American lawyer signs up 2 Pinoy pugs
By Lito delos Reyes
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 30 Jan 2013
MANILA ? Two young and promising professional boxers have signed up with an American lawyer that will promote and help them become the next possible Filipino world champion last Tuesday at the Makati Square.
Flyweight Mark Joseph Costa, 22, and mini-flyweight Renerio Arizala, 18, both of the SBS Boxing Stable from Taytay, Rizal had agreed to be handled by Sydney Hall as their business manager.
Hall has already brought many Filipino fighters to the United States in the past including former world champions Luisito Espinosa and Gerry Penalosa and 8th world division champion Manny Pacquiao.
?This is the first time that I took boxers who are still not champions here,? said Hall, who selected Costa and Arizala with the help of former US Olympic boxing trainer Terry ?Bubba? Stott.
They Americans, however, are confident that both Costa and Arizala has got what it takes to become a world class fighter.
?They have the speed and power and both are still young,? said Stott, who has already produced many world champions in South Africa.
Costa, who is now called by Stott as the ?Little Tyson?, referring to the former world heavyweight champion Mike ?Iron? Tyson, was the opponent of the late Karlo Maquinto, who died after their fight ended in a majority draw last January 28, 2012 in Caloocan.
Costa twice knocked down Maquinto in the second round but was deducted a point for intentionally spitting out his mouthpiece. After the fight ended Maquinto collapsed in the ring and was rushed to the nearest hospital. Maquinto went into deep comatose situation and eventually died at the hospital on February 3.
Costa has then suffered three straight loses and previously by a unanimous decision to Rene Dacquel last January 17.
The 5-foot-6 Arizala, on the other hand, has a record of 4 wins with 3 knockouts and no loss or draw. The native from Masbate previously scored a third round TKO win over Rogie Cantos last Sept. 15.
?This guy could be the next possible Manny Pacquiao,? said Stott.
Both fighters are still under their manager Joel Ostria, who agreed to allow Hall to negotiate for them in their behalf.
?I?m happy to be back in boxing. It will be hard to get a follow-up on Pacquiao but were looking forward for a little help from him (Pacquiao),? said Hall, who helped send Pacquiao to the US to challenge and beat then International Boxing Federation (IBF) super bantamweight champion Lehlo Ledwaba via a sixth round knockout on June 23, 2001.
Pacquiao had already lost his World Boxing Council flyweight title but was still given the chance by Hall for a title-crack upon the recommendation of his friend and lady boxing manager Yolly Alfante.
Alfante is now the president of the Buhay Kamao Foundation wherein Pacquiao is also the honorary chairman.
?We will be helping each other again here,? said Hall, who brought Stott in the country to help discover and train the next world boxing champion.
NEW PROSPECTS.
Professional boxers Mark Joseph Costa (3rd from left) and Renerio Arizola (extreme left) are the first two to have signed up with the promotion of American Sydney Hall (3rd from right) during a signing held at the Makati Square last Jan. 29. Also in photo are (from right) Buhay Kamao Foundation secretary Lito Delos Reyes, female boxer Cheralie Dagit, manager Joel Ostria and trainer Terry "Bubba" Stott.
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