No doubt that Manny Pacquiao is the world’s most popular athlete, never mind boxer.
But someone tried to stump me the other night by asking who the most popular promoter in boxing is.
To steal the old Buddy Hackett line about H. Cosell, people usually have mixed feelings about promoters.
Some people hate any and all fight promoters like poison, the others just hate them regular.
So the answer to who the best liked boxing promoter extant is Don “War A Week” Chargin, who ruled the Olympic Auditorium roost along with boss and “Dragon Lady” Aileen Eaton from 1964 through 1984.
Now Chargin’s staying young at age 82 with his burgeoning in popularity Pinoy ticketseller, unbeaten southpaw lightweight banger Mercito “No Mercy” Gesta.
Gesta headlines Friday night at historic Longshoreman’s Hall near Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco and John Chavez, aide to Mr. C, reports that half of the tickets in the cozy venue (1,100 seats) are gone.
“Tickets are flying out the window,” Chavez said. “We’ve got Filipinos coming up from LA, from Vegas, from San Diego and Vancouver. Gesta is really catching on, grabbing the people’s imagination with his all out attack style. I think he shows the warrior spirit of the Pacman and, obviously, people love that. You don’t have to be a Pinoy or a Fil-Am to eat that style up like popcorn.”
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One key to Chargin’s continued success as an octogenarian is thinking “young” and right now Cebuano Gesta is fuel for the promoter’s fistic fire.
“All kinds of fans who like aggressive fighters love Mercito,” Chargin said. “Mercito is a boxer, not a ballerina. He throws punches in bunches and he’s got what Mike Tyson used to call ‘Bad Intentions’ so that is always going to please the fans.”
Chargin has labeled the show “War On The Wharf.”
Sounds like another “Commotion on the Ocean” to me.
The White Gorilla, btw, will be in the house.
