Working with Brian

It was an honor to work the Manny Pacquiao-Erik Morales rematch for TV with World Boxing Council (WBC) lightflyweight champion Brian Viloria in Las Vegas last Saturday night (Sunday morning, Manila).

Brian’s a regular trouper. He did radio and TV commentary of campus sporting events as a Northern Michigan University student so he’s familiar with the media.

We didn’t only cover the rematch but also the Jimrex Jaca-Geronimo Hernandez, Juan Manuel Lopez-Jose Luis Caro and Martin Castillo-Alexander Muñoz preliminary fights. All in all, we were on the air for nearly three hours.

No problem with Brian’s boxing vocabulary and comprehension. As a fighter,2 he knows what the game’s all about. The bonus is he speaks fluently, clearly and intelligently.

Two days before fight night, we rehearsed our three-minute unilateral introduction in front of Solar vice president for production Erick Tam in our Wynn Las Vegas Hotel room. We did it four times and as we went on, Brian got better. We also simulated a broadcast of the first Pacquiao-Morales fight.

We slipped a DVD of the bout in a laptop and did the commentary while Erick and Brian’s father Ben watched. The chemistry was instant and the comfort level, high. We completed six rounds of simulation.

After the weigh-in on the eve of the fight, Brian and I rehearsed our stand-up introduction thrice more. This time, we were at the Margaux Room of the hotel and the weigh-in had just ended. Brian’s manager Gary Gittelsohn watched us from a distance and gave his thumbs-up.

Brian, his father, Erick and I took a taxi from our hotel to the Thomas and Mack Center at 3 p.m. the day of the fight. Brian looked dapper in a brown suit with tan leather shoes, like he was straight out of the pages of Gentlemen’s Quarterly.

At the arena, we were led to our ringside seats at the edge of the apron. We were that close. We tested our microphone sets and Erick made sure the reception in Manila was perfect. We were later joined at ringside by Solar chief operating officer Peter Chanliong and Gittelsohn. Peter flew in the night before from Manila with Solar vice president for finance Ronald Tieng and Tommy Ong of "No Fear."

First on our plate was Jaca’s bout against Hernandez. It was over in a jiffy. Brian and I said the victory was an ominous sign.

Later, I found out Manny was still in his hotel suite when Jaca finished off Hernandez in a round. Manny’s consultant and chief of staff Jayke Joson got the news of Jaca’s easy win and immediately informed the fighter. Jayke said Manny clenched his fists with glee, as if to say one down, one more to go. Manny felt it was a portent of things to come.

Back at the arena, Brian and I did our three-minute unilateral introduction for satellite transmission. Our turn came after Argentina’s. With the floor director’s countdown over, I started off: "Mabuhay, Pilipinas, mula sa Thomas and Mack Center, Las Vegas, ito na po ang inyong pinakahihintay, The Battle, Manny Pacquiao versus Erik Morales, Part Two."

We covered Lopez’ brutal demolition of Caro then Castillo’s split decision squeaker over Muñoz to retain the World Boxing Association superflyweight title. Before the verdict was announced, Brian said on the air that Castillo had done enough to win. He was right.

In between fights, boxing personalities walked up to Brian to wish him good luck in his first defense against Jose Antonio Aguirre of Mexico in Las Vegas on Feb. 18. The world’s best pound-for-pound fighter Floyd Mayweather gave him a nod and a wink. Legendary trainer Emanuel Steward, who was on the HBO TV panel, also greeted Brian.

Then came the Big One. To put the rematch into perspective, Brian summarized the strengths and weaknesses of both fighters and the keys to victory. We dissected the tale of the tape. We paused for the singing of the Philippine, Mexican and US national anthems, in that order.

Pacquiao’s World Boxing Council International superfeatherweight title was on the line, contrary to reports that no championship was at stake, and the proof was the presence of WBC official Rex Walker at ringside as the fight supervisor.

Michael Buffer, as usual, introduced the protagonists in his inimitable "Let’s Get Ready To Rumble" style.

Brian and I felt the energy rush at the sound of the first bell. We tried to be as objective as we could but with Manny fighting, that’s easier said than done. We just tried to call it like it was. Brian said Morales won round one and two of the three judges concurred.

Brian repeatedly pointed out how Manny avoided getting pinned along the ropes and bringing the fight to the center of the ring. Manny didn’t do that in the first fight and Morales took advantage. I mentioned that Manny’s defense had never been as tight and pointed out his move of firing a combination then spinning to Morales’ left, making it difficult for the Mexican to reach him with his counter right straight. Manny’s trainer Freddie Roach later admitted the move was something they devised and dutifully worked on in the gym.

Freddie said Manny didn’t execute the trick too well in the early rounds but when he started doing it in the sixth, things quickly fell into place and Morales grew increasingly exasperated.

After the fight, Brian and I interviewed Manny in his dressing room where we also had the opportunity to speak with the First Gentleman. President Arroyo was on the First Gentleman’s speaker phone and spoke to Manny.

No doubt, Brian passed his first broadcasting test with flying colors. Viewers texted congratulations and said he broke down the fight like a veteran commentator.

Too bad Brian won’t be able to do the broadcast when he fights Aguirre because he’ll be in the ring wearing gloves not at ringside holding a microphone. But not to worry, said Solar chief operating officer Peter Chanliong.

Peter, whose brilliant idea it was to recruit Brian as commentator for the Pacquiao-Morales rematch, said he just thought of another idea. Why not Manny on the broadcast panel for Brian’s fight? Now, that’s a knockout idea for sure.

Postscript: Text messages poured in from home before, during and after the Pacquiao-Morales fight. National basketball coach Chot Reyes said he watched the satellite hookup with a big crowd at Grilla Makati and a round of San Miguel Beer was on the house after Manny’s win. My wife Menchu texted that a friend Beng Sison phoned to ask if Manny was knocked out but in Las Vegas, the bout hadn’t even started. Journalist Loy Caliwan sent a good luck message to Manny. Fel Billones, Jun Cabalan and Bobong Velez did the same. Filipino Olympic swimmer Carlo Piccio texted to say he was at the stadium cheering for Manny with Rep. Monico Puentevella. Others who texted were Undersecretary Robert Mananquil, Philippine Basketball Association commissioner Noli Eala, Liza Elorde (watching with the entire Elorde family at Southmall–she’s inviting Brian to Manila for the sixth Elorde Boxing Awards Night on March 25), Fer Aldeguer (watching with his family and tons of fans at the Palms Country Club in Alabang), ABS-CBN’s Jinno Rufino and Chinggay Andrada (watching at SM Megamall), Mikee Romero of Harbour Centre, writer Dennis Prinsipe (watching at SM Megamall Cinema 3–he reminded me that Salven Lagumbay writes for Cebu Daily News), Popoy Juico (also watching at SM Megamall Cinema 3 with son, Quezon City Councilor Joseph–he spoke to Manny on overseas phone the day before and predicted his win), my niece Karen Jones from London, publicist Bob Zozobrado (begging to be told in advance who won), referee Ferdie Estrella (who forecast a Manny knockout in eight) and many, many more..." Emerald Headway, the leading distributor of books and foreign magazines including Maximum PC, PC Gamer, PSM Presents, Stereo Review Sound & Vision and Guitar World Acoustic, continues its exciting treat for all of us. Subscribe to any of its foreign magazines and get as much as 20 percent discount for one-year subscriptions and as much as 10 percent discount for six-month subscriptions. In addition, you will receive complimentary back issue magazines for every subscription booked and paid. For details, call the Subscription Department at 647-4744.