Champions Don't Just Pop Out; They're Discovered and Molded
By Manny Piñol
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 27 Jun 2010
The new World Boxing Council (WBC) Flyweight Silver champion, Edrin "The Sting" Dapudong, was described as the only "lucky" fighter last weekend having scored the solitary win among the five Filipino boxers who figured in important bouts in Mexico and South Africa.
Maybe, it was just a poor choice of word. But those who know what we have been doing in boxing in North Cotabato know that the "lucky" victory in Mexico by our boxer was bound to happen. The "lucky" fighter could have been any of the boys discovered through a grassroots boxing program started in 1998 during my first term as governor of the province. It just happened that the first big "lucky" break was given to young Edrin.
Our luck in Mexico last week actually started when I and my brothers started a boxing program as part of the sports program of the province when I became governor in 1998.
My brothers Noli, who volunteered to be the chief trainer, and Socrates, now a board member, were assigned to handle the program. With two collapsible boxing rings, tournaments were held during fiestas in remote areas of the province where barefoot kids were allowed to figure in amateur fights with the winners receiving P100 and the losers P50.
There was a bigger incentive: young boys with potentials were identified by talent scouts led by Bruce Lerio, brother of Olympians Arlan and Danilo. Those selected were sent to school as scholars in front of the provincial capitol in Kidapawan City and provided with free board and lodging.
Dapudong (R) tags Jimenez with a right.
In the afternoon, after class, the boys, some as young as 12, would spend two hours training in the makeshift gym. They were trained to follow the rules. Those who broke the rules were warned. Recidivists were sent home. No "ifs", No "buts."
In 2006, I and my bosom friend, Inquirer sports columnist Recah Trinidad, travelled to Havana, Cuba to ask the Cuban government to allow one of their national coaches to work in the Philippines.
With the support of the Philippine Sports Commission under then chairman Butch Ramirez, we brought home 62-year-old Honorato Espinosa, who holds the distinction of being the first Cuban coach to win a gold in boxing for his country in the Munich Olympics.
Espinosa stayed in the Philippines for 18 months and trained our local trainers, including my brother, Noli, who is now the chief trainer of the Braveheart Boxing Club. We also lent Espinosa to other provinces who also participated in the same program.
It was the Cuban coach who set a very high standard for the selection of our boxers and this is now the foundation of our boxing program in North Cotabato.The Cuban influence is also evident in the fighting style of the boxers from North Cotabato, who are methodical in their attacks, first to the body and then the head.
Discipline, determination, heart and power. Those who failed to live up to these standards were either sent home to go farming or advised to go to school to finish a degree.
A talented young boy who won three gold medals in three successive Palarong Pambansa was sent home because he was caught smoking and drinking. Honestly, I feel that boy could have made it to the Olympic Games but we could not compromise the rules just because of one boxer.
Even after these boxers have turned pro, the screening process continued. A boxer who I thought would make good in the pro league was recently released because he gave up during a critical fight in Australia.
Others, including my cousin Glenn "Rapid Fire" Gonzales, were advised to take a rest and reconsider their options. Glenn suffered a bad loss in Cebu City last year where he was hurt repeatedly. He has joined the group of world champion Nonito Donaire Jr. as sparring partner.
Boxers who do not have "it" are told so and advised to go home. Some people say we are overly strict and sometimes heartless but you will understand what I am saying when you see your boxer being pummeled by a more superior fighter inside the ring.
Dapudong and at least nine more fighters who have stayed in the camp are products of this program.
Of the nine, five more, aside from Dapudong, are now ready for the big fights. There is 5' 7" tall featherweight Lorenzo "Thunderbolt" Villanueva 23, who remains undefeated at 18 wins with 17 KOs and currently the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental Champion; the talented former national amateur team member super bantam Rolando "Smooth Operator" Magbanua, 24, whose record is 17 wins, 1 loss, 12 KOs; bantamweight Glenn "The Rock" Porras, 24, with 23 wins, 2 losses, 15 KOs; flyweight Jermie "The Worm" Jabel, 21, with 15 wins, 7 KOs, 1 draw; and 21-year-old Rommel "Little Assassin" Asenjo, 18 wins, 2 losses, 15 KOs and currently the WBO Oriental Miniflyweight Champion.
There are other young prospects who all came from the amateur ranks and selected strictly. There is the 21-year-old super bantam Rey "The Bull" Juntilla, with 9 wins, and 4 KOs; and three 18-year-old boys: flyweight Gary "Chinito" Lumacad (2wins-0loss), bantamweight Phil Francis Abanilla (1-0) and featherweight Louie Yonting (1 win, 0 loss, 1 KO).
A dozen more aspirants are still in high school and are undergoing a very rigid screening process: heart, power, discipline and determination.
This is what I call the "North Cotabato Boxing Program" which we started 12 years ago and is now starting to yield results.
Not all of these boys will become champions, that is certain. But all of them will have a fair chance to prove their worth in the sport of their choice - boxing.
Luck? Maybe. We all need a little luck in life.
But for me, you get more lucky with Vision, Hard Work and Determination.
If we are lucky, with vision, hard work and determination, we might just be able to discover and develop a new boxing hero to take over the boxing torch from Congressman Manny Pacquiao.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Manny Piñol.
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