P1-M pot money mulled for ‘Manny Pacman of Panay’
By Alex P. Vidal
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 09 Jun 2006
ILOILO CITY – If plans do not miscarry, Panay Island (composed of the provinces of Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, Antique) in Western Visayas could be the first island in the Visayas to produce the next “Manny Pacman” or Manny Pacquiao outside Metro Manila next year.
This became apparent after a group identified with the Johnny Elorde Management International has proposed to hold the first “Manny Pacman of Panay” boxing promotion tentatively in the third quarter this year here.
Marlon Lumacad: "The next Manny Pacquiao will emerge from Panay island."
Mario “Marlon” Lumacad, Jr., son of professional boxing trainer Mario, Sr. and manager of the Elorde Boxing at the Skyline Fitness Center here, said the promotion will be patterned after the “The Contender”, a professional boxing TV show in the United States hosted by former world champion Sugar Ray Leonard and actor Silvestre Stallone.
42 MUNICIPALITIES
Lumacad said each of Iloilo province’s 42 municipalities and Passi City will be asked to field a “contender” to participate in the tournament which will last for several weeks.
The champion will collect the P1 million pot money which the promoter plans to solicit from Pacquiao himself aside from the P1 million from the private sponsors, according to Lumacad.
“Since the GAB (Games and Amusement Board) will open an extension office in Iloilo, we might as well take advantage of the presence of the office here where our local trainers, timekeepers, referees and judges can directly apply for licenses and there would be no need for them to go to Cebu or Manila,” explained the 50-year-old Lumacad.
He said the project will be finalized after his meeting next week with Iloilo Governor Niel D. Tupas, Sr.
Meanwhile, Elorde, son of the legendary former world champion Gabriel “Flash”, has put up a boxing gym at the back of the Jaro Cathedral in Jaro district in tandem with The Winner’s Gym owned by bodybuilding superstar Erwin Tiongson.
EQUIPMENT
The facility, Lumacad said, is complete with boxing equipment such as cylindrical bags, teardrop punching bags, padded wall, double end balls, speedballs, and official boxing ring.
He said Elorde hired three local trainers—Ruben Grecia, Jenniper Quintao, and Moises Junio to attend to aspiring professional boxers. His father Mario, Sr. will upgrade the training once in a while.
“Johnny (Elorde) has spent more or less P200,000 for the boxing facility which he initially thought of opening for the public for physical fitness, and not for competition,” Lumacad said.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Alex P. Vidal.
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