Sports Eye
My sixth world boxing title-watch
By Jesus A. Garcia, Jr.
AS an adventurous former athlete, I gallivant and every time I have enough means to finance a trip to watch an important sporting event, locally or internationally, whether cycling, basketball or boxing, especially if the protagonists are my country mates, I never have to think twice to spend for it. I have to give in to my passion and watch regardless of the results And that’s what I did (again) last week.
I boarded a plane to Cebu City with my barangay mate Antonio Jimenez, Jr. to watch the touted Pinoy Pride 28: History In The Making for the World Boxing Organization junior flyweight title fight between my two compatriots the defending champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes of the Philippines and Mexican Carlos “Chapito” Velarde. As you already know, Nietes won by technical knockout after the seventh round when Velarde didn’t answer the bell for the eight round owing to a nasty cut on the left eyebrow he suffered caused by an accidental head bump.
That was the sixth world title I watched after the Juan Manuel Marquez-Jimrex Jaca featherweight clash on Nov. 25, 2006 in Texas; Brian “Hawaiian Punch” Viloria versus Giovani Segura on Dec. 11, 2011 and Omar Nino Romero on April 5, 2013 both held in Pasig City; AJ “Bazooka” Banal against Thai Pungluang Sor Singyu at Mall of Asia in Pasay City, Nietes vs Moises Fuentes on March 2, 2013.
Five of these six world title fights were won by Filipino pugs. Only Banal lost. With the exception of former world minimum weight champion Merlito Sabillo who lost via fourth round technical knockout last November 15 against Indonesian Faris Nenggo in a non-title bout and local pug Jomar Fajardo (namesake of PBA player) holding world minimum weight titlist Francisco Rodriguez, Jr. of Mexico to a split draw also in a non-title clash, three other Filipinos came up with convincing unanimous decision victories. They were Albert “Prince” Pagara (against Mexican Raul Hirales) to extend his win run to 22 sans defeat, with 15 knockouts and defended his International Boxing Federation (IBF) Intercontinental junior featherweight belt; former world number one contender Milan Melindo (against Saul Juarez also of Mexico); the come-backing Banal against Thai banger Maxsaisai Sithsaithong and hot prospect Mark Magsayo, 19, stopping Korean Jung Moon-sun in the second round in one of the curtain raisers.
I watched the media interview of Nietes when he elatedly said he wants to move up to flyweight division, (112 lbs) and eagerly wants to fight the conqueror of Viloria and Melindo the WBO titleholder Juan Francisco Estrada or even World Boxing Council champ Roman Gonzales both from Mexico. But his promoter Michael Aldeguer immediately stopped him to say that Nietes will still fight at his weight (108 lbs.) at least one more time next year before moving up to 112 pounds. That should break the record of the former world junior lightweight champion the late Gabriel “Flash” Elorde as the longest reigning Filipino world boxing champion (seven years, three months).
The youthful Aldeguer, president of ALA Sports International, Inc. also said that Nietes, 32, and Pagara, 24, were already handpicked by Bob Arum of Top Rank Promotions for a Macau card next year but with no specific date so far. And if that plan pushes through, and I believe it will, I cannot help but be there to watch their fights and experience another world title fight outside Philippines for the second time. Nietes and Pagara are now my new boxing idols. I hope you too, dear readers feel the same. The “Prince (Pagara) wants to be a “King” next year.
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My heartfelt sympathy to Mrs. Teresita “Baby” Rivera Cruz for losing her husband Antonio Cruz last Nov. 20 due to lung cancer. Loy, 68, was the former president of Philippine Amateur Cycling Association (now called PhilCyling). He was also appointed as EVP of PhilCycling during the stewardship of Ponciano Regalado and as chairman of the Board during the term of Bert Lina. May he rest in peace.
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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Those who trust in their wealth and boast in the multitude of their riches, None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him—For the redemption of their souls is costly, and it shall cease forever— PSALMS 49: 6-8
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