By Rey Danseco
THE late Lope “Papa” Sarreal Sr. brought boxing business in Indonesia four decades ago. And on his 101st birthday, his eldest grandson Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr. wants to see the fruit of grandfather’s legacy.
Elorde has secured September 23rd in a soon to determine venue in Metro Manila for the fight extravaganza between veteran Filipino fighters, and young and capable Indonesia boxers from Eddy Pirih Stable in Surabaya.
Top billing in the card will be the fight for the vacant Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) light flyweight title between Davao Oriental’s pride Juanito Rubillar and OPBF No. 1 contender Irvan Ogah.
Paranaque City’s Jun Arlos, former International Boxing Federation (IBF) minimumweight title challenger, faces the hard-punching Shofyan Efendi in the co-feature fight for 10-round confrontation.
“Our aim for staging an annual international event like this is to commemorate Papa’s contribution in boxing as we hope to keep his memory alive,” said Elorde, eldest son of Sarreal’s daughter Laura and the great junior lightweight champ Flash Elorde.
Sarreal, acknowledged the “Grand Old Man of Asian Boxing”, is the only Asian fight promoter and matchmaker nonpareil to be inducted posthumously under the list of Non-Participants to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in June 2005 in Canastota, New York.
Sarreal, who was born on September 25, 1905 in Imus, Cavite, passed away 11 years ago at the age of 89 on March 14, 1995, about 10 years after his son-in-law, Flash Elorde died of lung cancer.
During Sarreal’s illustrious career, the musician from Cavite produced at least 22 world champions from different countries, including Flash Elorde, Japanese flyweight Masao Ohba, Mexico’s super featherweight Ricardo Arrendondo, Thailand’s super lightweight Saensak Muangasurin, flyweight Charchai Chinoi, flyweight Venice Borkhorsor, light fly Netrnoi Sor Vorasingh, and flyweight Berkrerk Charvanchai, and Filipino flyweights Erbito Salavarria, Bernabe Villacampo and Rolando Bohol.
Sarrael is also credited with introducing big-time boxing in Korea, Thailand and Japan and opening the Asian market to pro boxing. Aside from Indonesia, the influential and revered Sarreal brought boxing to China during his stay in Shanghai as musician in 1960s.
The 29-year old Rubillar is the most feared boxer in his division after he went in a distance twice, with the rematch was ruled controversially in favor of Jorge “Travieso” Arce of Mexico.
The fight will be Rubillar’s first appearance after taking an upset loss to Thai Wandee Singwancha in July for the WBC interim light flyweight title. And he needs to make his hands full againt Ogah, who according to Pirih is only 19 years old and has 16-1-1 win-loss-draw records with seven knockouts.
Pirih also introduced Arlos’ opponent as tall and unbeaten in 14 starts with six knockouts.
