Ex-pug languishes in jail

Erning Grafe was once rated among the world’s top 10 featherweights and a globetrotting contender as a Flash Elorde prospect in his boxing heyday. Today, he is 59, languishing in the Bulacan provincial jail in Malolos with the memories of his ring glory a faded vision from a distant past. Grafe is in prison after he was sentenced for allegedly murdering a neighbor Roderick Gatchalian, a traffic enforcer, in April 2010. His son Joseph and an aunt Teresita Bernardo were implicated in the killing but are out on bail. Grafe’s charge is non-bailable. Up to this day, Grafe insists he is innocent.

Last November, Grafe’s lawyer Jeric de Gala went to court to file a petition for bail, citing humanitarian reasons. “My father only has one lung functioning and we know of inmates who are suffering from TB,” said Grafe’s daughter Jenny, a teacher. “We are appealing for bail. My father also has a blood pressure condition. He had a stroke that left him weak six years ago. We’re hoping that he can come home so we can take care of him. Right now, we visit him in jail to give his medicine and food.” There is still no judgment on the petition.

A highlight of Grafe’s boxing career was his 10-round win on points over previously unbeaten Ricky Gutierrez of Mexico in San Antonio, Texas, in 1976. He also notched milestone victories over Sergio Ayala twice on points in Hawaii, Moon Suk Choi by a fourth round knockout in Seoul and Blaze Okubo by an eighth round stoppage in Osaka. Grafe also halted Japanese Hirofumi Mochizuki in nine rounds in Manila in 1980. A southpaw, he was stopped by two-time world title challenger Chung Il Choi of Korea in Daejon in 1981. Choi’s only losses in his career were to WBC superfeatherweight champions Rolando Navarrete and Rafael (Bazooka) Limon.

In 1982, Grafe retired from the ring after his loss to Ronald Sumalis in Davao City. His career had its ups and downs. Among those who defeated Grafe were Frankie Duarte, Nene Jun, Geron Porras twice and Fel Clemente. Throughout his ring odyssey, Grafe never took a step back and earned a reputation as a gutsy warrior.

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When Grafe’s fighting days were over, the Elorde family hired him as a trainer. Grafe was, after all, a protégé of the late world junior lightweight champion whose son Johnny and his wife Liza provided for his employment in the Sucat gym. But when he suffered a stroke in 2005, Grafe never went far from Malolos and got his therapy driving a tricycle for pay.

Despite his impairment, Grafe made sure he had enough to provide for his six children’s education. Only his son Joseph, 19, is still in school, a fourth year engineering student at Bulacan State University. An older son Joel, 31, is an engineer working in Oman. His other children are all college graduates – Jocelyn, 32, Jenny, 28, Johnny, 25 and Joyce, 22. His wife Dioning is a seamstress and curtain-maker. He has one grandson.

“Erning has been in jail for over a year and isn’t well,” said Liza Elorde. “We’re hoping he is released soon.”

In 2006, Grafe was chosen as a beneficiary in GMA-7’s “Wish Ko Lang” program. He received a P150,000 grant from a foundation to pay for the education of his children Joyce and Joseph. Joyce has since graduated with an education degree.

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“My father was watching TV at home when he heard a shot,” said Jenny. “He rushed out to bring our neighbor to the hospital in his tricycle. He even went to his wake. We were surprised that two months after the death, my father was charged in court. We’re sure there is a mistake. We don’t want to make trouble. We’re not accusing anyone. All we’re praying for is my father is released from jail so he can be cared for at home because he’s not well.”

Grafe, fondly called “Lolo Puti” by young neighbors because of his white hair, never became a boxing champion. His wife still has a compilation of newspaper clippings recounting his ring exploits. The memories of his boxing career are cherished by his wife and children.

It’s the family’s wish that Grafe will be remembered as a former boxing contender who brought honor to his country than as a convict. The petition for bail is pending and Grafe’s family is hoping it will be granted soon.