Mark Anthony Lontayao: The man with the Silver Voice
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 14 Aug 2021
August 14, 2021
San Leandro, California
Boxing has a long list of engaging characters in and out of the ring. Mark Anthony Lontayao of the Philippines is definitely one of them. But don’t mistake him for just being Team Casimero’s social-media representative what with his baritone voice and affable personality. There’s more to his persona that meets the eye on his account SilverVoiceTV via Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. He juggles his duties as videographer, running mate, training camp jester of sorts and occasional sparring partner. MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons and his son Brendan Gibbons, Jonas Sultan and the man we call Quadro Alas can attest to that.
Mark Lontayao’s journey in boxing, and for many others, was inspired by watching a Manny Pacquiao fight. He was hooked upon seeing Senator Manny Pacquiao’s first world title fight in the United States when he beat the late Lehlohonolo “Lehlo” Ledwaba from South Africa for the IBF super-bantamweight title on June 23, 2001 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
He became an amateur boxer along with his three brothers. Brothers Lontayao were under the tutelage of Joven Jimenez, coach and manager of IBF super-bantamweight world champion Jerwin Ancajas. Interestingly, Coach Joven Jimenez found Mark’s timbre to be ring-announcer material and encouraged him to consider turning professional in announcing fights.
Mark Lontayao as Andres Bonifacio on an adaption of the Tejeros Convention that sparked the first Philippine Revolution against the Spanish rulers.
“One day back in 2010 during a fight card, the ring announcer was absent. The promoter asked around and someone suggested I might be a good substitute. I hastily wrote the fighters names and records and just winged it. And I fell in love with the job,” intimated Lontayao and added, “I was a professor at the University of Makati, Theater and Arts department during the day and moonlight as an rep for a call center at night. I figure, it was not a stretch to speak on a microphone.”
“In 2016, I called the fight between Jerwin Ancajas versus McJoe Arroyo IBF title bout and Sir Sean Gibbons was there. The rest, so to speak, is history.”
VIDEO OF MARK LONTAYAO
https://youtu.be/yXfkZAXHed0
Tomorrow, John Riel “Quadro Alas” Casimero defends his WBO 118-pound title against Cuban stylist and WBA (regular) bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux at the Dignity Health Sports Park.
In the undercard, contender Jonas Sultan of the Philippines faces Sharone Carter in an eight-round match in the bantamweight division.
Win or lose for both Casimero and Sultan, we will have the best Filipino translator in Mark Lontayao.
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Some Q/A’s for PhilBoxing.com
How is family life treating you?
“I miss being away from my family, but I’ll see them soon. My transition to life in the world of boxing was initially difficult. It was hard to explain to my wife why I wanted to give up my previous job(s) to focus on mainstream boxing. I can honestly say I’ve made the right decision. I am so blessed to be part of MP Promotions under Sir Sean Gibbons.”
Who are your role models?
“Michael Buffer is my childhood idol. We spoke in Malaysia during Manny Pacquaio-Lucas Mathysse fight. I told him my sentiment. He was gracious to me, a gentleman.”
“Boxing has allowed me to introduce great fighters like John Riel Casimero, Jonas Sultan and Randy Petalcorin, to name a few. If I can share any message to anyone wanting to box, produce entertainment or instructional videos for Facebook or YouTube…Just follow your passion and do what you love, your time will come! Viva!”
Author’s Notes:
All photos and videos are courtesy of MP Promotions and Mark Lontayao. All rights reserved.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Emmanuel Rivera, RRT.
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