Brand New Car Worth P800,000 Slips Santillan’s Hands
By Alex P. Vidal
When millionaire Toshiaki Kobayashi first wagered a brand new Toyota car for Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) welterweight champion Rev. Santillan in a dinner the night prior to his title defense against unbeaten Hiroshi Yamaguchi at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan on April 20, the agreement was for the 28-year old Iloilo-born champion to flatten Yamaguchi inside five rounds of their 12-round championship tiff.
“I will give Rev a brand new car if he will knockout the Japanese (challenger) within five rounds. Not eight rounds because I don’t want him to suffer cuts,” the 56-year-old Panchenko slot machine tycoon told Santillan’s manager Rex “Wakee” Salud and trainer Crisologo “Brix” Flores over a dinner at the glitzy Shinjuku district.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
“Thank you, sir,” replied the 5 feet and 11 inches tall Santillan who bowed his head to acknowledge the Good Samaritan’s benevolence.
Little did the Team Santillan know that Kobayashi, the boxer’s long-time admirer, actually was bent on giving the lefty Santillan the car even if the knockout would come after five rounds or even if the fight went the full route in favor of the Filipino boxer.
The morning before the fight, Salud said he learned that Kobayashi, chief executive officer of San-A Corporation, phoned by long distance the Cebu office of Toyota Corporation to reserve one brand new car worth P800,000.
If converted to cash, Santillan could end up pocketing P1,550,000 (including his US$15,000 purse win or lose).
By Alex P. Vidal
When millionaire Toshiaki Kobayashi first wagered a brand new Toyota car for Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) welterweight champion Rev. Santillan in a dinner the night prior to his title defense against unbeaten Hiroshi Yamaguchi at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan on April 20, the agreement was for the 28-year old Iloilo-born champion to flatten Yamaguchi inside five rounds of their 12-round championship tiff.
“I will give Rev a brand new car if he will knockout the Japanese (challenger) within five rounds. Not eight rounds because I don’t want him to suffer cuts,” the 56-year-old Panchenko slot machine tycoon told Santillan’s manager Rex “Wakee” Salud and trainer Crisologo “Brix” Flores over a dinner at the glitzy Shinjuku district.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
“Thank you, sir,” replied the 5 feet and 11 inches tall Santillan who bowed his head to acknowledge the Good Samaritan’s benevolence.
Little did the Team Santillan know that Kobayashi, the boxer’s long-time admirer, actually was bent on giving the lefty Santillan the car even if the knockout would come after five rounds or even if the fight went the full route in favor of the Filipino boxer.
The morning before the fight, Salud said he learned that Kobayashi, chief executive officer of San-A Corporation, phoned by long distance the Cebu office of Toyota Corporation to reserve one brand new car worth P800,000.
If converted to cash, Santillan could end up pocketing P1,550,000 (including his US$15,000 purse win or lose).
HOW TO CLAIM THE CAR
The car, to be paid by Kobayashi’s San-a Corporation Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu office, would be claimed by Santillan only after repulsing Yamaguchi and upon his return to Cebu (he was booked on PR flight 434 Narita-Cebu last April 21.
The good news was reportedly relayed to Salud by Kobayashi’s wife Linda, a native of Leyte, inside Santillan’s dressing room at the Korakuen Hall hours before the title match.
The visibly tense Kobayashi, a frequent Cebu visitor and a casino habitué, talked to Salud near the ringside and reminded him that to win convincingly, Santillan (22 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw, 16 KOs), must score an early knockout.
Kobayashi’s two male staffs carried the two Philippine flags and waved them as Santillan climbed the ring.
In the opening round, 27-year-old Yamaguchi (14 wins, 0 loss, 1 draw, 11 KOs), egged and cheered by the partisan crowd, clearly outslicked the visitor with crisp combinations and his speed befuddled the taller champion.
In the second round, the 7th ranked Yamaguchi, showboating and teasing the champion like a clown, continued to be the superior fighter as he opened a nasty cut above Santillan’s right eyebrow with a wicked left straight. A stream of blood started to bother the former amateur champion from Jaro, Iloilo City as the faster Yamaguchi was connecting at well.
STILL NO KNOCKOUT
After five rounds, the dream knockout didn’t come. To compound the matter, Yamaguchi was leading on the scorecards of the three judges from Thailand, Philippines, and Japan. The only consolation for the defending titlist was that Yamaguchi, too, had a cut over his left eyebrow.
In the 11th round, the tired by still dangerous Santillan uncorked a dazzling right cross followed by a left uppercut to Yamaguchi’s chin sending the pesky but durable challenger to the canvas for a clean knockdown.
The bloodied Yamaguchi, hurt and embarrassed, struggled to his feet and managed to beat the mandatory 8 count administered by scoring referee Anek Hongtongkam.
Smelling a stoppage victory, Santillan poured his all in the 12th and final canto and the two gladiators exchanged heavy blows and totured each to the delight of the fans who were at the edge of their seats.
THE RESULT
When the verdict was announced, Yamaguchi toppled the OPBF crown off the head of Santillan with a split decision win. The final score: Anek Hongtongham (Thailand) 114-113 and Ukrid Sarasas (Japan) 115-113, both for Yamaguchi, and Alex Vidal (Philippines) 115-112 for Santillan.
As the crestfallen Santillan descended from the ring, Kobayashi rose to his seat and gave the 53-year-old Salud a somber look and wailed loudly: “Wakee (Salud), you climb up the ring and protest the decision.”
Salud speechless and visibly shocked, ignored the challenges and, with head vowed, callously walked away from the scene.
The brand new Toyota car slipped away from Santillan’s gripe. /MP madyaas_pen@yahoo.com
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