Yuki predicts Mangubat to win WBC flyweight title

There’s no doubt in Yuki Murayama’s mind that Randy Mangubat will knock out Pongsaklek Wonjongkam in their World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight title bout in Songkhla, Thailand, on May 30.

Murayama, 33, is Mangubat’s Japanese manager. He’s a freelance photojournalist and member of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines. Murayama has lived in Manila since 1994 and is married to Mira de Leon, a Filipina, with a 3-year-old daughter Micca. He initially came here on a photo assignment to cover the presidential elections for the French news agency Gamma Press Images in 1992.

Two years ago, Murayama was contracted by a Japanese TV company to shoot a documentary on Filipino fighters in General Santos City. Murayama said his heart fell when he realized the sacrifices that fighters endure to live a dream of someday becoming a world champion. He saw how fighters ate only one meal–consisting of a piece of dried sardine and a cup of rice–a day, used tape to keep the soles of their boxing shoes from peeling, and took fabric from a streamer hanging outside a store to turn into bandage for their hands.

It wasn’t long after that the beakbusters he filmed begged if he could support their quest for a better life. Murayama just couldn’t turn his back on the fighters.

Murayama spends about P50,000 a month for the five fighters in his stable which he calls "Team Micca." Three of the fighters live in a Mandaluyong apartment near his own unit. So far, Murayama said he has coughed up at least P1.5 Million since starting his stable in 2000, earning only P200,000 in return. How long he’ll operate the stable depends on how far he can stretch his resources.

Murayama has traveled all over the world on photo assignments. Next week, he’ll be shooting a SARS-related documentary for the World Health Organization. But he’ll make sure to be at ringside when Mangubat faces Pongsaklek.

Mangubat, 27, is the star in Murayama’s stable which also lists Michael Domingo, Edgar Rodrigo, Joven Jorda, and Jojo Pateno. The rugged slugger is the reigning WBC International flyweight titlist and has a 31-16-11 record with 16 KOs.

Pongsaklek, 25, turned pro in 1994, the same year as Mangubat, and has compiled a 46-2 record, with 26 KOs. The hard-hitting Thai halted Malcolm Tunacao in the first round to wrest the WBC crown in 2001 and has since repulsed six challengers. He has made it a habit to trounce Filipinos and his list of victims includes Juanito Rubillar, Ramil Gevero, Al and Roy Tarazona, Al Pong Navaja, Jaime Aliguin, Dennis Sabsal, Rolando Baclayo, Rolando Tadle, and Lolito Laroa.

Mangubat, in fact, has lost to Pongsaklek twice. In 1996, he was stopped in three. And in 1999, he was outpointed in eight.

Murayama, however, said the setbacks mean nothing. "Randy had four days notice for the first fight and wasn’t prepared," he noted. "In the rematch, Randy was about to knock out Pongsaklek when the Thai promoter suddenly decided to cut short the 10-round fight and ended it after eight rounds. The judges gave the decision to Pongsaklek, of course, but it was highly controversial."

Murayama said unlike in their first two fights, Mangubat is now being trained by former world champion Erbito Salavarria.

"I realize Pongsaklek is a great champion," said Murayama. "But now it’s Randy’s time. I believe in Randy. I think the fight is 50-50 but because it will be in Pongsaklek’s hometown, maybe he has the slight edge. It’s my job to give Randy all the support to make the odds 60-40 or even 70-30 for us."

Mangubat will be paid $5,000 for the challenge. Murayama said it’s not much but he would’ve accepted the crack at the crown for free. "It’s a dream come true for me because Randy is fighting for the world title," he said. "But it’s not yet a dream come true for Randy. It will be when he wins the championship."

Murayama said he decided to settle here because "there is no action job in Japan" where his assignments were mostly taking pictures of VIPs shaking hands with each other.

"It’s exciting in the Philippines," said Murayama who has done work for the Associated Press and NHK Japan. "I’ve covered the Balikatan in Basilan, the Muslim conflict, the Mayon eruption, the damage of Pinatubo. I’ve been to Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and other countries but I love the Philippines."

Murayama said he is disgusted that Filipino fighters are treated shabbily abroad. "Some foreign promoters treat Filipino fighters like dogs," he rued. "All I want is for them to be treated fairly. Some fighters are ordered to lose or else they won’t get paid. Others who are lefthanded are told to fight righthanded or else no pay. Some fighters are brought to rundown, small hotels–not fit for human beings. It’s because some promoters are of the impression that Filipinos are desperate, that they’ll do anything just to earn a few dollars. As a boxing manager, my role is to protect my fighters."

Murayama was incensed when Mangubat lost a disputed decision to Masaka Kawabata in Hyogo-Ken, Japan, last February. He protested the verdict to WBC president Jose Sulaiman and sent a tape of the fight to prove that Mangubat was robbed. Murayama accused Japanese referee Masahiro Noda of protecting Kawabata and preventing Mangubat from inflicting damage on his opponent. He asked the Japan Boxing Commission officials at ringside for a copy of the judges scoresheet after the fight but was told no record was kept.

"If they did nothing wrong, why did they hide the scorecards?" asked Murayama. "When I insisted to get a copy, they got irritated and shouted at me threatening to ban my fighters from ever fighting in their jurisdiction."

Murayama said he was embarrassed that his countrymen were so unfair but quickly qualified, "not all Japanese are bastos."

Apparently, the WBC gave credence to Murayama’s protest. Otherwise, Sulaiman wouldn’t have approved Pongsaklek’s defense against Mangubat as the Filipino is coming off the loss to Kawabata.

"Boxing is one of the most popular sports in the Philippines," said Murayama. "While basketball is also popular, the Filipino player’s ability is far behind the world standards. In boxing, the country has produced several world champions and other famous boxers especially in the light weight classes where I believe, Filipinos are competitive in the world."