ERNEL FONTANILLA IN A DRAW WITH MANUEL SARABIA
By Ed de la Vega, DDS
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 14 Mar 2008
Las Vegas, Nevada -- For the past several months, every time we see Ernel Fontanilla at Los Angeles, the frustration of waiting to get on a fight card was clearly evident in the demeanor of the young man from Saranggani who now fights out of the Atwater district of Los Angeles and trains at the Wildcard Gym.
But, when he finally got the chance to show his wares he was no different from all the Filipinos that fought tonight:- determined to win and go places they never been before.
Fontanilla has not fought since July 2, 2006 at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. His opponent then was Jundy Maraon who at that time was undefeated. Unfortunately, due to accidental head butts that cause nasty cuts on Fontanilla early on the fight, the fight was declared a technical draw.
Soon after that bout, Fontanilla moved to Los Angeles and amazingly settled into a quiet married life.
But, the fight bug was deeply imbedded in him . With that, he kept in shape at the Wildcard Gym as if he had a fight schedule.
An opportunity opened for him during the Pacquiao - Morales II but for some strange reasons, the fight did not go through although he and his opponent were dressed to fight. Apparently, the fight card got too late into the nite and the promoters decided to call it a day. Of course Fontanilla was dejected but the pain of training for nothing was a wee bit relieved by the fact that the promoters paid his purse even if he did not fight.
Then came the Pacquiao-Marquez II. With the backing of his manager, Boboy Fernandez and the blessing of the whole Team Pacquiao, Fontanilla took a fight on the undercard.
But fighting on the undercards has some peculiarities. Sometimes, even as close as a week before the actual fight night, one?s opponent may not yet be known. The famous TBA! ( to be announced)
Such is the case for Fontanilla. He knew he was on the fight card but he does not know against whom. It was not until the weigh in where he finally met the guy. His name is Manuel Sarabia and he is from Mexico.
But be that as it may, Fontanilla could not care less. All he wanted to do was get on the ring on fight night and show the world that he too is worth a second look.
That he did.
Fontanilla gave his all exchanging booms with Sarabia for 4 long round in a give and take fight. In the end, the judges called it as it should be.:- a draw.
Top photo: Ernel Fontanilla (R) dishes out an uppercut on Manuel Sarabia during the fight at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas Thursday night.
The referee raises both Fontanilla's and Sarabia's hands for a draw verdict.
Photos by Dr. Ed de la Vega.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ed de la Vega, DDS.
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