Local, US breeders brace for ‘Olympics’

Only the very best fighting cocks will be seeing action in the much-awaited World Slasher eight-cock derby on Jan. 15, 17 and 19 at the Araneta Coliseum. Aptly billed as the "Olympics of Cockfighting," this annual blue-ribbon affair will renew the bitter rivalry between leading cocker-breeders of the United States and the Philippines.

It will be hosted by Big Dome owner and last year’s first leg co-champion Jorge "Nene" Araneta, Gov. Ito Ynares and the Firefly Group.

Quality fights await the legions of cockfighting aficionados in the three-day series featuring the very best battle cocks. The most popular bloodlines are the Sweater crosses (cocks crossed to the Lemon, or Roundhead or to the yellow-leg Hatch, Radio or Albany), but the old reliables are still around, namely the Roundhead-Clarets, the McLean crosses, Kelsos and the Hatch-Greys.

The American challengers will be spearheaded by ace cocks from the farms of Tom Cooper and Jeff Hudspeth of North Carolina, Ray Alexander of Alabama, Dan Gray of Louisiana, Carol NeSmith of Mississippi, Bobby Jones of Texas, Oscar Akins of Tennessee, George Torres, Jesse Horta and Romy Arciaga of California, Mike Glover, Dwayne Lind and Scott Baird of Alabama, Oakgrove’s Gene Brown and Donnie Joe Sparks of Texas.

Aside from Nene Araneta, the Filipino contingent includes Danding Cojuangco, James Chiongbian, Jun Santiago, Ito Ynares, Pacifico Berin and Rudy Albano, Pampanga’s Jun and Rudy Jingco and the Madlambayan brothers, respected breeders Boy Jiao and Jun Cometa, Mario Villamor and Nene Abello, Alex Escalona, Eddie and Bomboy Araneta, Jessie Viceo and Roberto So, Iking and Jimmyton Araneta and longtime partners Peping Cojuangco and Esting Teopaco.

At stake in this two-leg series is the coveted World Slasher silver cup made in Italy.