Bloodline a boxing factor

Former world junior lightweight champion Rolando Navarrete’s son Rolando Jr. is following in his father’s footsteps and the hope is it’s just in the path of boxing. 

Navarrete, the Bad Boy of Dadiangas, could’ve been the Manny Pacquiao of his era but a wild lifestyle led to a career that never flourished to its potential. He won the WBC 130-pound title via a fifth round stoppage of Cornelius Boza-Edwards in Viareggio, Italy, in 1981 then lost it in his second defense to Rafael (Bazooka) Limon in Las Vegas a year later. Navarrete led in the three judges’ scorecards, 106-104, 107-103 and 107-104, when he ran out of steam and toppled over to lose to Limon by knockout at 3:08 in the 12th round.    

Navarrete, now 52, was convicted for rape and served a prison term of over three years in Honolulu in the prime of his fistic career. He retired in 1991 after suffering his third straight loss.

His son Rolando Jr. looks promising and if guided properly, could surpass what his father achieved as a fighter.

At the recent Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) National Capital Region championships in Mandaluyong, Rolando Jr. impressed the crowd by halting Edwin Joaquino at 0:36 of the third round to capture the 46-kilogram title in the junior boys (15-16 age bracket) division.

A southpaw like his father, Rolando Jr. used a thundering right straight to the head to score a second standing eight-count on Joaquino in the third round. It was no-contest from the start as Rolando Jr., fighting out of the Elorde stable, proved too slick and strong for Joaquino.

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Another fighter who shone at the ABAP competitions with boxing in his genes was J.K. (Jonathan Konstantine) Elorde whose grandfather Gabriel or Flash was the world junior lightweight champion for over seven years.

Elorde’s mother Cucuy is the Flash’s youngest child.

In a dazzling show of force, Elorde knocked out Jeric Diaz with a solid left to the face at 0:36 of the first round to win the 52-kilogram crown in the junior boys division.

It’s not often a clean knockout is scored in amateur boxing because fighters are protected by headgears and the simon-pure style deemphasizes power punching. But Elorde ripped through Diaz’ defense early, scoring a standing eight-count before finishing him off with a vicious left that deposited the hapless victim flat on his back.

So far, two of the Flash’s grandsons have turned pro – Juan Martin or Bai, 24, and Juan Miguel or Mig, 23. Bai is campaigning as a superfeatherweight and has an 9-0 record, with two KOs, while Mig is a bantamweight with a 6-0 mark, including one KO. Bai and Mig are sons of promoter Johnny Elorde, the Flash’s son who became a Southeast Asian Games gold medalist in 1979 but never turned pro. 

Last Saturday, Bai pounded out a six-round unanimous decision over Jomar Borbon and Mig won in similar fashion over Vic Racuma at the Elorde Sports Center in Sucat.

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A third fighter who impressed in Mandaluyong with a boxing bloodline was Jheritz Chavez whose uncle Ronald was a 1992 Olympian and is now a national coach.

Chavez duplicated J. K.’s feat by sending Reymond Bognot down on the canvas with a vicious right to the jaw at 1:05 of the first round. He had previously scored a standing eight-count. A single shot to the jaw did the trick. The victory rewarded Chavez with the 60-kilogram championship in the youth boys (17-18 age bracket) division.

There were mixed reviews when Sydney-based Robin Palileo of Kabaka captured the 57-kilogram title in the youth boys division with a clinical win on points over Aljon Tubieron of Caloocan A. In Palileo’s corner was 1970 Asian Games gold medalist and 1972 Olympian Ric Fortaleza.

Palileo, who is being groomed to join the ABAP national pool, migrated to Australia with his family when he was two years old. He lives with his mother Imelda, a nurse, and two brothers in Blacktown, a Sydney suburb. His father Eduardo also lives in Australia. Palileo belongs to Fortaleza’s Blacktown Hit Squad.

Although Palileo showed a lot of promise at the National Open early this year and beat Tubieron handily, he wasn’t particularly impressive. He toyed around with his opponent and lacked the desire to put on a good show. Fortaleza castigated Palileo after the fight, saying even as he won the bout, it was a lacklustre performance.

The fights were among 19 title bouts held from kids (under-12 age bracket) to youth boys during a five-day tournament sponsored by Smart and Mandaluyong Mayor Ben Hur Abalos. Some 140 fighters participated, wearing the colors of different teams from Taguig, Mandaluyong, Manila (Kabaka), Parañaque (Elorde stable), Cantada Sports Center, Caloocan, Marikina, Pasig and Malabon. The championship matches are being shown on Boy Cantada’s “Fistorama” TV series every Sunday at 10 p.m.

Among the luminaries who attended the title fights at ringside were Mayor Abalos, Rep. Amado Bagatsing, ABAP president Ricky Vargas, ABAP secretary-general Patrick Gregorio, ABAP executive director Ed Picson, Gerry Peñalosa, Jay San Pedro, Jay Jay Vargas, Boogie Apostadero, Dr. Arsenio Abalos, Babes Nocon, Delfin Asistio, Atty. Voltaire San Pedro, former Jose Rizal cager and ABAP Manila secretary-general Eduardo Dada and ABAP deputy executive director Gilbert Arteficio.

Here are the results of the other championship fights:

Kids division. Jeric Alde (Mandaluyong A) W points over Jimmy Obreros (Mandaluyong B) – 26 kilograms, Bienvenido Ligas (Caloocan A) W points over Emmanuel Tapia (Caloocan B) – 28 kilograms, Bryan Quitalig (Mandaluyong A) RSC 1st round over Jake Tabares (Caloocan A) – 30 kilograms, Wilfredo Pelongco (Taguig A) W points over Christian Lucenara (Kabaka A) – 34 kilograms.

Schoolboys division (13-14 age bracket). Philip Cuerdo (Mandaluyong A) W points over Stephen Condes (Mandaluyong B) – 38 kilograms, Fernando Tacuyan (Mandaluyong A) RSC 1st round over Ricky Bianca (Taguig A) – 42 kilograms, Jerome Anonuevo (Taguig A) W points over Harold Serapion (Caloocan A) – 46 kilograms, Sherwin Casiano (Taguig B) W points over Mark Joseph Comia (Kabaka A) – 50 kilograms.

Junior boys division. Jean Araneta (Mandaluyong A) W points over Rhoy Morillo (Cantada) – 48 kilograms, Cris Paulino (Kabaka A) W points over Jerome de la Zerna (Mandaluyong A) – -50 kilograms, Job Gavino (Taguig A) RSC 3rd round over Jomar Rolle (Kabaka B) – 54 kilograms.