Philippines, 01 Sep 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


TAMPA DIARY (DAY 2)


PhilBoxing.com


TAMPA, Florida -- I began the day nursing a throbbing headache, a malady directly caused by jet lag, sleep deprivation and, ahem, a little intoxication. But like an NBA player who dutifully plays hurt, I did leave enough strength and sense to write my stories.

After meeting my deadlines, I wandered around the Hyatt Regency, where a menagerie of spectacular sights soothed my weary eyes.

I saw Shane Mosley hitching a ride in the escalator. I met Winky Wright at the lobby, he wore clothes fit for two people. I also chanced upon Bernard Hopkins mindlessly leafing through the pages of a magazine at the Golden Boy Promotions media room.

At sometime aorund 10 am, Salven Lagumbay of Cebu Daily News, the Inquirer and Philboxing.com joined me for a few laps at the Hyatt hotel pool. Amazingly, Salven was a good swimmer, a sort of Mark Spitz, who waded the waters with effortless grace.

Joining us for lunch was the man himself, Philboxing.com founder Dong Secuya. We ate at the Avanzare lounge. Salven had chicken, I gorged on a hamburger, while Dong, looking chic in a cordoroy blazer, had another one of those vegetarian delights.

Much of the day was occupied by the official weigh-in, the anticipation of and the work that would entail following the event. At the weigh-in I saw more camera bulbs flash than a Tom Cruise wedding. It's where Dong Secuya is often at his best, freezing timeless moments from various angles.

We dispersed from the Hyatt ballroom at 5:10 pm. Salven darted off to update the Philboxing.com website while Dong retreated to his room to edit the pictures he just took. I took a different path and followed BoomBoom everywhere, chronicling his every move.

The rush slowed down to a canter by 7:30 pm. Salven and I went back to the Avanzare lounge for dinner. He had blackened chicken with rice and I had skewered shrimp plus a bowl of clam chowder soup. He had diet Coke. I sipped rum and Coke.

Edito "Ala" Villamor and BoomBoom Bautista joined us later. They each had clam chowder soup.

With expectations of an even more hectic day today, I went back to my room at around 9:40 pm. I watched a little NBA on TV, made a few calls before putting the lights out.

(Homer Sayson is SunStar Cebu's hugely popular sports columnist, and DYAB's top sports analyst based in Chicago. For compliments and threats, email him at Homsay@hotmail.com)


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


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Pacman sets ‘Thrilla’ commemoration
    By Joaquin Henson, , Sun, 31 Aug 2025
  • Historic win for Paolo Gallito who edges Lee Van Cortez in the finals of the Efren "Bata" Reyes Yalin 10-Ball Championships
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 31 Aug 2025
  • "The Return" Weights from Detroit
    , Sun, 31 Aug 2025
  • Efren Reyes Yalin 10-Ball Tourney: Corteza Faces Villafuerte in Finals
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 31 Aug 2025
  • Martha Salazar: Stepping Out of Her Own Shadow
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Sat, 30 Aug 2025
  • Laurente and Marapu Make Weight for IBF Regional Title; Gaballo Fights Tomorrow in Sanman Boxing Show in Gensan
    , Sat, 30 Aug 2025
  • IM Christian Arca sweeps 10-game simultaneous chess in IIEE SMRC in Davao City
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 30 Aug 2025
  • GOLDEN BOY PRESENTS “I’M SWEET” FEATURING GABRIELA “SWEET POISON” FUNDORA
    , Sat, 30 Aug 2025
  • Traya, Bactol, De Barbo, Porres in Action in Highland Show in Thailand, live on DAZN
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 30 Aug 2025
  • Bisutti, Panya Make Weight for UBO World Title in Highland Show on DAZN
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 30 Aug 2025
  • Turki Alalshikh the most influential boxing leader in United Kingdom
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 30 Aug 2025
  • Bambam will flight ‘clean & disciplined’ against Requito
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 30 Aug 2025
  • Carlos Flowers Ready to Blossom on the World’s Stage at 2025 World Boxing Championships
    , Sat, 30 Aug 2025
  • Traya eyes KO win against Thai tomorrow
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 29 Aug 2025
  • Navarrete's Future in Question as He Resists Rematch with Charly Suarez
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 29 Aug 2025
  • Davao's Corteza beats Biado, Aranas enters round-of-32 in P2 Million Bata Reyes 10 Ball Open
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 29 Aug 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: The Growth of Boxing
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Fri, 29 Aug 2025
  • Toshihiko Era Retains WBF Asia Strap in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 29 Aug 2025
  • Boxlab Promotions Signs Rising Cuban Prospects Ronny Alvarez and Pedro Veitia
    , Fri, 29 Aug 2025
  • Boxing Legend & Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr. Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
    , Fri, 29 Aug 2025
  • Vayson vies for WBA/WBO titles
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 28 Aug 2025
  • Mexican "The Rock" Zamora, three-time female world champion with 20 world championship fights, retires
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 28 Aug 2025
  • “I’M ONLY GETTING BETTER”: CONFIDENT PAT McCORMACK PLOTS HUGE HOMECOMING WIN OVER MIGUEL PARRA TO SPARK WORLD TITLE CHARGE
    , Thu, 28 Aug 2025
  • Heart of a Lion: 'Lucky Boy' Reymark Alicaba Earns Praise Despite Loss by Points in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 28 Aug 2025
  • Dante Kirkman Looks to be the First Fighter to Stop Dylan Carlson
    , Thu, 28 Aug 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.