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Thursday, January 01, 2004
Eman’s futile hunt for the good life
By Glenn C. Michelena
IT WAS a sight that would give shivers to any boxer.
Boxer Jan Eman Juarez, a 25-year-old Cagayan de Oro native, lay unconscious on a bed with a slew of life-support wires attached to various parts of his body at the male-surgical ward of the Cebu Doctors Hospital.
Juarez landed in this predicament after falling into a coma due to brain injuries after getting knocked out by Rocky Fuentes in a boxing match last Sunday in Danao City.
All this because of a big, innocent dream.
“Botchie (Jan Eman) really wanted to show his ability in his fight with Fuentes, because he (Jan Eman) wanted to be a part of the ALA Stable,” revealed Jun “Don Don” Juarez, 32, Jan Eman’s older brother.
“He went to the GAB (Games and Amusements Board) and asked for the fight, that was how much he wanted to improve on his career.”
Jan Eman’s father, Emmanuel, who also acted as Jan Eman’s cornerman during the fight, also knew about the plan.
“The only person we expect to come back after the fight was our father – we all knew Botchie would stay behind here,” said Don Don, a sidewalk florist back in Cagayan de Oro. “Botchie told us of his plans, and even my father gave him a father’s blessing for his dream.”
Jan Eman dreamed of reaching the top, and liked to promise his wife Brenda and his one-year and 10-month-old daughter Brave Eman back in Cagayan that he would someday make it big in the boxing world.
“He would tell his daughter that he will have lots of money one day and that his name will be on lights. He really believed he could make it,” said Don Don.
Brenda, however, once dissuaded Jan Eman from boxing when she landed a job at Oro Rama Department Store in Cagayan. But Jan Eman’s dream was irrepressible.
Jan Eman proved that he had the makings of a future champ when he defeated Benjie Lumacad for the OPBF super-flyweight crown on Oct. 20, 2002.
Jan Eman’s fight against Fuentes, however, ended in a heartbreaking note Jan Eman’s dreams.
Don Don, nevertheless, is proud of his fallen brother.
“Botchie will be remembered as a hero in our place, because he died in an honorable way.”
(January 1, 2004 issue)
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