Liza Elorde’s dream card

If wishes could come true, Liza Elorde said her dream is to stage a boxing card in Manila featuring IBF superflyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas, WBO/WBC No. 1 lightflyweight Jonathan Taconing and WBO No. 6 flyweight Giemel Magramo.

Liza, who’s married to the late Flash Elorde’s son Johnny, would like nothing better than to bring back big-time boxing to the capital. The problem is there isn’t enough support to make it happen.

A prime example is WBA lightflyweight champion Carlos Canizales of Venezuela. He was sensational in scoring a 12th round stoppage of valiant Chinese fighter Lu Bin in Kuala Lumpur last July and said a defense in Manila could be arranged for the right price. Canizales set a purse of at least $125,000. Johnny countered with an offer of up to $50,000. Canizales walked away. Not enough money on the table, he said.

Three Filipinos are rated in the top 10 in the 108-pound division by the WBA so Canizales would defend against a hometowner of choice if the fight ever pushes through. Taconing is ranked No. 3, Edward Heno No. 6 and Christian Araneta No. 9. Any one of the three would be a worthy challenger.

Liza said Taconing is next in line for a shot at either the WBO or WBC crown. The WBO title is held by Puerto Rico’s Angel Acosta whose record is 19-1, with 19 KOs. Acosta is trained by Freddie Roach. The WBC belt is with Japan’s Ken Shiro who totes a 15-0 mark, including 8 KOs. Taconing, 31, has lost twice in WBC lightflyweight title bids, bowing to Thailand’s Suryan Satorn in 2012 and Mexico’s Ganigan Lopez in 2016, both on points. He hopes the third time’s a charm.

“In the WBC Convention last year, (WBC president) Don Mauricio (Sulaiman) ordered an elimination series involving the top contenders to determine the next mandatory challenger,” said Liza. “But the No. 2 contender (Tetsuya Hisada) refuses to fight Jonathan and the No. 3 contender isn’t available. So in the end, Don Mauricio named Jonathan. Now, we’ll have to negotiate with the champion (Shiro). It’s not easy to bring a Japanese world champion to defend his crown against a Filipino in the Philippines. We won’t be able to offer enough money. But at least, Jonathan is assured of a world title shot.”

Liza’s son Mig is ranked No. 3 superbantamweight by the WBO and coming close to a crack at a world crown himself. The WBO 122-pound champion is Mexico’s Emanuel Navarrete who wrested the title from Ghana’s Isaac Dogboe last December. Mig plans to stake his WBO Asia Pacific crown next month and work his way to the No. 1 spot. “If given the chance, Mig will fight for the world title,” said Liza. “That’s why he’s in the game. He won’t back down. We’ve been advised to choose from anyone in the top 15 ratings as a challenger.” Mig, 32, has a 27-1 record, with 15 KOs, and his only loss was a four-round unanimous decision to Texas’ Jerry Guevara in Las Vegas in 2011.

Liza said Magramo is a serious contender for a world title. The WBO Oriental flyweight champion recently halted China’s previously unbeaten Wenfeng Ge in the 10th round in Suzhou, about 100 kilometers from Shanghai, to annex the WBO International title. The second of four children, Magramo is being groomed to be the second world titlist in a family of boxers. His uncle Ronnie Magramo was a two-time WBF minimumweight champion nicknamed the Toy Bulldog. His granduncle Ric Magramo Sr. was a former Philippine flyweight titleholder who retired in 1970. His father Melvin and uncles Ric, Jr. and Alvin were fighters, too. Melvin, who once fought Manny Pacquiao, was a former Philippine and OPBF flyweight ruler while Ric Jr. was a former Philippine lightflyweight king. Magramo’s brother Arvin, 22, is a lightflyweight with a 9-1-1 record, including 5 KOs.

When Magramo was feted by the Elordes for his win over Wenfeng, he was summoned by the grand matriarch Laura, the Flash’s widow. A devout Catholic, Laura whispered in Magramo’s ear her words of advice. “Mama Laura told Magramo to get married in church,” said Liza. Magramo has a three-year-old daughter with his girlfriend Claudine.

There’s no dearth of talent among Filipino boxers. Aside from Taconing, the other Filipino No. 1 contenders in line for a world title shot are WBC featherweight Mark Magsayo, WBO featherweight Genesis Servania, WBA featherweight Jhack Tepora (also the interim WBA champion), WBA bantamweight Raymart Gaballo (also the interim WBA champion) and WBO minimumweight Robert Paradero.

If only there were more promoters willing to put up the money to stage world title fights here, the Philippines could easily become the No. 1 Asian country with the most world champions.  Right now, the race for supremacy in the region is close. Excluding the IBO, the Philippines and Japan are tied with seven world champions each. Excluding interim champions, Japan overtakes the Philippines with seven world titlists to five. Thailand has four reigning world rulers.