Deaf-mute fighters

The revelation that late fighter Freddie Gimay was a deaf-mute (refer to last Thursday’s column) triggered a deluge of phonecalls, text messages and e-mail from readers who asked if there were other impaired boxers in the record books.

Eugene (Silent) Hairston was one. He knocked out Paul Pender, later a world middleweight champion, in Boston in 1951 and figured in a pair of brawls with Jake LaMotta a year later. Hairston battled LaMotta to a 10-round draw and lost on points in a rematch. In August 1952, Hairston was stopped by future world lightheavyweight titlist Carl (Bobo) Olson in the sixth round in New York. He retired at the age of 22 after losing sight in an eye because of a fight-inflicted cut that did not heal properly.

Thai pug Sukothai Thanomchit was also a deaf-mute. In 1977, he stopped Rolando Navarrete in the ninth round at the Rizal Coliseum and two years later, they fought to a draw in a Cebu return bout. International matchmaker Lope (Jun) Sarreal, Jr. said Thanomchit fought Ding Cabanela for the Oriental featherweight title in a much-talked-about duel here.

Dominican Republic fighter Ramon Nery was the first deaf-mute to challenge for a world title. Nery failed in his bid to dethrone World Boxing Association flyweight champion Santos Laciar who scored a ninth round stoppage in Argentina in 1983.

Incidentally, actor Tony Curtis portrayed the role of a deaf-mute fighter in the 1952 movie "Flesh and Fury."

In an incredible Ripley’s Believe It Or Not story, 15-year-old amateur boxer Danny London–who was born a deaf-mute–began to hear and speak after getting hit on the right temple during a bout in 1929. London should’ve been grateful to his opponent for knocking his senses in but repaid him unkindly by scoring an abbreviated victory. London turned pro later that year and figured in 167 bouts.

In 1935, London stopped previously unbeaten Harry Jeffra–born Ignacius Pasquali Guiffi–in the fifth round in Baltimore. Two years later, Jeffra decisioned Sixto Escobar to win the world bantamweight crown in New York. He lost the title in his first defense to Escobar in a rematch. In 1939, Jeffra battled London to a four-round no-contest and won a six-round verdict in their third meeting. The next year, Jeffra captured the world featherweight championship on a 15-round decision over Joey Archibald in Baltimore.

London retired from the ring in 1943 then taught boxing in Monterey, California and Saratoga Springs, New York.

Readers also wondered why the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) hasn’t started its investigation on the Gimay tragedy. GAB commissioner Emmanuel Palabrica and lawyer Ricardo Villamil are scheduled to leave for Cagayan de Oro on Wednesday to begin the inquiry.

According to GAB sources, the investigation couldn’t be started earlier because of previously scheduled hearings in Villamil’s calendar. Apparently, Gimay’s death isn’t a priority.

Palabrica, incidentally, accompanied GAB chairman Eduardo Villanueva and his wife at the World Boxing Association convention in Bali, Indonesia, recently. Villanueva also took his wife to the World Boxing Council convention in Moscow. Another GAB commissioner Angel Bautista went along for the joyride to Russia. GAB boxing chief Noli Flores and GAB physician Dr. Nasser Cruz were others in the Moscow party.

A source whispered that the GAB chairman and commissioners–who, of course, travel at public expense–are useless bystanders in the conventions. To dispel any doubts, the source guaranteed that none of the GAB officials is a deaf-mute. "They never speak during formal discussions, obviously to hide their ignorance of what’s going on," confided a source. "Worse, they often skip the important meetings to play tennis, tour the sights or go shopping. Look at what happened in Moscow. Randy Suico was unfairly demoted from No. 1 to No. 2 in the superfeatherweight ratings and nobody bothered to defend his position. The least we expect from GAB officials when they travel abroad to attend boxing conventions is to protect our fighters. Unfortunately, I don’t think they’re capable of that. They treat the conventions as an excuse to junket."

To be fair, Flores and Cruz flew to Moscow to participate in serious deliberations. Flores is a member of the powerful WBC ratings committee while Cruz is often consulted on matters related to boxing injuries and preventive health care.

Somebody said Villanueva is again abroad, this time to attend the World Boxing Organization (WBO) convention in Miami. For the record, the Philippines has produced only one WBO champion ever–miniflyweight Eric Jamili who reigned briefly in 1997-98. Jesus Salud, Ric Magramo, Andy Tabanas, Pretty Boy Lucas and Roy Doliguez were other Filipinos who figured in WBO title fights.

Villanueva–known as First Gentleman Mike Arroyo’s Rotary buddy–is expected to be at ringside when Manny Pacquiao takes on Marco Antonio Barrera for the consensus world featherweight title in San Antonio on Nov. 15. Our source couldn’t confirm if Villanueva is traveling with his wife.

While gallivanting around the world, Villanueva has left the GAB’s reins in the hands of officials whose competence is probably as questionable as his.

One of Villanueva’s landmark achievements is opening a GAB office in Bacolod which happens to be where he lives. It has given Villanueva an excuse to go home on weekends. Those trips, a source confided, are at people’s expense, too.

Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella, whose wife is related to Villanueva, has quietly begun to ask questions about the GAB in his capacity as House Committee chairman on youth and sports. How far Puentevella will pursue his snooping and sniffing is something we’re curious to find out. A starting point of investigation could be to determine how the GAB spends its yearly budget allocated by government–how much money is used for travel, for instance. And if Puentevella won’t pull any punches, you can be sure he’ll investigate if the GAB was remiss in its duties by allowing a patsy like Gimay to fight Rober (Power) Gadian in Zamboanga Sibugay last Oct. 27 and die as a result.