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I got interested in boxing watching Rolando Navarette and Dodie Boy Espinosa as a kid. Luisito Espinosa always got me on the edge of my seat because he's got brittle hands and chin...still he got the job done. First time I saw Pacman was in a local boxing program "Blow by Blow" and since then I became a Pac fan. I even have a copy of the FHM magazine that ran a story on him before the first Barrera fight.
Back then, no Filipino hyped their fighters. The only one I could remember being hyped was Morris East who won the light welterweight title at 19...a lot of documentaries and new features was made about him after that, and how his search for his American father was his motivation to succeed in the sport. He found his father after winning the title...lost in on his first defense, stories came out that his father was sick and that Morris' mind wasn't in training. The guy never fought for a title again and never really achieved his full potential.
Now, is there hate between Filipino boxing fans? I don't think so. There are just those protecting Cebuano interests and those that are exposing the Cebuano's selfish agenda. You see, since time immemorial, Cebuanos have been trying to relive the glory days of their only great fighter, Flash Elorde by hyping "next great Cebuano boxer". You have the likes of Tunacao, Mayol, Suico, Rolando Bohol, Ala Villamor, Andy Tabanas etc., who all ended up as journeymen. Today, thanks to Pacland, (which they own and moderate) Cebuano fighters get good press, juicy contracts, and international exposure but always end up put up a mediocre performance in big championship fights. Now, every boxing prospect in the country is measured based on the performance of these Cebuano fighters which a lot of Filipinos think isn't fare. When one vents this on Pacland, they get banned and their region ridiculed.
They also claim "Visayan" boxing greatness as their own, saying that the truly great Filipino boxers are Visayans (and that includes them of course). Yes, it may be true but an Ilonggo is not a Cebuano and Warays aren't Cebuanos. In fact, the best Filipino fighters past and present are either Warays or Hilagaynons while Cebuanos are the weakest (for a province that produces the most boxers). There is no North and South rivalry in Philippine boxing...it only exists in the minds of Cebuanos. There are people like me who try to get this message across that Philippine boxing doesn't just depend on one hyped gym in Cebu and there are those that obviously are Cebuanos or are defending their Cebuano friends - that's where the conflict lies.
Back then, no Filipino hyped their fighters. The only one I could remember being hyped was Morris East who won the light welterweight title at 19...a lot of documentaries and new features was made about him after that, and how his search for his American father was his motivation to succeed in the sport. He found his father after winning the title...lost in on his first defense, stories came out that his father was sick and that Morris' mind wasn't in training. The guy never fought for a title again and never really achieved his full potential.
Now, is there hate between Filipino boxing fans? I don't think so. There are just those protecting Cebuano interests and those that are exposing the Cebuano's selfish agenda. You see, since time immemorial, Cebuanos have been trying to relive the glory days of their only great fighter, Flash Elorde by hyping "next great Cebuano boxer". You have the likes of Tunacao, Mayol, Suico, Rolando Bohol, Ala Villamor, Andy Tabanas etc., who all ended up as journeymen. Today, thanks to Pacland, (which they own and moderate) Cebuano fighters get good press, juicy contracts, and international exposure but always end up put up a mediocre performance in big championship fights. Now, every boxing prospect in the country is measured based on the performance of these Cebuano fighters which a lot of Filipinos think isn't fare. When one vents this on Pacland, they get banned and their region ridiculed.
They also claim "Visayan" boxing greatness as their own, saying that the truly great Filipino boxers are Visayans (and that includes them of course). Yes, it may be true but an Ilonggo is not a Cebuano and Warays aren't Cebuanos. In fact, the best Filipino fighters past and present are either Warays or Hilagaynons while Cebuanos are the weakest (for a province that produces the most boxers). There is no North and South rivalry in Philippine boxing...it only exists in the minds of Cebuanos. There are people like me who try to get this message across that Philippine boxing doesn't just depend on one hyped gym in Cebu and there are those that obviously are Cebuanos or are defending their Cebuano friends - that's where the conflict lies.
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