Ex-boxer Fontanilla bags $12,000 as the biggest loser
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 23 Apr 2015
LOS ANGELES, Cal . -- Former boxer Arnel Fontanilla got his biggest pay not atop the ring but off it last Sunday when he won the Manny Pacquiao-sponsored three-week weight loss competition that had him bringing home a cool $12,000.
That, according to the ex-fighter, far exceeded his total pay in a four-year professional career, which in his estimation won?t even approximate that amount.
?Maliit lang naman kasi ang premyo noong nag-bo-boksing ako. Kalimitan napupunta lang sa gastos sa ensayo,? the now 35-year-old, who fought as a bantamweight from 2004 to 2008, told this writer.
"This, definitely, is my biggest pay at hindi pa nanggaling sa boksing kundi kay Bossing,? he said in reference to the World Boxing Organization welterweight kingpin, who has regularly been funding the annual competition that started among members of Team Pacquiao and his wife, Sarangani Vice Gov. Jinkee?s employees but has grown so big now that it currently includes supporters, friends and others who want to participate.
?It was a blessing, realy,? Fontanilla remarked. ?Kasi Friday last week lang naka-receive kami ng tawag na na-diagnose ang mother ko na may breast cancer at mahigpit ang pangangailangan sa pera.?
?I cried nga unabashedly when the decision was announced that I won the competition,? the now Los Angeles-based member of Buboy Fernandez?s ?Kayote Boys,? a group of ex-boxers formed by Pacquiao?s assistant trainer to support the eight-division champion while in training for fights in the United States, said.
?Nasabi ko nga kay Bossing during the awards ceremony, ?Saktong, sakto Bossing. Tamang-tamang pang-gastos sa pagpapagamot ng nanay kong maysakit,? he exclaimed in reference to the now Mrs. Nilda Ignacio, who is presently confined in a hospital in General Santos City.
?Bossing promised to help naman kung kukulangin, kaya malakas na ang loob ko,? he uttered.
Besides forming the nucleus of Paquiao?s running team, the Kayote Boys, which also includes Juanito Rubillar, Bobby Jalnaiz, Marvin Mabait, Aaron Melgarejo and Reynante Jamili ? who like Fontanilla are ex-pugs, help in the maintenance of running gears as well as gym equipment.
Jamili is a former no. 1 World Boxing Council super-bantamweight contender, while Jalnaiz is to be remembered as the saving grace of the Philippine participation in the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing where he brought home the country?s lone gold medal.
Fontanilla is a regular pacer of Pacquiao in the Sarangani Congressman?s daily roadwork and is the only guy who is seen in the company of the Pacman from the start of the run until finish.
?It was a sweet victory, kasi ang liit lang ng lamang niya sa second place (Caesar Acma) .38 percentage-point lang,? Buboy, who is also the winner?s brother-in-law said rather excitedly. Fontanilla, who is married to a Cebu-born nurse here, ended up with 21.97 percent to Acma?s 21.59 percent.
Competitors had to shed 15 percent of their body weight to advance into the final round and the contestant with the biggest weight loss after three weeks brings home the big money and the trophy.
Fontanilla weighed 154.3 pounds during weigh-in at the start of the contest on March 15, while tipping the scale at 120.4 pounds at the final weigh-in. Acma was 153.3 and 121.2 for the second prize money of $7,000. Third was RJ Distrito, son of former PBA star Rudy, who became richer by $5,000.
Kharzma Tan emerged the biggest (weight) loser in the women?s division that's also worth $12,000. She was followed in second placeby Mara Caro and Joy Gabi in third.
The big loser competition was supervised by Rhen Fuentes, Edward Lura, Jay Kano and Jay-R Navarro.
Photo: Pacquiao with weight-loss winners Arnel Fontanilla (L) and Kharzma Tan (R). Photo by Wendell Rupert Alinea.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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