A treat at Aliw
August 24, 2006 | 12:00am
Heres something different for sports fans.
Broadcast magnate Freddie Elizaldes events group and veteran matchmaker Jun Sarreal are staging a boxing card, with a showbiz twist, thats guaranteed to bring the house down at the Aliw Theater on Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City, this Sunday.
The main event features former Philippine flyweight champion Edgar Rodrigo, whose claim to fame is a knockout win over Golden Boy prospect and Tony Aldeguer protege Z Gorres, versus Wanmeechok Singwangcha of Thailand in a 10-round Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) title eliminator.
There are other slambang bouts in the bill.
In the top aperitif, Jack Maldecir takes on Elmer Muyco for the vacant Philippine Boxing Federation superflyweight crown. Jonel Alibio faces Junifel Aclo in an eight-round featherweight contest. Francis Borreros tangles with Roel Santos while Jun Piasidad meets Randy Canon in a pair of four-rounders to open the show.
But whats generating widespread interest in the Aliw extravaganza is a series of three-rounders starring popular showbiz personalities. The four "celebrity" bouts pit Rommel Montano versus Andrew Wolff, Christian Vasquez versus Paolo Paraiso, Polo Ravales versus a still-to-be-named amateur fighter and Bayani Agbayani versus a still-to-be-named amateur fighter. Each round is scheduled for two minutes.
Sarreal, whose late father Lope, Sr. has been inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in New York for his contributions to the sport as a promoter, said it took over five months to assemble the card.
"Cesar Montano was supposed to fight but we couldnt pin him down to commit to a date because of his busy schedule," said Sarreal. "But we were able to get a commitment from his brother Rommel who has been training at the Aldeguer gym in Bohol. Cesar, however, will be in Rommels corner for the fight."
Sarreal said the celebrities are raring to show their wares in the ring.
"Theyre not fighting to be embarrassed," said Sarreal. "Theyre fighting to win. I was told Polo Ravales girlfriend Ara Mina might be in his corner. And Paolo Paraisos wife Mylene Dizon might also be in his corner."
Sarreal said the boxing boom, ignited by Manny Pacquiao, hasnt spared showbiz stars whore riding the fight bandwagon to keep fit and trim.
"The celebrities are training hard at the Mojo gym near the ABS-CBN compound and the Elorde gym on Gilmore," said Sarreal. "Theyre serious about boxing. Ill be inaugurating my own boxing gym, in honor of my father Papa Sarreal, in Banawe soon and I hope the celebrities will join me there."
Sarreal said after the Aliw event, he plans to take the celebrity boxing show to cities in the Visayas and Mindanao with the Elizalde group.
"I got to know Mr. Elizalde when he offered his facilities for the Ali-Frazier fight here in 1975," said Sarreal. "Hes a sportsman who always like to put on a good show for the public. I approached Mr. Elizaldes group over five months ago with the idea of staging a celebrity boxing show. Finally, the dream is turning into reality."
Wanmeechok, 29, arrives today from Bangkok with manager Narong Hengtrakul and will be billeted at the Atrium Hotel in Pasay City. The former OPBF flyweight titlist has a 14-4 record, with nine KOs, and is coming off a split decision loss to Yuki Nasu in Tokyo. He has faced and beaten all his five Filipino opponents so far Philip Parcon, Sonny Gonzales, Tata Polinar (who lost by first round knockout), Dondon Jimenea and Jerry Pahayahay.
Last year, Wanmeechok was stopped in three rounds by newly crowned World Boxing Association lightflyweight champion Koki Kameda in Yokohama.
Rodrigo, 25, said his burning desire is to be the first Filipino to beat Wanmeechok and avenge the setbacks of his five countrymen.
Rodrigos record is 13-7-4, with seven KOs. A southpaw like Wanmeechok, the General Santos City slugger turned pro in 1998 and was unbeaten in his first five outings until a split decision loss to highly regarded Eriberto Gejon.
The hard-hitting Rodrigo has registered four first round knockouts in his career at the expense of Jun Blas, Flash Simbajon, Franklin Macalibo and Somyot Vor Surapol. His last two defeats were to Thais Petchtapee Pinisinchai and Maxsaisai Pinisinchai, both on points, so hes got an axe to grind against fighters from Siam.
Angeles City-based New Zealander Bruce McTavish will be the third man in the ring for the main event. Pasay City Mayor Peewee Trinidad, who was once a boxing judge, is awarding a golden trophy to the winner.
"Were expecting a full house," said Sarreal. "The show starts at 4 p.m. and were anticipating a good Sunday crowd. We wont be catering only to sports fans but also to showbiz fans."
