Last Dec. 23, Rachman scored a seventh round technical knockout over Sorolla at the Indoor Tennis Senayan Stadium in Jakarta. Australian referee John Wright stopped the bout after the Indonesian landed six unanswered blows. Elorde, watching at ringside, said Wright’s decision was premature and came too soon.
Sorolla himself insisted he could’ve gone on and wasn’t badly hurt. He said he was just about to launch a counterattack when to his surprise, Wright stepped in.
Indonesian promoter Torino Tidar admitted Rachman had his hands full against Sorolla. "If Marty files a protest and the IBF orders a rematch, Rachman will surely agree," said Tidar.
Last Dec. 30, Elorde sent a letter to Muhammad introducing himself as Sorolla’s manager and the late Flash Elorde’s youngest son.
Here are excerpts of his letter:
"I am writing you this letter because my boxer Benjie Sorolla just fought for the IBF miniflyweight title against Rachman. The fight was stopped by the referee in the seventh round which I believe was premature. There was no knockdown and neither was my boxer groggy. It would have been a very good match if the fight continued because Benjie could have turned the match to his favor as he has done in his past fights.
"It has been eight years since Benjie started in our gym as a professional boxer and there was one goal in his mind — to win a world title. But the long wait was a disappointment with the referee’s premature stoppage. Please give Benjie a rematch. I believe it is the right justice which the IBF stands for."
Muhammad replied in a letter faxed from her New Jersey office last Jan. 3.
Her reply:
"I look forward to receiving the tape of the fight you mentioned. The report of the supervisor (Ray Wheatley of Australia) states that Mr. Sorolla was staggered and that is what caused the stoppage of the fight in round seven. I will share your concerns with the Ratings and Championships chairmen and if they feel there is any need to correspond directly with you, they will do so."
Copies of Muhammad’s letter were sent to IBF officials Daryl Peoples and Lindsey Tucker who are in charge of the world ratings and the sanctioning of title fights.
Last Thursday, Elorde sent a copy of the fight tape to Muhammad. The fight will be shown on Elorde’s boxing show at 2:30 p.m. this Sunday on ABC-5.
"We’re not hiding anything," said Elorde. "We want everyone to see if the referee was justified in stopping the fight or not. Our hope is the IBF will give Benjie a rematch because he deserves it."
Elorde insisted that Sorolla could’ve staged a late rally to stem the tide. Rachman led on all three judges scorecards, including that of Filipino Salven Lagumbay, at the time of the stoppage.
"It wouldn’t be the first time for Benjie to come back from being down," said Elorde. "When he fought (Florante) Condes — a good fighter and a hard puncher, he was behind on points early but came back to win a split decision."
Elorde said to keep Sorolla busy, he’ll put up a card either at the Elorde gym or the San Juan Arena next month. The main event of the card will pit another Elorde protégé Ryan Bito against a Thai or Indonesian for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) intercontinental mininumweight crown. Sorolla will fight a local boy in the undercard.
"After the Rachman fight, I told Benjie if he wanted to retire, I would understand," said Elorde. "Just to be able to fight for a world title is an achievement. But Benjie wants to go on. He’s only 25. He wants another chance."
Elorde said he’s worried that Sorolla might go back to alcohol and his bad boy habits if his future is unclear. Two years ago, Sorolla was jailed 10 days for starting a fight in Elorde’s restaurant on Sucat, resisting arrest and biting a policeman. Sorolla has confessed to a drinking problem.
"I’m worried about his future," said Elorde. "He’s the type that might not know what to do with his life after boxing. Luckily, we’re enjoying a boxing boom now, thanks to Manny Pacquiao. There are gyms all over and boxers are in demand as trainers. So if ever Benjie retires as a fighter, he could work as a trainer. Right now, we want him in the gym. We’ll schedule a fight for him next month because if he’s not looking forward to a fight, he’ll just hang out with his barkada."
Elorde said he’s not holding his breath for the IBF to sanction a rematch but at the same time, he’s praying Sorolla will get another crack at the title, sooner or later.
Rachman is due for a mandatory defense and a Filipino is next in line for a shot. Either Rodel Mayol or Eriberto (Yukka) Gejon will be Rachman’s next challenger.
If the IBF finds merit in Elorde’s appeal, it will likely approve a Rachman "must" defense against Mayol or Gejon with the winner to face Sorolla.