'KAPRE' CATCHES THE PACMAN'S EYES
By Manny Piñol
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 26 Jun 2013
-- General Santos City - On a night when newly-crowned International Boxing Organization (IBO) World Jr. Bantamweight Champion Edrin 'The Sting" Dapudong presented his champion's belt to Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, I decided to bring along a young fighter who I believe represents the future of Philippine boxing.
The tall 18-year-old boxer from Pres. Roxas town, Roskie "Kapre" Cristobal, 5' 11" in height with a record of 4 wins all of which came by KO in the first round, immediately caught the eye of the Pacman.
"Ang laki ng batang ito, ah! Magaling ba?," Manny asked me after sizing up Cristobal, a southpaw like him, who stood a good five inches taller than the 8-division world champion.
When told that the young Cristobal knocked out all of his first four opponents in the first round, Pacquiao said "Kapre" must be supported and given the best trainer to establish sound fundamentals in boxing.
Cristobal, who last fought in August last year, has been inactive for almost 10 months after he was downed by Dengue, a mosquito-borne disease prevalent in Mindanao and has caused the death of many people, especially children.
Today, he is preparing for his first fight this year, hopefully by the end of July or first week of August during the town fiesta of M'lang, North Cotabato, hometown of the new champion, Dapudong.
I told Manny that while it is still to early to conclude that Cristobal will be a world champion, I believe that the young boy's power, his shiftiness inside the ring in spite of his size and his determination to train hard and eagerness to fight, will make him an interesting boxer.
In the many years that I have been involved with boxing, I have always believed that there are two very important qualifications that a boxer must possess: heart and power.
These are two attributes which cannot be taught. All the rest can be developed. Durability and the ability to take a punch will only be known during the actual fights.
Cristobal, who is another product of the grassroots boxing program of North Cotabato, is expected to campaign in the welterweight division as he matures, although he is fighting as a lightweight now.
"Kailangan tutukan ito, bigyan ng magaling na trainer at conditioning coach para ma-develop," Manny said.
(There's a need to focus on this boy, he should be given a good trainer and conditioning coach so he will be developed.)
When Manny said that I knew that he saw something in the tall boy from North Cotabato which convinced him that Cristobal has a future in the sport.
After all, a gem cannot escape the eyes of an expert who has met and fought the best in the sport.
(Photo caption: Cristobal towers over the 5' 6" tall Manny Pacquiao and the 5' 5" tall Edrin Dapudong. Photo by Joshua Casimina)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Manny Piñol.
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