Fathers long for sons to share their passion they have for manly things like, say, sports. But what if the child is a daughter? For Cesar Julaton, a martial arts aficionado, he didn’t realize that his passion had rubbed off on his little girl, Ana.
When Ana was but 11 years old, the opportunity to learn contact sport opened up when her father enrolled her four-year-old brother in karate school. Ana in no uncertain terms told her dad that she, too, wanted to take up the sport. Her father, after some hesitation, agreed.
Cesar Julaton now says that he’s “…happy that she’s doing what she enjoys. She has my full support. She took hold of it and ran with it. In high school… she was low key in martial arts … but became National Champion in the Junior Olympics in Tae Kwan-do in the 1990s.”
Ana later become a martial arts teacher but while still working on her black belt, she decided to don a pair of boxing gloves and went for boxing.
Now, with 30 or so amateur bouts and only five professional fights under her belt, Julaton has been ranked by the World Boxing Council (WBC) and the International Boxing Association (I.B.A.) as the top ranking contender for the vacant Women’s Super Bantam Weight World title.
That their IBA Super Bantam Weight World Title Fight on September 12 at the HP Pavilion “The Tank” in San Jose would push through came as a surprise to both Julaton and her opponent, Kelsey Jeffries.
For Derrick Caganaan, one of Julaton’s managers, it means that organizers are confident that the two female boxers can draw at least 7,000 boxing fans.
Jeffries and Julaton will be the evening’s featured main event at the American Metal & Iron Fight Night at the Tank, a professional boxing action produced by Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment (SVS&E) and Roy Englebrecht. The bout is scheduled for 10 Rounds.
Both are hungry to get this significant title under their belt. But while Jeffries has held this title previously in 2004, this will be Julaton’s first professional fight. Possibly a tough fight for the younger, less-experienced “The Hurricane” with a 4-1-1 card compared to the older (33) “Road Warrior” of Gilroy, California, holder of 7 titles and a lengthy 41-9-1 career.
But the Filipino American Julaton is confident, given her preparations.
She had in the past trained under fabled coach Freddie Roach, and now trains with Donito Donaire Sr., the respected and much sought-after Filipino coach based in Cebu City, Philippines. In 2007, Donito Sr.—or just Senior as he is now called—trained his son, Donito Jr. to a stunning upset (7-1) against the then undefeated Vick Darchinyan with a 5th round knockout for the IBF flyweight title.
Just last week, Senior coached “Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona to become the Philippines’ youngest champion by dethroning reigning WBO super flyweight champion Jose “Carita” Lopez of Puerto Rico.
“I’m so honored and privileged to have Senior train me,” said Ana. “He just had a big win in Canada.”
Donaire Sr. has been head trainer of Team Julaton since two months ago, conditioning and sparring with Ana at the Kennel Boxing Gym in San Leandro, California, a half hour or so away from her Daly City home.
Her assistant trainer is Arvin Jugarap, nephew of Senior and co-owner of Kennel Boxing, with NABA & NABO flyweight champion Glenn “The Filipino Bomber” Donaire as her chief sparring partner, and Angelo Reyes and Derrick Caganaan as managers.
The Bay Area has been a charm for Julaton who has garnered all her wins, such as the Golden Gloves Championships at the SF Civic Auditorium, the California State Championships, her silver medal victory in the USA Championships and her Pro Debut, right at her doorstep.
When asked what’s the most difficult hurdle she faces as a professional boxer, the 5’6” tall and svelte Filipina with long straight ebony hair—a metaphorical and literal knockout in cocktail dress—said, “It’s being stereotyped as mannish.”
Demure in her demeanor and a far cry from being boyish outside the sport she’s in, there is real power behind this pretty Pinay’s punches. Already an icon in the Filipino American community, number one on Ana’s wish list is to be the first Filipina boxer in the 2012 Olympics, and to elevate women boxing to the level of mainstream sport.
“It’s not all about card fighting. It’s all about the effective fights.”
“We’re ready to go for this fight. I need to weigh 122 pounds on Friday. I’m working consistently. Watching my diet – no Filipino food.” Not until after the fight, probably.
“Some say I was crazy for taking on this fight – with less than 10 fights. But she’s just another opponent,” the confident boxer said.
“At my pro-debut – the contender had eleven pro-fights but I knocked her down in first round. First ten seconds with the right hand and on the fourth round with a left hook.”
“Boxing is an exciting sport. I take it seriously. I have no regrets. And I would like to see others do the same and continue elevating the sport.”
Senior said. “Ana can punch like a guy.”
Now, that’s one lady who means business.
