Ernie Sanchez answers ?mismatch? claim by Koncz and Arum
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 15 Feb 2014
Ernie Sanchez and his manager Brico Santig dispute the claims of Michael Koncz and Bob Arum through an article recently published in this site that his canceled fight against Diego Magdaleno was a ?mismatch.?
Sanchez, who according to Koncz and Arum was ?too small in any event to fight into fight Magdaleno,? claims that his contracted weight to fight with Magdaleno is the right weight for him at this point of his career.
Sanchez and Magdaleno?s bout is at lightweight which range from 130 to 135 pounds.
Sanchez, listed at super featherweight by BoxRec as written by Ronnie Nathanielsz, a naturalized Filipino sportscaster, stated that he is comfortable with this fight at the 130?s in an interview with Philboxing.com.
?Yun talaga ang timbang na komportable ako, na kaya ko. Kasi nung lumaban ako ng maliit, di ko kaya, kasi piga na piga na ako.? Sanchez explained.
(That is the weight that I am comfortable with and that one I can make easily. Because when I fought at a lighter weight, I just cannot do it, I am really drained.)
Sanchez says that his normal and walking weight is at 145 pounds and that fighting at 130 will not be the first time for him. He pointed out that he weighed 127 and 128.5 pounds when he fought in Las Vegas in a fight that was not approved by the GAB but pushed by Koncz in 2012 for MP Promotions.
Santig, on his part, explained that Sanchez is a growing kid at 22 years old and his frame and height is ?compatible? if he fights bigger opponents now. Sanchez stands at 5?8?.
?Matangkad si Ernie, malaki ang katawan.? Santig commented.
(Ernie is tall, he has a big frame.)
?Malaki na ako, lumaki na ako, tumaas na ako konti kaya lalaban na ako sa 130 para komportable ako sa katawan ko.? says Sanchez.
(I am bigger now, I have grown, I am taller that is why I want to fight at 130 so I can be comfortable with my body.)
Santig of Highland Boxing explained that everything was processed for Sanchez for this fight weeks before they were about to depart for Los Angeles last Tuesday. He was cleared by the GAB, passed all medical examinations, was approved by the boxing commission in California as an opponent for Magdaleno and was provided round trip tickets for the boxer and his team.
It was not only until Koncz verbalized his opposition to Sanchez?s fighting in what could have been a good payday for the boxer from General Santos City.
?Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit ganon ang nangyari. Nakakapanghinayang ng loob sir. Halos isang buwan na ako nag eensayo, simula ng laban ko sa Mexico, tuloy-tuloy ang ensayo, tapos hindi tuloy ang laban.? Sanchez said.
(I cannot understand what happened. It is disappointing sir. I have been training for almost a month already, after my fight in Mexico, my training never stopped, and then they tell me that the fight is off.)
?Masakit ang nangyari sir, na bigla nilang tinigil ang laban. Meron naman akong pangangailangan, siyempre sa boxing lang naman ako kumikita ng pera. Dun ako kumikita, dun ako umaasa.? Sanchez laments.
(What happened hurts sir, when they just cancelled the fight right away. I need to support myself and it is in boxing that I earn money. This is where I get paid. This is where I depend to make money.)
Sanchez also explained that despite his two defeats in Mexico, in November and December of last year, both fights went the distance, 12 and 10 rounds respectively. And unlike his replacement, he never suffered a knock out in his young career.
He was replaced by Jorge Pazos of Mexico, who has a record of 14 (8 KOs) and 6 losses, 2 of his losses by knockouts. Sanchez?s record is at 14 (5 KOs) and 5 losses, all defeats are by decisions.
?Mas masahol ang pinalit kaya gumagawa lang sila palusot.? Santig commented.
(They replaced him with a fighter with a worse record, they are just making excuses.)
Pazos is 1-4 in his last five fights, one of his defeats by knockout and that solitary win is by a Split Decision in which he was knocked down.
?At saka si Magdaleno, kaya naman sir at pinaghandaan ko talaga yun. Nakita ko yung mga laban ni Magdaleno at pinaghandaan ko talaga yun. ? proclaimed Sanchez who went back to his province to take a break and wait for another call to train and fight.
(I can handle Magdaleno sir and I prepared for him. I have seen his fights and I have really prepared for him.)
Ernie Sanchez will never have the chance to prove that. His chances were cut short before he even climbed the ring by forces beyond his control.
He can only wait for another fight and another chance to come his way, and he hopes that this time it won?t be take a similar course to this fight.
You can reach the author at rrmaze24@aol.com and on Twitter @Freemazon910.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .
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