Saturday, July 21, 2007 Sayson: The return of Czar Amonsot By Homer Sayson Second Overtime
CHICAGO - Last Monday, July 19, a jet-black Mercedes Benz whisked him from his apartment to nearby LAX airport, where he took a one-hour flight to neighboring Nevada.
Las Vegas-based Tony Martin, the efficient and likable ALA gym cutman, met him at the McCurran International Airport and immediately herded the Boholano fighter to the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.
His sixth floor room is a carpeted paradise that costs $429 a night. It is adorned with cushy pillows, a 42-inch flat-screen plasma TV, a tempting bath tub, and a lofty shower room large enough to accommodate an elephant.
Czar Amonsot is getting the royal treatment. Which isn’t a shock since he is an ALA fighter being promoted in the US by industry giant Golden Boy Promotions.
What is amazing is how Czar put himself in this position after his promising career fell into an abyss just 10 months ago, when he suffered a first-round KO at the hands of Simon Butar-Butar at the Island City Mall in Tagbilaran City.
Back then, Czar was horribly out of shape, irresponsibly sloppy in training, and was living the high life too much. Walking in a fog of misguided steps, he broke every ALA rule imaginable, and was subsequently banished.
But he’s back, with a vengeance. Czar has since rededicated himself to the sport. Goodbye parties, hello punching bag.
Convinced that he was sorry, and pleased with his renewed vigor, the ALA stable gladly welcomed Czar back into its loving arms.
Last Feb.9, at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul, South Korea, Czar triumphantly returned with a 12-round win over Da Woon Jung to annex the vacant WBO Asia-Pacific lightweight title.
He was supposed to defend that title last July 7, but Golden Boy Promotions called with an offer that was impossible to resist. And this is why Czar is in Las Vegas. He stars in the main undercard of the Bernard Hopkins-Winky Wright duel tomorrow at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.
Czar’s assignment, however, will be an extremely tough one. He will challenge Michael Katsidis, the reigning WBO lightweight champion.
The 26-year-old Katsidis is undefeated. He has 20 KOs in 22 wins. I watched one of his fights at youtube.com and it was scary how he pummeled Graham Earl.
Katsidis has power in both hands. He hits like a middleweight and he throws punches with the volume of a flyweight.
But Czar, 21, isn’t chopped liver, either. He has an 18-2-1 slate with 10 KOs. He can box or brawl with equal aplomb. He is a worthy opponent for Katsidis.
“I’m ready. I feel good. And I’m confident,” Czar told me in the vernacular yesterday from Las Vegas.
“He tipped the scales at 134.6 pounds, and he is in superb shape,” said Edito Villamor, Czar’s trainer.
With just two days before showtime, Czar’s training had slowed down considerably. He woke up at 6 a.m. yesterday and logged a few, short miles. A modest breakfast of oat meal and banana followed one hour later.
Lunch at noon was steamed chicken and some strawberries. He skipped rope and did some sweating exercises at 6 p.m. Dinner was a plateful of fruits and bedtime followed at 9 p.m.
After more than 100 rounds of sparring, hours and hours in the gym, and countless miles of roadwork, Czar’s body is ready, programmed to take and administer abuse. And he’s mentally ready, too, Edito explained.
“I’d like to thank my fans, especially Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Neri Lim, who came here all the way from Bohol to lend his support. Thanks especially to sir ALA (Antonio Lopez Aledeguer) for giving me a second chance,” Amonsot said.
It’s not a second chance, Czar. It’s a new beginning. And here’s hoping that this one has a rosy ending.
