If plans come true, Panay Island which is composed of the provinces of Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, and Antique in Western Visayas could be the first island in the Visayas to produce the next "Manny Pacman" or Manny Pacquiao outside Metro Manila next year.
This became apparent after a group identified with the Johnny Elorde Management International has proposed to hold the first "Manny Pacman of Panay" boxing promotion tentatively in the third quarter this year here in Iloilo City.
Mario "Marlon" Lumacad, Jr., son of professional boxing trainer Mario, Sr. and manager of the Elorde Boxing at the Skyline Fitness Center, Iloilo City, said the promotion will be patterned after the "The Contender", a professional boxing TV show in the United States hosted by former world champion Sugar Ray Leonard and actor Silvestre Stallone.
42 MUNICIPALITIES
According to Lumacad, all the 42 municipalities of Iloilo province and Passi City will be asked to field a "contender" to participate in the tournament which will last for several weeks.
The champion will collect the P1 million pot money which the promoter plans to solicit from Pacquiao himself aside from the P1 million from the private sponsors.
"Since the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) will open an extension office in Iloilo, we might as well take advantage of the presence of the office where our local trainers, timekeepers, referees and judges can directly apply for licenses. There will be no need for them to go to Cebu or Manila," explained the 50-year-old Lumacad.
He said the project will be finalized after his meeting this week with Iloilo Governor Niel D. Tupas, Sr.
Meanwhile, Elorde, son of the legendary former world champion Gabriel "Flash", has put up a boxing gym at the back of the Jaro Cathedral in Jaro district in tandem with The Winner’s Gym owned by bodybuilding superstar Erwin Tiongson.
EQUIPMENT
The facility, Lumacad said, is complete with boxing equipment such as cylindrical bags, teardrop punching bags, padded wall, double end balls, speedballs, and official boxing ring. He said Elorde hired three local trainers—Ruben Grecia, Jenniper Quintao, and Moises Junio to attend to the aspiring professional boxers. His father Mario, Sr. will upgrade the training once in a while.
"Johnny (Elorde) has spent more or less P200,000 for the boxing facility which he initially thought of opening for the public for physical fitness, and not for competition," Lumacad said. /MP mailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com
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