All Entries Tagged With: "Boxing in the Philippines"

My Boxing Color Commentary: Drian Francisco Vs. Roberto Vasquez

Here’s video from a fight between the Philippines Drian Francisco vs. Panama’s Roberto Vasquez. I  was the color commentator for this bout in Manila in 2009. Russell Shimooka of Hawaii is the doing the play by play. This is the 10th round which turned out to be the end.

more about “Drian Francisco Vs. Roberto Vasquez“, [...]

MY RINGSIDE CALL OF THE VILORIA-TAMARA WAR!

I was fortunate to be the play by play commentator for the Brian Viloria-Carlos Tamara fight this past Saturday at the Cuneta Astrodome, Manila Philippines, for Viloria’s IBF World Jr. Flyweight title. It was an absolutely fantastic fight with Viloria leading throughout, until about the 9th round, when the Columbian Tamara started pouring it on. [...]

WORKING CLASS HERO

When I wrote this feature for Manila’s Businessworld newspaper back in 1995, Efren “Bata” Reyes was considered by many at the time to be the best pool player ever. From tracking down the elusive great, to meeting and interviewing him, and to watching him perform his special magic, here in its entirety is one of the earliest accounts of the man whom many Filipinos considered then, and now, a walking, breathing Philippine folk legend.

NEW ISSUE OF RING MAGAZINE FEATURES Q & A WITH NONITO DONAIRE

The latest issue of the Ring Magazine has an excellent Q & A interview with Nonito Donaire, who is currently ranked number seven in the Ring’s pound for pound ratings. The interview took place in the US and was done by Ring assitant editor Joe Santoliquito.
In the interview, Donaire opens up about how he was [...]

EXCLUSIVE: MANNY PACQUIAO GETS “BELTED” IN NEW YORK!

Manny Pacquiao finally received his Ring Magazine Jr. Welterweight belt, indicative of total supremacy at 140lbs. We have received an exclusive photo from the “belting.”

INTERVIEW WITH GREATER GOOD RADIO

Here’s a recent interview I did with Jay-R Patron of Greater Good Radio out of Hawaii. From how I ended up living in the Philippines, to the ups and downs of daily life in this crazy and never dull country, to working as a journalist in one of the world’s notoriously dangerous spots, Jay-R managed to coax some interesting answers from me.

INTERVIEW WITH BRUCE MCTAVISH, CONCLUSION

In the last of my three part interview, Bruce McTavish talks more about the controversial WBC, then opens up about some of the more unusual places on the planet he has refereed fights, what a ref sees that fans don’t, and the prescription for fixing the sport of boxing. BY TED LERNER

INTERVIEW WITH BRUCE MCTAVISH, PART 2

In the second installment of a three part interview, referee Bruce McTavish brings up some of his favorite names from Philippine boxing history, discusses the blight caused by the proliferation of alphabet title belts, and says modern Philippine boxing owes everything to the great Manny Pacquiao. BY TED LERNER

INTERVIEW WITH REFEREE BRUCE MCTAVISH

Long time boxing referee Bruce McTavish opens up about a range of topics regarding the Sweet Science, including his favorite Philippine fighters, Manny Pacquiao, the proliferation of alphabet belts, his career highlights and low lights, and the WBC, of which he has been a member for nearly two decades.
BY TED LERNER

THE DAY ALI AND FRAZIER CAME CALLING ON FERDINAND AND IMELDA

While attempting to clean out some old papers, I came across an amazing piece of sports history; an exact transcript of the day, two weeks prior to the “Thrilla in Manila,” Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier paid a courtesy call on Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and his wife Imelda. As you’ll see, it took the president of a nation to keep the two adversaries civil to each other. BY TED LERNER

DON’T RUN MANNY. THEY’LL APPOINT YOU GOD

Since his return to the Philippines after bludgeoning Ricky Hatton, Manny Pacquiao has been collecting one ceremonial title after the next. The one title Filipinos won’t be handing over so easily to the champ, however, is that of elected politician. Filipinos simply don’t want Pacquiao to run for office. Pacquiao just said he’s going for it. Will he really give up his Superman status to become a mere politician? Not if the people have anything to say about it.
by TED LERNER

“NOTHING PERSONAL. IT’S MY JOB. NOW LET’S PARTY.”

Manny Pacquiao’s complete and utter destruction of Ricky Hatton has brought a new star into the world of sport; a mild mannered, God-fearing young man from the 3rd world streets who mows down opponents and then invites them to break bread. Boxing, and the sporting world, have never seen anything like him.

by TED LERNER

GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE

The fight between Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton on Saturday will be the first test of where the sport stands after the retirement of Oscar De La Hoya. How will the boxing landscape look when this one is over? BY NIGEL COLLINS, Editor-in-Chief, The Ring Magazine

THE TOP FIVE FILIPINO BOXERS

Here’s my officially unofficial top five current Filipino boxers. Take a guess who’s number one?

VILLORIA STEALS THE SHOW IN MANILA

Brian Villoria fought the fight of his life on Sunday morning in Manila. Not only did he capture the IBF Jr. Flyweight belt, he completely turned around his career in a sensational fight. And to boot, he topped it off with perhaps the year’s best knockout. by TED LERNER

PACQUIAO PULLS BACK FROM THE BRINK…AGAIN.

Smack dab in the midst of training for his May 2nd showdown with Ricky Hatton, Manny Pacquiao decided the $20 million he was about to earn wasn’t enough. The resulting turmoil back in the Philippines when he tried to switch television networks despite a signed contract nearly squandered his massive fan base. The Pacman retracted just in time. Or did he? — By TED LERNER

AS PACMAN POUNDS OSCAR, AETA TRIBALS GO WILD!

Ted Lerner watched Manny Pacquiao’s destruction of Oscar de la Hoya with native Aeta tribesmen in the Philippines. Here’s an account of a particularly happy Sunday morning in a remote Philippine province.