with Xempower USA
    , Tue, 02 Dec 2025
  • THE RING 6: TEOFIMO-SHAKUR SET FOR JANUARY SHOWDOWN IN NEW YORK
    , Tue, 02 Dec 2025




  •  



     
    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
    © 2025 philboxing.com.