By Rey Danseco
The former sparring partner of Manny Pacquiao and reigning Philippine super featherweight champion, Aaron Melgarejo, was hit with tragedy when his grandmother died due to a sudden heart attack.
Melgarejo was shock but he knows he needs to keep his focus on training for his scheduled title defense against tought Mike “Tyson” Tumbaga of Baguio City in the boxing show of promoter Dante Almario and Mayor Aldrin San Pedro on June 20 at the Muntinlupa Sports Complex in Tunasan, Muntinlupa City, Metro Manila, Philippines.
“We’ll just train. I see no problem. He’s showing good,” said former Philippine super bantamweight champion Dino Olivetti, who trains his nephew Melgarejo.
The 25-year old champion and Olivetti were taking a rest after their afternoon training in their family gym that resides beside their home, when Lourdes Olivetti, 74, complained of chest pain and immediately died on the spot around 6:30 pm last Thursday at the Olivetti residence at St. Rose Village 2 in Casile, Binan, Laguna.
“It still affects,” Olivetti answered to the question on how the tragedy affects his nephew’s preparation.
“But we always remind to Aaron that his grandmother’s dream for him is to become a world champion.
“Because when she died, we were beside her, taking a rest after our afternoon work out.”
Melgarejo, now rated No. 1 by the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF), promised to the wake of his grandmother to win his fight against Tumbaga.
“Aaron loves his grandmother very much. He promised in front of my mother (Lourdes) that in every fight he’ll dedicate it to her, so I think we’ll be seeing a more furious Aaron,” Olivetti said.
Melgarejo is one the Philippines’ most promising prospects in super featherweight division. Even Manny Pacquiao believes in Melgarejo’s potential when he decided to hire him as sparring partner in preparations against Jorge Solis and Marco Antonio Barrera of Mexico in 2007.
Lourdes is left by her husband, former Oriental super featherweight champion Oscar Reyes and their eight siblings, including three daughters and five sons, who were all retired pro-boxers — Dino, former OPBF super featherweight champion Tiger “Eder” Ari, Lion “Jun” Ari, Berlin and Romeo.
