GENERAL SANTOS CITY?The life of Rolando Navarrete, once the toast of Philippine boxing, is in a total mess. Navarrete, now 57, says he makes both ends meet working at the city?s fish port but wouldn?t say how. ?Dumidiskarte lang, (I am just being resourceful),? said Navarrete during a chance encounter with the ex-WBC super-featherweight king.
Navarrete has been retired from the sport for over 20 years now and relies heavily on a government monthly assistance worth P2,000 ($45) so he could bring food to the table.
But he no longer has a wife and takes care of two kids, both fighters, but with no solid promotional connections.
On this particular day, Navarrete stood just outside the main door where Manny Pacquiao would come out, hoping that the world welterweight titlist would see him and even slip in a few bills.
After three hours of waiting, the main man finally came out and walked towards the black Hummer that stood just meters from the entrance.
A throng of fans surrounded Pacquiao for pictures as Navarrete stood still, hoping their eyes would meet.
Hope dimmed when Pacquiao got on board and the wheels of the massive SUV began to turn.
But just as it was about to speed away, the vehicle stopped and a hand came out and Navarrete knew what to do next.
As soon as Navarrete got hold of the bills, he hailed his mode of transport of choice: a tricycle that ferried him back to his home just a few blocks away.
Navarrete was the Pacquiao of his day.
In August 1981, the Hawaii-based Navarrete traveled to Italy where he knocked out Cornelius Boza-Edwards in five rounds to grab the WBC 130-lb crown.
In January the following year, he picked himself up from a fifth-round knockdown to stop the gutsy Choi Chung-Il of South Korea before a huge crowd at the Rizal Memorial ballpark.
But it was a whirlwind reign as Navarrete got knocked out by Rafael ?Bazooka? Limon in the 13th round in May of 1982.
After spending a few years in a Honolulu prison for a rape conviction, Navarrete returned to the country and began a comeback that fizzled out.
Even though Navarrete managed to rack up a few wins, he was unable to get back to the top.
These days, Navarrete relies heavily on the generosity of Pacquiao. The most he has received from his fellow GenSan native was P20,000 a few years ago when they met in Manila. Still, Navarrete is grateful for Pacquiao?s sense of compassion.
?He is a good man?whenever he sees me, he would give me something,? said Navarrete.
