Search for 'Missing' Pinoy Boxing Trainer in Japan Continues
By Alex P. Vidal
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 13 Jul 2007
OSAKA, Japan -- Boxing authorities here continued to track down the whereabouts of Filipino boxing trainer Nestor "Bong" Elorde who had not returned to the Philippines and was suspected to have gone TNT after his ward, Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) champion Juanito Rubillar posted a fifth round knockout win over challenger Ken Nakajima here recently Takashi Inoue, liaison of Green Tsuda Promotions here, told this writer that officials from the immigration department as well as the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) continue to search for Elorde "because what he did was a big digrace."
"Until now, we have not found him," said Inoue, a former middleweight contender here, who claimed that when he first confronted a Filipino boxing judge who was supposed to be Elorde's companion to the Kansai International Airport on a flight back to Manila after the OPBF fight, the Filipino judge was also at a loss and did not know where was Elorde.
"We are now very careful everytime fighters and trainers from Manila come to fight in Japan. We have no problem with teams from Cebu as they have good record," said Inoue.
Matchmaker-cum-journalist Joe Koizumi in a story posted on the philboxing.com website said promoter Takanobu Totsuka had filed a case with the Japanese police about what Koizumi said was "the illegal overstay and illegal work" of Elorde in Japan clearly indicating that Elorde didn't get lost but had deliberately stayed behind. violating the terms and conditions of his visa.
In his report, journalist Ronnie Natanielsz wrote: "There were similar cases of so-called trainers and handlers failing to return after fights in Japan and South Korea in the past. In some instances non-boxing people posed as trainers or corner-men and allegedly with the connivance of past officials of the GAB traveled to Japan and South Korea and found work in those countries illegally. This resulted in a one year ban imposed by the Japan Boxing Commission on all Filipino fighters. The Elorde case is the first in the past few years."
"Koizumi lamented the fact that the latest incident had 'mercilessly destroyed' the possibility of the Japan Boxing Commission allowing Filipino boxers who are not ranked in the top twelve being permitted to fight in six or eight round bouts in Japan," added Natanielsz.
Bebot Elorde, Rubillar's manager, was quoted in philboxing.com as saying that said his relative had "gone out drinking with some Filipinos" to celebrate Rubillar’s smashing fifth round knockout victory over Japan’s Ken Nakajima and was not with them when they checked in at the airport.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Alex P. Vidal.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Weights from Manila: Llover - 117.8 lbs., Concepcion - 117 lbs.
Sat, 16 Aug 2025Itauma vs Whyte: Can Whyte Weather The Storm?
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 16 Aug 2025IIEE Zambasulta captures last seats in the IIEE Golden Chess and other sports
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 16 Aug 2025“Oceanside Prize Fights” WEIGHTS from Revere, MA
Sat, 16 Aug 2025Kenneth “Lover Boy” Llover and Luis “Nica” Concepcion Face Off, Ready for Exciting Action Sunday at Winford Resort Manila
By Carlos Costa, Sat, 16 Aug 2025'BATA' REYES YALIN 10-BALL OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP TO BE HELD IN MANDALUYONG
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 16 Aug 2025KENNETH LLOVER AND LUIS CONCEPCION PROMISE FIREWORKS AS THEY GO FACE TO FACE FOR THE FIRST TIME
Fri, 15 Aug 2025Khan, De Barbo, Ognayon, Cha, Dologuin, Dawrani in Action in Brico Santig’s Highland Show in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Fri, 15 Aug 2025Capiz's veteran woodpushers join the Touchmove rapid chess
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 15 Aug 2025Oleksandr Usyk perfect model for Boxing phenom Marco Romero
Fri, 15 Aug 2025Dante “The Inferno” Kirkman Set to Make Ring Return September 6 at “Thunder Showdown III”
Fri, 15 Aug 2025‘PLATINUM’ MIKE PERRY VS. JEREMY STEPHENS HEADLINES GROUND BREAKING BKFC EVENT SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4 AT PRUDENTIAL CENTER IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY
Fri, 15 Aug 2025Traya now in Thailand for 'Battle of Bangkok' on Aug. 30
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 14 Aug 2025Nine National Masters join the Touchmove event
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 14 Aug 2025What's Three Pounds? The Collazo-Vayson Affair (Part II)
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Thu, 14 Aug 2025