Philippines, 24 Jan 2026
  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:

  • MURATALLA VS. CRUZ WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER
    , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou Fight Week Events to Stream LIVE on Top Rank’s Social Media Channels
    , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Ballesteros not yet ready against Ocum
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Chocolatito Gonzalez to undergo shoulder surgery
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • NM Nika finishes Sixth in Czech Republic Blitz chess tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • The Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo RETURNS! Saturday May 2, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
    , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Donaire back in Cebu
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • MURATALLA VS. CRUZ IN LAS VEGAS FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • Four Pinoys in line for title shots
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • After the meeting in Mexico City, the WBC is ready for 2026
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • Former world title challenger Jerry Belmontes Returns to ring at home after nearly a decade in Retirement on January 31 in Texas
    , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT RONNY ALVAREZ TRAINING CAMP NOTES
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • STRICKLAND STUNS REYES AS SOUQUET SEALS REDEMPTION | WNT LEGENDS
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • Knicks defeats Nets 120-66 to post largest margin of victory in franchise history
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • Mauricio Sulaiman: "We simply urge Zuffa Boxing to respect and protect boxing and the boxer"
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • January 31: Xander Zayas-Abass Baraou Junior Middleweight Title Unification Showdown to Stream LIVE on Top Rank Classics FAST Channel in the United States
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • Mike Tyson to Launch “Mike Tyson Invitational,” a Three-Day Amateur Boxing Showcase Aimed at Elevating the Future of American Boxing
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • KAIPO GALLEGOS TRAINING CAMP NOTES
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • REYES AND BUSTAMANTE DELIVER HOME-SOIL MASTERCLASS | WNT LEGENDS
    , Wed, 21 Jan 2026
  • Reigning World 10-ball Champion Filipino cue master Jonas Magpantay to see action in Indonesia pool tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 21 Jan 2026
  • OLYMPIC BOXING 7: 1936 OLYMPICS AT BERLIN, GERMANY
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Wed, 21 Jan 2026
  • Usyk and Zuffa Boxing Negotiations Update
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 21 Jan 2026
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: Twelve Years Later, Don José is Still With Us
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Tue, 20 Jan 2026
  • Get know “BIG BAD BAZLEY”as he retuns March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
    , Tue, 20 Jan 2026
  • “Jye Chin brings a fight to whoever, whenever and where ever”: Jye Chin ready for WBC title Clash March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
    , Tue, 20 Jan 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.