Mingaw Man ang Boxing
Bleacher Talk
August 23, 2009
Mingaw Man ang Boxing
As a boxing fan, I’m worried and bored. As a writer, I’m confused and have more questions than answers. What’s up Cebu Boxing? Is something wrong? Is it the global crisis? Is it the lack of world-class boxers? The lack of local promoters? Why has Cebu Boxing been so quiet of late?
Let’s put this way. The last big boxing event in Cebu was last May 15 when AJ Banal scored a TKO win over Mbwana Matumla of Tanzania at the Cebu Coliseum. On the same night, Czar Amonsot fought listlessly to a unanimous decision win over Morris Chule, while Jason Pagara impressed fans eyebrows with his KO win over Hero Katili of Indonesia. On March 14 (or five months ago), Z Gorres wowed us again with his skills in scoring a lopsided win over ex-world champ Roberto “Mako” Leyva of Mexico. In the undercard, Milan Milendo scored a career-defining win over another ex-world champ in Muhammad Rachmann of Indonesia, while Michael Domingo defeated Monico Laurente in a routine tune-up fight. Somewhere between then and today, Donnie Nietes, AJ Banal, Mark Jason Melligen and Rodel Mayol have made the U.S. their full-time base. And so since May, Cebu Boxing has been quiet, save for a few smaller boxing cards including one in Bohol and another in Naga two weeks ago.
If you look at the number of big boxing events we’ve had this year compared to 2008, 2007 and even 2006, you might conclude that local boxing has also been hit by the world economic “crisis.” True, we’ve had a number of boxing promotions here and there, but these don’t match up to the ones with which Cebu Boxing have been “spoiled.” How can we ever forget the fact that we had a Vic Darchinyan and Fernando Montiel right on our shores not too long ago? Brand new WBA superflyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. even spent some time in Cebu, training at the ALA Gym.
But even if Nietes, Banal, Melligen and Mayol have made the U.S. their home base, this brings us to the rest of the crew who can still bring in crowds. Where are Gorres, Melindo, Domingo, Amonsot, Pagara and Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista? Except for Pagara who fought in Tagbilaran last month, all have been relatively quiet. Better yet, where are all those other blue chip prospects who were being groomed to follow in the footsteps of all those seeking Pacquiao-like fame? At the rate I’m going, I’m sounding biased towards only one stable: the ALA Gym. The downside is that they’re practically the only show in town these days. This isn’t a knock on ALA as we can’t rely on the generosity of only one man to get things going for all of Cebu Boxing. Wakee Salud has been busy at Team Pacquiao while Sammy Gello-ani has had to start all over again in building a new set of future stars. For awhile, Manny Piñol showcased his boxers, but has now brought his show back to Mindanao.
Another important factor that deserves another look is the business side of boxing. Putting up a boxing event these days is getting to be very expensive. For starters, all those names that I mentioned now command higher rates since they’re more popular and have received higher fees (i.e. dollars) from their U.S. fights. The bar has been raised for local boxing where a foreigner is a must for a main event. We may never see a Pinoy vs. Pinoy main event in any big boxing cards in the future as this no longer brings in the crowds. The promoter will thus have to shell out even more and will need all the help he can get from TV broadcast rights and corporate sponsors.
The next question now is whether we’ll have another big card in 2009. Brain Viloria was penned to fight at the Waterfront next week, but this has been scrapped in favor of his birthplace of Hawaii. There are talks that Boom Boom will fight in November, while Gorres and Domingo are set to fight abroad. But all these fights will be overseas. Don’t get me wrong. This is all good for boxing as the boxers will get to earn more while ALA gets to cur down on his losses (or expenses). The down side will be the probability of not having any other big event for the rest of the year. How I wish I had the solution for all this. Cebu Boxing is having its own version of a “brain drain” migration of our top boxers moving abroad for more money. But we just can’t stop them from leaving now, can we? What can or should we do?
For now, we’ll have to start all over again. Get used to small cards featuring young boxers on the rise. We’ll go back to boxing in towns, barangay fiestas and the like. Cebu Coliseum? Waterfront? Mandaue Sports Complex? Maybe none for now.
Mingaw gyud.
oOo
Time-out: Happy birthday to Karla Masongsong! My “birthday wish” for you is that your accounts actually greet you today! >>> You can reach me at bleachertalk@yahoo.com.
