THANKS TO MANNY PACQUIAO, there’s now a limitless demand for Filipino fighters to appear in international cards.
Pacquiao indeed has been of great help in pushing the career of other Filipino boxers who regularly turn to the RP superhero for their calling card.
But, hey, there’s also one lamentable offshoot of his popularity which Pacquiao should find time to prevent.
There should be an immediate stop to the export of certified Filipino patsies who end up slurring the image of the Filipino boxer abroad.
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The case of Juanito Rubillar, who suffered another stoppage in his fourth attempt at a world title in Nueva Vallalta, Mexico, on Sunday, was an anomaly, to say the least.
Rubillar was pulled out of the sixth round of his challenge against WBA light flyweight champion Giovanno Segura.
In his lamentable condition, Rubillar, quite tame, should’ve remained in his kitchen, if not in an infirmary, never inside a wild boxing ring.
He had no business representing Pacquiao’s beloved Philippines, if his handlers, say, had some cents of patriotism left in their rotten pockets.
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Rubillar contributed greatly in shaking the belief of the international audience on the Filipino boxer.
Here at home, fight fans could not help but protest in disbelief.
“Why was he there, bakit pinalaban?” groaned Bobby Santos, main man around the Mandaluyong wet market meat section off Gen. Kalentong Street.
Although Rubillar would be predictably outclassed, his handlers should’ve made sure he could compete gallantly, said Santos, together with his buddy Mang Johnny.
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Rubillar was not an isolated case.
Last month, there was the abominable sight of a pumped-up Fernando Lumacad turning his back inside the ring, in full view of an international audience.
And to think that all he absorbed was a small punch.
There was a subsequent incredible information which said the coward’s real name was Fernando Poe Lumacad.
Naturally, there was also widespread belief that he could not be, in any way, related to the toy bulldog Mating Lumacad, who fought as the great Speed Cabanela.
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Anyway, knowing Pacquiao and how much he loves his country, he surely will not take all this sitting down.
In fact, Vice Gov. Manny Pi?ol, a pioneer Pacquiao supporter who’s well on his way to reclaiming the governorship of North Cotabato, has quietly launched a campaign to enhance the image of the Pinoy fighter internationally.
Pi?ol told the Inquirer yesterday that ABS-CBN will air on Studio 23 starting Aug. 1 a new weekly professional boxing program, Tomorrow’s Champions. It will feature young outstanding Filipino boxers.
It will be aired every Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and will also be replayed on ABS-CBN’s international network, The Filipino Channel, which is widely viewed in large Filipino communities in the United States, Europe and the Middle East.
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To make sure viewers will not end up climbing the wall, the featured fights will be recorded and edited for wholesome, exciting viewing.
Most of the fighters are still largely unknown but they have potentials of becoming champions in the future, Pi?ol explained.
“This is part of our effort to show the world that there is more to Philippine boxing than just Manny Pacquiao, that after him there will be other young Filipino boxing talents who could carry the nation’s flag in the field of professional boxing,” he added.
