REPORT FROM LAREDO: APOLINARIO MAKES STATEMENT; FRIDAY'S WEIGHIN
By Dr. Allan Recto
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 12 Apr 2015
Laredo, Texas (April 10, 2015) - During the weigh-in at the La Posada Hotel Ballroom for Top Rank?s card ?Texas Boxing Series,? the Filipino fighter John Mark Apolinario (18-5-3, 5 KOs) co-feature main event versus Jesse Magdaleno (20-0, 15 KOs) didn?t meet the licensing requirements in time so both fighters were not weighed and their bout got cancelled.
Top photo: In a fighting pose, John Mark Apolinario (18-5-3, 5KOs) arrived safely in his room at the La Posada Hotel in Laredo, Texas late Thursday evening due to flight delay. (Photo credit/ Dr. Allan Recto)
?Doc, Gusto ko po magbigay ng pahayag sa nangyari sa akin (John Mark Apolinario) dito sa Texas at sa aking laban sana bukas. Kahit gusto ko man lumaban, nagbigay po ng decisyon ang namamahala ng promosyon at ang Texas Boxing Commission na i-kansela ang aming laban ni Jessie Magdaleno dahil hindi ko po na-meet ang deadline ng pagsumite ng kumpletong requirements. Naintindihan ko po ang kahalagahan noon para maging maayos at mahusay kami na mga boksingero at walang sakuna na mangyayari sa loob nang ring. Hindi ko po ito sinasadya o kagustuhan at wala po akong sinisisi na ibang tao. Malakas at malusog po ako at pumasa naman sa eye check-ups at physical exams. Huwag po sana mag-alala o mabahala ang aking pamilya, lalo na ang aking mahal na asawa at mga anak. May mga mababait na kapwa Pilipino dito sa Laredo, Texas na tumutulong sa amin?sa akin at sa ang aking kasamang trainer na si Joven Jimenez. Ipinagdarasal ko na lang sa Panginoon na mabigyan ako nang pagkakataon na lumaban sa lalong madaling panahon. Nagpapasalamat po ako sa Top Rank lalo na kay Brad Goodman na nabigyan ako ng ganitong opportunidad. Kahit po maliit lamang ang aking ina-asahang premyo ay makakatulong po iyon sana sa operasyon nang aking bunsong anak na babae sa sunod na buwan. Gusto ko pong humingi nang paumanhin sa aking kalaban na si Jessie Magdaleno at sana ay maging mahusay at mapalad siya sa kanyang boksing career!?
Translation: ?Doctor, I wish to give some statements about what that happened to me (John Mark Apolinario) here in Texas with regards to my fight tomorrow. Although I wanted to fight, the promoter (Top Rank) and the Texas Boxing Commission cancelled my fight with Jessie Magdaleno for the reason that I was not be able meet the deadline for the submission of my medical requirements in time. I understand it is important to keep us boxers medically safe and that nothing uneventful should happen to us inside the ring. I did not wish this to happen to me and I do not put the blame to anyone. I am physically fit and I passed my eye check-ups and physical exams. I hope my family, especially my wife and kids, will not worry because there are Filipinos who take care of us?with me and my trainer Joven Jimenez. I pray to God that I will be given another chance to fight in the near future. I thank Top Rank especially to Brad Goodman for giving me this great opportunity. Although my purse is not a big amount, it could have been significant enough to help pay the expenses of my youngest daughter?s operation next month. I want to ask for an apology to my opponent and wish nothing but the best to Jessie Magdaleno on his future boxing career!?
MP Promotions Filipino trainer/matchmaker Joven Jimenez (Left) and boxer John Mark Apolinario (right) upon their arrival 4/9/15 at the Laredo International Airport ahead of Saturday?s Top Rank Event at the Laredo Energy Arena. (Photo credit/ Dr. Allan Recto)
DURING THE WEIGH-IN
With his usual eloquent announcer?s voice, Lupe Contreras handled the official weigh-in. He started with, ?Bob Arum?s Top Rank Promotions, La Cerveza Tecate con character and being broadcast worldwide on Univision Deportes, we begin the evening with our main event tomorrow night 8 rounds in the featherweight division. Out of Mazatlan, Sinaloa Mexico Jose Ramirez (25-5-2, 15 KOs) facing off against an undefeated two-times Mexican Olympian from Nogales, Mexico (15-0, 13 KOs) record on the line Oscar Valdez Jr. A great night of boxing, one of the hottest event of the year in the State of Texas, the city of Laredo at the Energy Arena.?
The first one up on the scale was Ramirez (who stripped naked with a white blanket to cover his body) weighed in on his first attempt at 129.3 lbs. He was given a maximum of 2 hours to reduce his weight to the fight limit and he re-weighed in again later on at 128.8 lbs. (according to his manager).
Next on the scale was Valdez, an undefeated pro, who weighed-in at 127.6 lbs. The fighters then put on their pants to face off.
Main event fighters (Left) Oscar Valdez Jr. and Jose Ramirez (right) posed during the weigh-in yesterday. (Photo credit/Dr. Allan Recto)
The co-feature 6 rounds of action in the Middleweight Division is the bout between Omar Rojas (3-2, 1 KO) from Kingsville, Texas in who weigh-in at 156.2 lbs. versus a Brazilian who brought home the Silver medal in the 2012 games is Esquiva Falcao (8-0, 5 KO) who was 157.4 lbs.
Female fighter Mayela Perez (6-18-4, 3 KOs) from Coahuila, Mexico weighed-in at 108.2 lbs. who will be fighting local Laredoan boxer Cristina Fuentes (3-7-4) who weighed 111.4 lbs.
Other undercard fighters followed to do their weigh-ins.
The Mexican Olympian Oscar Valdez Jr. rehydrating immediately after getting weighed told this writer, ?I?m glad that I made weight. That was the first thing in my mind. We passed the first test. I?m just excited right now for tomorrow. It was a great camp. I?m going to go out there and give my best!?
Later that evening, this writer chanced upon Jose Ramirez walking across the lobby and approached him for a brief interview. He looked well hydrated and was smiling a bit. When asked the reason why he came a little over the weight limit, Jose Ramirez said that the scale he used initially was off. He said, ?Right now, I feel good and I?m prepared.? He stated he travelled to the Philippines in 2013 an when asked about that trip, he said, ?I felt good about my experience in the Philippines. It was the first title that I won against Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista for the WBO International Featherweight crown in Davao City. It ended in a split decision in my favor.? Ramirez has also fought top rated fighters like Abner Mares and Vasyl Lomachencko so Ramirez should be a tough test for the upcoming undefeated Olympian Oscar Valdez Jr.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dr. Allan Recto.
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