Dong Secuya: the Godfather of Philboxing
An Unsolicited Tribute to One of Philippine Boxing's Most Important Figures
By J.V. Tuazon, DPT aka 'The Fight Doc'
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 09 Jul 2008
NEW YORK -- In the last few years, I have been fortunate enough to meet and befriend a living legend in Philippine boxing. No, I am not talking about the megastar Manny Pacquiao and I am too young to have known the great Flash Elorde. The legend I am speaking of is Dong "Rock'em, Sock'em" Secuya. Ok, ok, I made that nickname up myself but the ring moniker definitely befits a man of his many accomplishments.
Like the plastic ring robots that bear the same name, Dong Secuya has "rocked and socked" the internet boxing world since 2003, the same year that Pacquiao busted onto the scene and "rocked and socked" Barerra at the Alamodome. At one recent high point in Philboxing's history, Secuya and Philboxing punched their way to the top of the internet "hit" list, causing even Yahoo to take note.
Yes, it can be argued that even if Dong Secuya never started Mannypacquio.ph (2003) or Philboxing.com (2005), the Pacman would still have become the "Destroyer," Penalosa would still liver punch his way to another world championship ten years after his first, and ALA and SGG would still rule the Philippine promotional world, with many new groups also making their mark.
However, with Mr. Secuya's brilliant web creation, Philippine boxing has skyrocketed to epic proportions ? his site being the major vehicle in expediting the already fast footed, red Nike-clad process. The internet has made this a small world after all and just like in real estate, Mr. Secuya was at the right place at the right time. Secuya is now reaping his investment a thousand fold ? or thirty thousand fold to be exact, which just so happens to be the total amount of registered members of his site. Mind you, this is a milestone not reached by even the oldest and most established boxing sites worldwide!
Philboxing has directly and indirectly helped bring young Filipino upstart fighters like Nietes, Condes, Banal, Bautista, Conception, and Morales to the forefront of our imaginations, the world stage, and even world rankings. In a world of sports superstars beyond our reach, Secuya has brought our favorite fighters, our heroes, and our country's hopes within tangible grasp. With the help of the site's many great contributors, Dong, as he is affectionately called by those in the boxing circle, has made our boxers more accessible, more intimate, and more personal.
Dong has also indirectly sparked the interest of many young Filipino boys and girls, men and women, doctors and taxi cab drivers all over the Philippines to start training feverishly at their local gyms. The Phil-fever epidemic has also contaminated U.S. soil, with hotbeds of Filipino fight fans, mostly in the New York/New Jersey area, Chicago, and California itching for action. Filipino households now gather during fight nights and divvy up pay-per-view expenses. And in true Filipino fashion, they exchange a potluck of lechon kawali, lumpia, adobo and imported San Miguel for a glimpse of Manny live on PPV. Who would have thought they would live to see the day when their lola (grandmother in Tagalog) would yell expletives at the TV screen instead of being at church early Sunday morning? All this while throwing punches in the air with more bad intentions than Jermain Taylor in the Kelly Pavlik rematch!
Just as important as bringing boxing back to life in the Philippines, Philboxing's godfather has created a caring, self governing community of international boxing fans and aficionados. Secuya has created a family of Paclanders, whose love (and sometimes hate) for each other is clearly exhibited in his site's Pacquiao paced, non-stop forum. You can even check Compubox if you don't believe me, but more jabs are thrown at each other in this forum than at most heavyweight boxing fights these days! Hey, a family without bickering is just too damn creepy and as the old adage goes "a family who discusses boxing together, stays together." I think. It's what makes families, well, families and without a doubt, whether you consider Pacland functional or dysfunctional, it cannot be denied that Pacland is one damn large family. So think twice before messing with any of the girls there because that one girl has 29,999 kuyas (older brothers) watching her back!
Secuya (R) during PhilBoxing.com's coverage of Bautista's fight in Tampa, Florida. With him are from left, Johanna Javaluyas, ALA trainer Edito Villamor, Rey Bautista, promoter Sammy Gello-ani, GBP Vice-President Eric Gomez and PhilBoxing's Salven Lagumbay.
In closing, the reality is that boxers come and go. And if you look at the history of Silicone Valley, you know that dot-coms go even faster. So just how long will Philboxing sail internet boxing's seven seas? Honestly, no one knows.
But as long as Dong Secuya, our el Capitan de Barco, is at the head of the ship, one thing's for sure?
Ain't no typhoon gonna stop it!
Note: This article was written prior to the unfortunate incident involving the Philippine typhoon. To all the souls who have passed and the families that were shattered, Pacland's prayers are with you always. You have a family here.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by J.V. Tuazon, DPT aka 'The Fight Doc'.
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