Edito Villamor Proud of Visayan Language
And Proves that He Too is World-Class Trainer
By Emmanuel B. Villaruel
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 11 May 2007
Prior to Bautista's WBO super bantamweight elimination bout against Sergio Manuel Medina of Argentina last Sunday, Villamor said a representative from HBO who is well-versed in Tagalog while he works on Boom Boom's corner so he can traslate it to the HBO commentators.
But Villamor insisted on speaking 'Binisaya' feeling that it's a distinct opportunity for him to show that he's proud of his Visayan linege.
"Sa wala pa ang away, dunay niduol nako nga staff sa HBO ug ge ingnan ko nga kon puyde daw mag Tinagalog ko sa higayon nga mohatag kog instructions ni Bautista aron iyang ma-translate sa HBO commetators.
(Before the fight, a staff from HBO approached me and told me if I can speak Tagalog every time I give instructions to Bautista)," said Villamor.
"Pero wala ko mipatuo sa ilang hangyo kay Bisaya gud kung dako. Gusto nako ipakita nga dakong garbo nako isip usa ka Bisaya. (But I did not listen to them because I'm Bisaya. I want to show that I'm very proud of being a Bisaya)," added Villamor.
Villamor hails from Davao del Sur in Mindanao, but made a name here in Cebu as a promising boxer under the guidance of boxing patron Antonio "Bidoy" Aldeguer.
Villamor was overheard speaking Bisaya while giving instructions to Bautista during the Medina bout on several instances. And everytime he did it, he elicited a warm round of applause and words of praises from a large throng of spectators, including this writer, who watched the fight live via satellite on two giants screens at the grand ballroom of Cebu City Marriott Hotel.
Aside from giving importance to his roots, Villamor likewise proved he is at par with world-class ring strategists, steering Bautista to a decisive 12-round unanimous decision victory over Medina that earned his ward a mandatory shot at WBO super bantamweight champion Daniel Ponce de Leon of Mexico.
Interestingly, it was the first time in Bautista's six fights in the United States that Villamor worked on the corner of Bautista without the assistance of Freddie Roach, who had other business to take care calling the shots for Oscar de la Hoya against Floyd Mayweather.
After scoring a flash knockdown in round six, Bautista went through some frightening moments when he was caught by Medina's big right hand that nearly knocked him out in the sevent round.
Sensing that Bautista has fully cleared his head after round eight, villamor commanded the Boholano ring sensation to press on the attack to baffle Medina.
"Before the start of round nine, I told him to keep on attacking Medina because Medina doesn't know what to do every time he is pinned on the ropes. Bautista responded well and I give him credit for that," said Villamor, a former two-time world challenger.
In round 11, Bautista sent Medina down at the seat of his pants with a cracking right cross to the chin. Although he failed to finish off his durable Argentine foe, the Candihay, Bohol warrior did well enough to get all the three judges' nod in convincing fashion.
When asked if he is ready enough for a world championship fight, Bautista responded on the affirmative although he admitted that he still needs to improve on his defense and footwork.
Bautista and Villamor arrived in Manila yesterday morning together with AJ "Bazooka" Banal, boxing manager Michael P. Aldeguer and international promoter Sammy Gello-ani. Banal hurdled his US debut with an eight-round unanimous decision win over Mexican Juan Alberto Rosas.
"We're very satisfied of his performance but he could have done better. Maybe he was just a bit anxious that he's seeing action in a card of such magnitude in his first fight in the US," explained Michael Aldeguer, who his slowly taking the mantle of his father Tony Aldeguer in running the affair of ALA Boxing Gym.
Bautista and his entourage are expected to be back in Cebu at 8:30 am today. They will grace a press conference at the Cebu City Marriott Hotel at 9am before proceeding to Tagbilaran City where a ticker-tape parade arranged by Tagbilaran Mayor Dan Neri Lim await the Boholano boxing heroes.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Emmanuel B. Villaruel.
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