Gone too soon
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 02 Nov 2020
Rico Navarro.
Last month, my good friend Rico Navarro texted to invite me for a one-on-one chat on his weekly online show “Bleacher Talk Goes Live” and I readily accepted. Rico and I go back a long way. I remember him as a ring announcer doing Cebu fights decades ago. Like Michael Buffer with his “Let’s Get Ready To Rumble” or Jimmy Lennon with his “It’s Showtime,” Rico had his own signature call, “Here We Go.”
But more than being a ring announcer, Rico was known for his love of sports, not just boxing but all sports. He wrote an insightful column “Bleacher Talk” in The Freeman and did articles, too. One of his newspaper stories was published in The Freeman last Sept. 23 and it was about something we talked about on his show. The story was entitled “The Dean Appeals----No To Commercialism In College Sports.” Rico wrote, “Speaking from the heart and emotionally expressing his thoughts, he (Henson) said that emphasis must be made on the fact that college athletes are primarily student athletes but some are thinking that their being athletes surpasses their obligation of being students.”
Rico’s show was an hour long but we extended to 1 1/2 hours because there was just so much to talk about. We discussed the NBA playoffs, the PBA bubble and college sports. Because of Rico’s knowledge of sports, it wasn’t so much an interview as an exchange of ideas. When it ended, we realized we hadn’t even touched on the fight game and he promised to do a Part Two so we could discuss the future of Philippine boxing, the effects of the pandemic on Filipino world champions Sen. Manny Pacquiao, Jerwin Ancajas, Johnriel Casimero and Pedro Taduran, the possibility of Nonito Donaire becoming a world titleholder again and lots more. I figured even a Part Three wouldn’t cover everything we could talk about. I also remember Rico working as vice president of Omega Sports and reaching out to promote events where he was involved.
When I learned that Rico passed away last Tuesday, I was shocked. He was 53 with still so much to live for. Rico suffered a heart attack while biking. It was a loss that will reverberate for a long, long time. Rico didn’t just host “Bleacher Talk Goes Live” but also “Bida BEST Live” with Julie Amos for the BEST Center Sports and “Idol Talk” for the MVP Sports Foundation Youth Basketball League, formerly the Cebu Youth Basketball League which he founded. He was athletic director of the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu and a recent 10-year awardee. A La Salle Toledo City graduate, Rico was SBP’s Region 7 director.
Philboxing.com founder Dong Secuya said: “It is with great sadness to hear the sudden demise of our friend Rico, may the Lord take care of him … Rico was a very amiable guy who dedicated his life to sports and was a past president of the Sportswriters Association of Cebu.” Cebu sports patron Bidoy Aldeguer said Rico was “a good guy” and his death is “a big loss to Cebu sports.” Rico’s impact on sports as an influencer and organizer was significant. He was well-loved by everyone and I join the sports community in mourning his passing. Rico wasn’t just a colleague but also a friend whose passion for sports was an inspiration. Rest in peace, Rico.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
SMITH VS. GERMAIN + UNDERCARD FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Fri, 18 Apr 2025There Are No Miracles— Just Nora Aunor
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Fri, 18 Apr 2025Heavyweight Contender Lenier Pero Set to Shine on April 18 at Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando
Fri, 18 Apr 2025New Champion, New Era: Lightweight King Keyshawn Davis Defends Throne Against Edwin De Los Santos in Homecoming June 7 at Norfolk’s Scope Arena LIVE on ESPN
Fri, 18 Apr 2025Rising Canadian super lightweight prospect Eric Basran draws undefeated Isaiah Johnson for Friday's opening round of the inaugural Riyadh Season/WBC Boxing Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia
Fri, 18 Apr 2025FORMER MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION KELLY “THE GHOST” PAVLIK TO ATTEND 2025 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND
Fri, 18 Apr 2025Beltran faces Crenz in WBC Grand Prix
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 17 Apr 2025Into to fight Jones in WBC Grand Prix
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 17 Apr 2025USA Boxing International Concludes Day Two Competition
Thu, 17 Apr 2025Little Pancho: A Filipino Fighter in the Ring, an American Soldier to the End
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Thu, 17 Apr 2025Beltran ready to fight in WBC Grand Prix
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 17 Apr 2025Arca stuns English GM, maintains share of top spot in Bangkok Chess Open
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 17 Apr 2025Melvin’s target is Collazo
By Joaquin Henson, Thu, 17 Apr 2025Piala fights Choki in WBC Grand Prix
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 17 Apr 2025There will be NO DRAWS at the World Boxing Council Grand Prix in Riyadh
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Thu, 17 Apr 2025