Pitt Laurente (left) watches referee Danrex Tapdasan count down JR Magboo. —PHOTO COURTESY OF BLOW BY BLOW
Along a narrow street leading to the Mandaluyong City College (MCC) gymnasium, two children were playfully playing boxing, while another was seriously battling an imaginary, punching enemy into the air with all his might.
It was Sunday night, because they knew Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao was in the neighborhood and they couldn’t help but imitate his moves.
Pacquiao’s presence alone has rejuvenated awareness of his sport everywhere he goes, something the eighth-place world champion intends to bring to the place Blow by Blow’s caravan. birth will roll.
“Blow by Blow is going to the barangays, the cities and reaching out and giving the opportunity to all boxers who aspire to be Manny Pacquiao,” Pacquiao told the thrilled Sunday crowd that filled the MCC gym, all All were eager to see the nation’s most respected boxer of all time.
Now retired with a wealth of achievements in and out of the ring, Pacquiao brings everyone back to memory when he talks about the skinny 16-year-old from General Santos City who started his long professional career at Blow by Blow is organized by Mandaluyong City. .
“This is where I am known,” said Pacquiao, thanking his benefactor, the former Mayor of Mandaluyong City, Benjamin Abalos Sr., at a time when he was still an unknown in the sport. sports.
“I owe them (Abalos family) a debt of gratitude that I will never forget for the rest of my life. Thanks to them I was able to achieve success, help my parents and family, honor our country, and inspire every Filipino,” said Pacquiao, now a promoter of the boxing program. famous along with Abalos, added.
From the klieg lights of Blow by Blow in the mid-90s, Pacquiao rose to become a global force in the sport over the next two decades.
The second wind of the show
He won a senatorial seat then before running for president of the Philippines earlier this year, but fell short.
Pacquiao is the crowning glory of Blow by Blow, debuting in 1994 with rising boxing prospects before retiring in 1999.
Through Pacquiao’s efforts, the show returned in 2015 only to be put in the freezer after just over two years.
Sunday night’s revival paraded several Filipino boxers who could make a name for themselves in the international arena with prominent former amateur Criztian Pitt Laurente claiming the Boxing Federation’s featherweight super crown Philippines is empty.
JR Magboo was disqualified after just 25 seconds of the first round after Laurente saw the opening and attacked him with a lightning-quick straight strike, as referee Danrex Tapdasan counted him out.
So far, Laurente, 22, has not missed a match, winning all 11 matches, including 7 by knockout.
“I am really excited to face these young aspiring fighters. My decision to revive Blow by Blow is long-term and I hope the public will join me in finding the Philippines’ next boxing hero,” said Pacquiao, 43.
There’s a bit of nostalgia in Blow by Blow’s return with the return of original broadcaster Bobby Mondejar. Helping Pacquiao in managing the logistics of the staging is two-time world champion Gerry Peñalosa with the assistance of seasoned matchmaker Art Monis.
Next month’s Blow by Blow has been scheduled in General Santos city, Pacquiao’s hometown, and will return to Mandaluyong City in January. Matches will be shown weekly on Cignal’s One Sports channel.
Pacquiao said: “I encourage the kids to participate in sports, especially boxing because boxing is the best.
Meanwhile, outside the MCC as Blow by Blow’s revival descends, there are plenty of kids playing shadow boxing, throwing punches while muttering Pacquiao’s name.
Truly, no one else can inspire future greats like the greatest himself. request
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