Something different and exciting is what Sarreal is offering in this Sundays Aliw treat.
Broadcast magnate Freddie Elizaldes events group and veteran matchmaker Jun Sarreal are staging a boxing card, with a showbiz twist, thats guaranteed to bring the house down at the Aliw Theater on Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City, this Sunday.
The main event features former Philippine flyweight champion Edgar Rodrigo, whose claim to fame is a knockout win over Golden Boy prospect and Tony Aldeguer protege Z Gorres, versus Wanmeechok Singwangcha of Thailand in a 10-round Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) title eliminator.
There are other slambang bouts in the bill.
In the top aperitif, Jack Maldecir takes on Elmer Muyco for the vacant Philippine Boxing Federation superflyweight crown. Jonel Alibio faces Junifel Aclo in an eight-round featherweight contest. Francis Borreros tangles with Roel Santos while Jun Piasidad meets Randy Canon in a pair of four-rounders to open the show.
But whats generating widespread interest in the Aliw extravaganza is a series of three-rounders starring popular showbiz personalities. The four "celebrity" bouts pit Rommel Montano versus Andrew Wolff, Christian Vasquez versus Paolo Paraiso, Polo Ravales versus a still-to-be-named amateur fighter and Bayani Agbayani versus a still-to-be-named amateur fighter. Each round is scheduled for two minutes.
Sarreal, whose late father Lope, Sr. has been inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in New York for his contributions to the sport as a promoter, said it took over five months to assemble the card.
"Cesar Montano was supposed to fight but we couldnt pin him down to commit to a date because of his busy schedule," said Sarreal. "But we were able to get a commitment from his brother Rommel who has been training at the Aldeguer gym in Bohol. Cesar, however, will be in Rommels corner for the fight."
Sarreal said the celebrities are raring to show their wares in the ring.
"Theyre not fighting to be embarrassed," said Sarreal. "Theyre fighting to win. I was told Polo Ravales girlfriend Ara Mina might be in his corner. And Paolo Paraisos wife Mylene Dizon might also be in his corner."
Sarreal said the boxing boom, ignited by Manny Pacquiao, hasnt spared showbiz stars whore riding the fight bandwagon to keep fit and trim.
"The celebrities are training hard at the Mojo gym near the ABS-CBN compound and the Elorde gym on Gilmore," said Sarreal. "Theyre serious about boxing. Ill be inaugurating my own boxing gym, in honor of my father Papa Sarreal, in Banawe soon and I hope the celebrities will join me there."
Sarreal said after the Aliw event, he plans to take the celebrity boxing show to cities in the Visayas and Mindanao with the Elizalde group.
"I got to know Mr. Elizalde when he offered his facilities for the Ali-Frazier fight here in 1975," said Sarreal. "Hes a sportsman who always like to put on a good show for the public. I approached Mr. Elizaldes group over five months ago with the idea of staging a celebrity boxing show. Finally, the dream is turning into reality."
Wanmeechok, 29, arrives today from Bangkok with manager Narong Hengtrakul and will be billeted at the Atrium Hotel in Pasay City. The former OPBF flyweight titlist has a 14-4 record, with nine KOs, and is coming off a split decision loss to Yuki Nasu in Tokyo. He has faced and beaten all his five Filipino opponents so far Philip Parcon, Sonny Gonzales, Tata Polinar (who lost by first round knockout), Dondon Jimenea and Jerry Pahayahay.
Last year, Wanmeechok was stopped in three rounds by newly crowned World Boxing Association lightflyweight champion Koki Kameda in Yokohama.
Rodrigo, 25, said his burning desire is to be the first Filipino to beat Wanmeechok and avenge the setbacks of his five countrymen.
Rodrigos record is 13-7-4, with seven KOs. A southpaw like Wanmeechok, the General Santos City slugger turned pro in 1998 and was unbeaten in his first five outings until a split decision loss to highly regarded Eriberto Gejon.
The hard-hitting Rodrigo has registered four first round knockouts in his career at the expense of Jun Blas, Flash Simbajon, Franklin Macalibo and Somyot Vor Surapol. His last two defeats were to Thais Petchtapee Pinisinchai and Maxsaisai Pinisinchai, both on points, so hes got an axe to grind against fighters from Siam.
Angeles City-based New Zealander Bruce McTavish will be the third man in the ring for the main event. Pasay City Mayor Peewee Trinidad, who was once a boxing judge, is awarding a golden trophy to the winner.
"Were expecting a full house," said Sarreal. "The show starts at 4 p.m. and were anticipating a good Sunday crowd. We wont be catering only to sports fans but also to showbiz fans."
Something different and exciting is what Sarreal is offering in this Sundays Aliw treat.
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