Saturday, February 24, 2007
Sayson: Historic ‘Moment of Truth’
By Homer Sayson
Secondovertime
CHICAGO - It’s inarguably the biggest boxing spectacle in the history of Cebu City, a memorable fight card where celebrities, blue chip journalists, heavyweight politicians and the common folk will converge to watch an evening of legalized
violence.
It’s dubbed as “The Moment of Truth,” an offering presented by Mr. Antonio Lopez. Aldeguer (ALA) and the SGS Promotions of Sammy Gello-ani, the Don King of our shores. Golden Boy Promotions co-promotes the card.
“Everything about this event is top-rate. Very impressive,” Salven Lagumbay of CDN, Cebu’s ace boxing scribe, told me over the phone last night. Well-travelled as Marco Polo, Salven is an international boxing judge who knows a world-class promotion when he sees one.
Salven also told me that the protagonists and officials in the “Moment of Truth” are billeted in Cebu’s posh hotels. So too are the bigwigs of the WBO. And all media functions came and went seamlessly, unhindered by ineptitude or lack of organizing.
I’m not surprised. Aldeguer and Gello-ani are the masters of the game. They don’t just give attention to detail, they pay obsession to it. The integrity, honor and passion that they bring to boxing is unsurpassed in the Philippines.
Here’s some of the famous faces who will lend their presence to tonight’s “Moment of Truth”:
1) Manny Pacquiao— No introduction needed.
2) Quinito Henson, Philippine Star— During a lull in the NBA Finals last June, I had lunch with him at a Burger King in Miami. Just the two of us, mano-y-mano. We had a two-hour chat, and it convinced me further that he is the nation’s foremost basketball mind. One of the best analysts to ever hold a microphone, Quinito will call the Gorres-Montiel fight for ABS-CBN.
Ed Picson will be the Scottie Pippen to Henson’s Michael Jordan.
3) Recah Trinidad, Philippine Daily Inquirer— A lot of my readers label me as the so-called “King of Metaphors.” Obviously, they haven’t read enough of Recah’s works at PDI. If sportswriting were martial arts, Recah is Bruce Lee. I’m Tony Ferrer.
Last November in Las Vegas, Recah gave me a copy of his bestseller “Pacific Storm: Dispatches on Pacquiao of the Philippines.” He wrote this little note to me: “Homer the Great: Hope this meets your standard....Recah” Recah’s “Pacific Storm” did not meet my standard. It merely exceeded it. “Pacific Storm” is a masterpiece disguised as a 179-page book.
Buy it by the bundle, folks. Give it to your loved ones. Even your mother-in-law will like it.
4) Dyan Castillejo— Once the queen of Philippine tennis, the stunningly attractive Dyan has since discarded her royal robe and recreated herself as one of ABS-CBN’s Grade A talents. Pleasant on the eyes, Dyan’s riveting reports glue me to TV Patrol World when I can.
5) Mayor Dan Lim— Tagbilarian City’s best mayor ever? Maybe. Tagbilaran’s biggest boxing patron? Absolutely. He is the reason why Bohol has slowly mushroomed into a boxing hotbed.
6) Dong Secuya— The CEO of phlboxing.com and mannypacquiao.ph, Dong will be at ringside tonight, capturing historic moments through the genius of photography. His partner, Salven, will provide the words that will render justice to the photographs.
7) Eric Gomez, VP of Golden Boy Promotions— Oscar Dela Hoya’s best friend.
A tireless businessman with movie star good looks, Eric is the consummate professional. I knew that when I met him at the Boom Boom fight in Tampa last December.
8) Samson Lewkowicz of GBP— The best international matchmaker in the world. Enough said.
9) Rolando Hiso, super fan— A former member of the RP national team, Hiso now lives in Chicago. But I see him everywhere Pinoy pugs box in the US. If cheering for our own is an Olympic sport, Rolando gets the gold medal.
10) Lawyer Jingo Quijano, Sun.Star Cebu— This will be Jingo’s biggest fight coverage in his young sports columnist’s career.
But he belongs. That’s for sure.
(homsay@hotmail.com)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (February 24, 2007 issue)
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