WEBSITES COME AND GO
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 02 Sep 2011
Cebu City ? Just like most of the contributors to this website, I have a real day job. But we decided to donate a few hours of our time for the simple love of the fight game; no schemes of money or trips abroad, just the incurable writing bug and the captivating drama and anticipation of a ring war. I started out as just another fan, like all who frequently visit this site and post their opinions in the forum.
Six years ago, I decided to send articles to the website philippineboxers.com. My number one reason was that I sensed something special was about to happen. Manny Pacquiao was reeling from a disputed draw with Juan Manuel Marquez followed by a loss to Erik Morales. But the majority of fans still loved him. They had their reasons for supporting him and even back then already compared him to the great Flash Elorde.
My second reason for writing was the plight of Luisito Espinosa. In 2005, stories about his financial woes filled the internet. I believed what happened to him was a grave injustice and voiced my concerns. It is a travesty that six years later, nothing has changed.
My third reason was Cebu boxing?s rejuvenation. There were new stars waiting to be discovered and paying customers started to flock the Mandaue Sports Complex and other smaller venues in the nearby cities and towns.
I owe philippineboxers.com my start as a boxing writer. But I was fortunate that Dong Secuya and Salven Lagumbay noticed my work and invited me to join them before that website eventually shut down. Philboxing and Pacland continued to draw more readers as we chronicled the exploits of Manny Pacquiao.
I?m sure the old readers of philippineboxers visit Pacland often and are still here looking for philboxing updates. Dong and I have been talking about Pinoygreats.com, even debating about the word ?great? and who truly fits the criteria. But I?m confident that it will provide fans a fresh start and a broader perspective later on.
I was already a boxing fan long before the Pacman era. During the early 80?s I would watch fights on TV with my father and grandfather and marvel at the exploits of Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Salvador Sanchez and my all-time favorite Alexis Arguello. We would even watch reruns of classic bouts and old black and white films showing highlights of Sugar Ray Robinson and Joe Louis. Back then I longed for a great Filipino champion that could rival their accomplishments.
We had short lived champions during that decade. But we still cheered for the likes of Rolando Navarette and Dodie Boy Pe?alosa. Back then, I had to get my news from the radio, newspapers and magazines.
Even in the 1990?s, Filipino boxing fans had to endure months of drought when we had no world champion. But the real boxing fans remained and many are enjoying the moment together with the new converts of the sport.
Philippine boxing will endure long after Pacquiao retires. We may never see a crossover superstar like him but I?m sure we will have another great champion. My reasons for this optimism are the fans: Fans who visit this website for legitimate boxing news. Fans who fanatically voice their opinion. Fans who watch outdoor free to the public fight cards under the pouring rain. Fans who pay their way to watch big and small fights and give attention to the undercards.
Sportswriters ? who write them but don?t fight them ? will continue to record the exploits of our champions. The classiest gesture of gratitude was the one I heard from former two-division champ Gerry Pe?alosa, who is now a promoter, during one of the press conferences of his cards here in Cebu. ?Without sportswriters, no one would know about our boxers. Without sportswriters, there would be no Gerry Pe?alosa.?
A humble gesture from a champion who gave pride to our country in numerous ring battles. I?m sure he will say the same thing for the fans who supported him. He may have been underappreciated in his prime but the real Filipino boxing fans will always cherish his accomplishments.
The average Filipino boxing fan will never get to see a fight in New York or Las Vegas. But he continues to be a fan. Star athletes retire, websites get shut down, but as long as there are fans, Philippine boxing will survive and prosper.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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