Gonzales fights in US today
By Salven Lagumbay
Cebu Daily News
First Posted 09:40:00 07/06/2008
Glenn “Rapid Fire” Gonzales, one of the Philippines' top featherweight prospects, was hardly noticed when he weighed in for his 6-round bout against veteran New Yorker Robert DaLuz scheduled today.
In fact, the announcer in the weigh-in announced Gonzales' hometown as “Miyang” instead of M'lang, a town in North Cotabato famous for producing rice and pomelo.
“Never mind. In time, they will learn to pronounce the word M'lang properly,” said Glenn's trainer Noli Piñol who arrived with the 22-year-old southpaw in the US along with bantamweight Jundy Maraon, 23.
After weighing in at 125 lbs., Gonzales had a quick picture-taking with DaLuz then disappeared from the limelight to proceed to the buffet area for his lunch and then proceeded to the Siegle Apartel where he and his group had been staying for over a week now to rest and prepare for today’s fight.
It may just be a 6-round fight and it will not get as much media attention as the main event of the evening -- the return match betwen WBO jr. welterweight champion Ricardo Torres and challenger Kendall Holt which has been dubbed “No Excuses.”
But for Glenn and his team, today’s fight means a lot for the future of the other young boxers from Mindanao whose entry into the US boxing scene would depend greatly on Gonzales' performance.
“I know I serve as the door opener for my teammates,” said Glenn yesterday’s weigh-in.
A victory by Glenn, an impressive one especially, will boost the image of the boxers from Mindanao whose trip to the US is being arranged by Braveheart Boxing Club owner Vice Governor Manny Pinol.
Glenn, the current WBO Asia Pacific Featherweight champion, had to go through a very agonizing route prior to his appearance today.
It took over 6 months before his working visa application was approved by the USCIS and over a month of waiting before he could get a fight.
Gonzales, who holds a record of 6 wins 4 by KOs and 1 draw, is the former Asian Youth Silver medallist whose amateur career was adversely affected by a broken bone in the left hand which was corrected only after a bone transplant.
“I am putting all of that behind me now. I have to fight well tomorrow - for my grandmother and for those who are praying for my success,” Gonzales said.
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