August 23, 2009
Mingaw Man ang Boxing
As a boxing fan, I’m worried and bored. As a writer, I’m confused and have more questions than answers. What’s up Cebu Boxing? Is something wrong? Is it the global crisis? Is it the lack of world-class boxers? The lack of local promoters? Why has Cebu Boxing been so quiet of late?
Let’s put this way. The last big boxing event in Cebu was last May 15 when AJ Banal scored a TKO win over Mbwana Matumla of Tanzania at the Cebu Coliseum. On the same night, Czar Amonsot fought listlessly to a unanimous decision win over Morris Chule, while Jason Pagara impressed fans eyebrows with his KO win over Hero Katili of Indonesia. On March 14 (or five months ago), Z Gorres wowed us again with his skills in scoring a lopsided win over ex-world champ Roberto “Mako” Leyva of Mexico. In the undercard, Milan Milendo scored a career-defining win over another ex-world champ in Muhammad Rachmann of Indonesia, while Michael Domingo defeated Monico Laurente in a routine tune-up fight. Somewhere between then and today, Donnie Nietes, AJ Banal, Mark Jason Melligen and Rodel Mayol have made the U.S. their full-time base. And so since May, Cebu Boxing has been quiet, save for a few smaller boxing cards including one in Bohol and another in Naga two weeks ago.
If you look at the number of big boxing events we’ve had this year compared to 2008, 2007 and even 2006, you might conclude that local boxing has also been hit by the world economic “crisis.” True, we’ve had a number of boxing promotions here and there, but these don’t match up to the ones with which Cebu Boxing have been “spoiled.” How can we ever forget the fact that we had a Vic Darchinyan and Fernando Montiel right on our shores not too long ago? Brand new WBA superflyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. even spent some time in Cebu, training at the ALA Gym.
But even if Nietes, Banal, Melligen and Mayol have made the U.S. their home base, this brings us to the rest of the crew who can still bring in crowds. Where are Gorres, Melindo, Domingo, Amonsot, Pagara and Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista? Except for Pagara who fought in Tagbilaran last month, all have been relatively quiet. Better yet, where are all those other blue chip prospects who were being groomed to follow in the footsteps of all those seeking Pacquiao-like fame? At the rate I’m going, I’m sounding biased towards only one stable: the ALA Gym. The downside is that they’re practically the only show in town these days. This isn’t a knock on ALA as we can’t rely on the generosity of only one man to get things going for all of Cebu Boxing. Wakee Salud has been busy at Team Pacquiao while Sammy Gello-ani has had to start all over again in building a new set of future stars. For awhile, Manny Piñol showcased his boxers, but has now brought his show back to Mindanao.
Another important factor that deserves another look is the business side of boxing. Putting up a boxing event these days is getting to be very expensive. For starters, all those names that I mentioned now command higher rates since they’re more popular and have received higher fees (i.e. dollars) from their U.S. fights. The bar has been raised for local boxing where a foreigner is a must for a main event. We may never see a Pinoy vs. Pinoy main event in any big boxing cards in the future as this no longer brings in the crowds. The promoter will thus have to shell out even more and will need all the help he can get from TV broadcast rights and corporate sponsors.
The next question now is whether we’ll have another big card in 2009. Brain Viloria was penned to fight at the Waterfront next week, but this has been scrapped in favor of his birthplace of Hawaii. There are talks that Boom Boom will fight in November, while Gorres and Domingo are set to fight abroad. But all these fights will be overseas. Don’t get me wrong. This is all good for boxing as the boxers will get to earn more while ALA gets to cur down on his losses (or expenses). The down side will be the probability of not having any other big event for the rest of the year. How I wish I had the solution for all this. Cebu Boxing is having its own version of a “brain drain” migration of our top boxers moving abroad for more money. But we just can’t stop them from leaving now, can we? What can or should we do?
For now, we’ll have to start all over again. Get used to small cards featuring young boxers on the rise. We’ll go back to boxing in towns, barangay fiestas and the like. Cebu Coliseum? Waterfront? Mandaue Sports Complex? Maybe none for now.
Mingaw gyud.
oOo
Time-out: Happy birthday to Karla Masongsong! My “birthday wish” for you is that your accounts actually greet you today! >>> You can reach me at bleachertalk@yahoo.com.
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