Sports Eye
Julaton’s next world title fight to be held in Lingayen?
By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.
IF plans don’t miscarry, a world title fight in boxing in the super bantamweight division (122 lbs.) featuring world champion Luciana Ana Julaton will be held in Lingayen and the venue will be the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center that can accommodate a maximum of 40,000 spectators. This was disclosed to me by provincial sports coordinator Modesto Operania last Wednesday. Operania, also an executive assistant of Gov. Amado T. Espino, Jr. said negotiations, spearheaded by Espino himself, are now in progress with Julaton’s promoter Orion Sports Management and with one of the country’s TV networks that will beam the fight to the world. Operania said Julaton’s opponent will be identified once everything is definitely set, including the date which is being targeted in the early part of next year, January or February.
I wish her opponent would be a Mexican pugilist because a Mexican versus a Filipino is a crowd drawer. And if this happens, this will be history-in-the-making in Pangasinan sports because of all the governors that served the province, only Espino who has the imagination to stage a world title fight here in boxing. Mabuhay ka, governor.
The parents of Ana, both from barangay Villegas, Pozorrubio gave birth to her on July 5, 1980 in San Francisco, California. The 5’5” Ana, nicknamed “The Hurricane” in boxing, was a former martial artist specializing in taekwondo at the age of ten. She shifted to amateur boxing in 2004 and her debut earned her a silver medal win in the 2004 Frisco Golden Gloves. She turned pro and after five years, she won the World Boxing Organization super bantamweight crown on December 4, 2009. She’s the only Filipino female boxer to win a world crown. Unfortunately was dethroned by Yesica Marcos of Argentina, losing by unanimous decision on March 12 this year despite scoring a knockdown in the second round. But she came back lately with an impressive win, knocking out Mexican Abigail Ramos in the very first round held last August 3 in Mexico. That victory earned her the Mexicans’ respect and they called her ‘”The Yukutan Princess” because of her boxing ability and her charm. Ana now totes a record of 12 wins, 3 losses and a single draw.
Let’s pray always for her triumph. Her win is also our victory and a huge prestige for our province. Amen.
* * * *
My big congrats to the Lyceum Northwestern University quintet called “Dukes” for winning this year’s PRISAA Pangasinan-Dagupan Inter-Collegiate Basketball Championship, demolishing all their five opponents in a convincing style, including the highly regarded University of Luzon Golden Tigers. Last year’s winner the University of Pangasinan-PHINMA Flames and AIE College Eagles didn’t join the tournament this time. According to Dukes head coach Angel Gumarang, UPang-PHINMA failed to pay its PRISAA dues so UPang was stripped of the PRISAA crown it won last year He clarified, however, that the Flames remain the defending UCAAP champion per decision of both the PRISAA and UCAAP managements. The PRISAA organizers, therefore, declared last year’s runner-up, the LNU Dukes, as the 2011 PRISAA champions, Gumarang explained. In short it could now be said that the Dukes, under the tutelage of Gumarang are officially proclaimed the back-to-back (2011-2012) champions of PRISAA.
Informed about the verdict, Flames head coach Jay Ronquillo said they deliberately quit the PRISAA league because of money matters, that there is no financial report from the league’s treasurer every time the league ends. If this is true, I smell something fishy. I also asked Gumarang why there were only five teams (from a peak of twelve) in the just concluded PRISAA tourney? His reply: “Ask the two guys who are managing the tourney,” naming them in jest as “Luciphil and Animil.” I know what he meant.
* * * *
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men. Knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.” Colossians3: 18-19, 23-25.
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
