GABRIEL “Flash” Elorde is Bogo City’s boxing hero but nobody from the northern town of Cebu has ever followed in his footsteps for decades now.
A young and hungry 22-year-old prospect, Joe Noynay, wants to change all that and become Bogo City’s newest boxing hero.
“Noynay asked to fight in Bogo,” said former Bogo City mayor and event organizer Junie Martinez. “The fame of Flash Elorde in the old days was great. Everybody was very proud of him. After him, nobody really came out big from Bogo. But here comes somebody from Bogo named Joe Noynay.”
Noynay, whose mother is from Nailon, is fighting in his hometown for the first time professionally this Saturday. He will defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia-Pacific Youth super featherweight strap against tough Mexican youngster Hector Garcia in the main event of “For Honor and Pride” at the Celestino Martinez Sr. Sports and Cultural Complex.
“I want to fight here,” said Noynay. “I want my hometown to see me. I want them to be proud of me.” Nonay has huge plans in mind, which include a run at a world title. But he will have his hands full against Garcia, who isn’t a pushover, this Saturday night.
“I came here in great shape. I trained for four months. I’m not like the other Mexicans who came here and lost. I have a feeling that I’ll take the title with me back to Mexico,” said the 23-year-old from Tijuana.
Garcia had a great training camp and sparred with top quality sparring partners in former world champion Luis Nery, veteran former world title challenger Hector Velazquez, and prospect Edivaldo Ortega.
“This will be a great fight. This will be survival of the fittest. Both of them don’t want to lose,” said Noynay’s handler Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr., the son of late great Flash Elorde.
Noynay is 13-2-1 with four knockouts, while Garcia is 12-6-2 with seven knockouts.
In the supporting bout, Cris Alfante (13-6-1, 5 KOs) will take on Renoel Pael (21-8-1, 11 KOs) in an eight-rounder, while in the undercard, Al Toyogon (6-2-1, 3 KOs) will face Jason Tinampay (8-8-1, 7 KOs). Cris Paulino will trade leathers with former Pan Asian Boxing Association (PABA) champion Marvin Tampus (27-25-3, 18 Kos); and Ricardo Sueno (6-2-3, 2 KOs) will lock horns with Roga Libres (3-12). (EKA)