A NIGHT OF YOUNG STARS
By Manny Piñol
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 08 Oct 2005
If you want to see real boxing, you should prepare your one hundred peso bill and line up early at the gates of the San Andres Civic and Sports Center in Manila on October 29.
As an old hand in boxing, I can give you an assurance that your one hundred pesos, which will go to a fund intended to assist former world champion Luisito Espinosa wage a legal battle to collect his purse from a 1997 fight, would give you a boxing spectacle worth P5,000.
No, I am not trying to pull your leg or drum up interest for the “Fight for Love,” the benefit boxing card which will feature at least eight professional bouts.
Consider this: the Philippine lightweight king, Fernando Montilla, who is now being co-managed by boxing idol Manny Pacquiao and Lito Mondejar, will defend his title against the hardhitting Dexter “Dinamita” Delada of Cebu City who is managed by Wakee Salud, Pacquiao’s best friend.
Montilla, a veteran who is reputed to be a knockout artist, is a favorite over Delada. But many boxing pundits believe that Delada, who holds a record of 12 wins, one loss with 10 knockouts, is capable to sending Montilla to dreamland at the slightest miscue on the part of the champion.
“Montilla has the edge but it is a question of who is able to land the big punch first,” said veteran boxing man Bob Binondo, who along with another former GAB official Rudy Perez, arranged the matches.
Serving as the main supporting bout is another championship encounter between junior bantamweight titlist Eric Barcelona of Bukidnon and former miniflyweight champion Celso Danggod who is now rated No. 4 in the 115 lb. division.
Barcelona is being lined up for a possible crack at the World Boxing Association (WBA) jr. bantamweight title now being held by Martin Castillo of Mexico. But he has to hurdle Danggod, a known brawler.
What will lend more excitement to the night will be the appearance, for the first time, of young boxing stars from the Visayas and Mindanao.
Undefeated jr. bantamweight Mercito Hesta of Cebu City, who is being managed by American expat Terry Carter, will go up against No. 8 flyweight Rolly Mandahinog of Bukidnon.
North Cotabato’s Glenn Porras, a bantamweight (6-1-3 kos), Dennis Juntillano, a jr. flyweight (6-1-3 kos), Tommy Terado, a miniflyweight (6-0-2 kos), Rex Penalosa, a jr. flyweight (5-1-3 kos) and Edrin Dapudong, a miniflyweight (5-0-2 kos) will go up against separate opponents from Manila.
Miniflyweight Richi Mepranum, a prot?g? of Gov. Migs Dominguez and Mayor Jojo Lopez of Maasin, Sanranggani,, will also see action for the second time as a pro after knocking out his opponent in the first round in his first outing.
The fights have generated so much interest that no less than Buddy McGirt, who trains Antonio Tarver and is considered as the best American trainer now, and Puerto Rican Lenny de Jesus, are coming in to witness the big boxing event.
Perhaps, when the night ends, both McGirt and De Jesus would be able to pick out the young talents who would blaze the American boxing scene proudly waving the Philippine flag.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Manny Piñol.
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