Blockbuster card in Cebu - SPORTING CHANCE by Joaquin M. Henson

Big-time boxing returns to the Waterfront Hotel Grand Ballroom in Lahug, Cebu City, as highly-touted Rodel Mayol takes on Korean No. 1 miniflyweight contender Kim Jae Ho in the mainer of a 10-fight bill featuring four foreign invaders tomorrow night.

Sammy Gello-ani, fondly called Dong King by Cebu beakbusting aficionados, is promoting the smoker and expects the same sellout crowd that jammed the Waterfront in the posh hotel’s first dinner-boxing show last January.

"At first, Sammy planned to put the fights at the Cebu Coliseum but due to the public clamor for another card at the Waterfront, after the huge success of Wakee Salud’s promotion, we had no choice but to comply with the demand," said Cebu based businessman and sportsman Tony Aldeguer who finances Gello-ani’s fight ventures.

Mayol, 19, is Aldeguer’s latest "Golden Boy." The 5-4 two-time Palarong Pambansa gold medalist of Alang-Alang, Mandaue, boasts a 5-0 record, with four KOs. Two of his victims were grizzled warriors Allan Llanita and Al Tarazona.

Against Tarazona, Mayol was frighteningly devastating. Mayol, four pounds lighter, floored Tarazona twice before referee Teddy Alivio stepped in with a second left in the first round.

Last Jan. 28, Aldeguer took Mayol to Himeji, Japan, to face unbeaten Ken Nakajima in his first overseas outing. Mayol cruised to a clear win on points.

"I am bringing Mayol up slowly but surely," said Aldeguer. "I honestly believe Mayol will beat Kim but knowing the toughness and ruggedness of the Korean, it will be a good test." If Mayol survives Kim, Aldeguer plans a crack at the Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) 105-pound crown in his next outing.

Aldeguer is also preparing Mayol for a life after boxing. He’s paying for his tuition as a Business Administration student at Southwestern University.

An Asian Games veteran, Kim is rated No. 4 by the OPBF and has a 5-2-1 record, with three KOs.

Aldeguer said Mayol has the tools to surpass his trainer Edito Villamor’s feats. Villamor was once Aldeguer’s prized protégé and lost in two bids for the world title. Now, Villamor trains Aldeguer’s stable of "New Generation" fighters–Mayol, Philippine junior welterweight titlist Dindo Castanares, Wendel Janiola, and teenaged, three-time national amateur champion ZCY Gorres who makes his pro debut in tomorrow’s card.

Castanares, 20, is seeing action at the Waterfront, too. He battles Dornchai Sakpanya of Thailand. Early this month, the 5-7 slugger of Laray San Roque, Talisay, halted veteran Nonoy Gonzales in six to raise his record to 6-0, with four KOs. Obviously, Aldeguer is keeping Castanares busy.

Like Mayol, Aldeguer is sending Castanares who won the Philippine 140-pound crown in only his fifth bout to school. Castanares is taking up criminology at the University of Visayas. A two-time National Youth gold medalist, Castanares also hit paydirt at the 1996 Palarong Pambansa, the 1997 LGUlympics, and the 1997 Philippine National Games.

In other tenners, Tirso Albia meets Kap Chul Choi of Korea and Jaime Barcelona duels unbeaten Ryuichi Minoriyama of Japan.

Bringing in four foreigners to fight on the same card is a first in Cebu’s storied boxing history. The P600,000 budget will be worth it if the fans are entertained, said Aldeguer.

Choi has victimized a string of Filipinos, including Rey Cosep, Rex Rapizo, and Jun Altarejos while Minoriyama, the All-Japan Novice King, is fresh from defeating Philippine bantamweight titleholder Joel Avila. Minoriyama, the OPBF No. 7 contender, is unbeaten in nine bouts.

"Although no title will be at stake, we feel these four attractions will do justice to Sammy’s promotion because it will guarantee to entertain the public," said Aldeguer who used to manage the likes of Gerry Peñalosa, Malcolm Tuñacao, and Joma Gamboa. "One thing I have always disliked is to get patsies to fight my boys because the ultimate losers will be the public and my own boys. I will never know their potentials unless they are given opponents equal to their caliber and if the public is not satisfied the fans will not come again for our next promotion."

Aldeguer said the card wouldn’t be possible without the support of Waterfront Hotel General Manager Patrick Gregorio. "In This Corner" producers Paul Pereyra and Allan Leroux, and sponsors San Miguel Beer, Casino Filipino, Y101, SkyCable, USA Sports and the Waterfront Hotel.

The fights begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are priced at P1,000 for the reserved section (including dinner), P700 for ringside, and P300 for gallery.

If the ultimate goal is to turn Cebu into the country’s boxing mecca, then tomorrow’s card is a step in the right direction.