Unwarranted stoppage

The late Flash Elorde’s sons Bebot and Johnny own separate boxing stables. Call it friendly sibling rivalry. It’s not that the brothers don’t get along. On the contrary. The Elorde clan is tightly knit. Another brother Marty–the youngest in the brood–is also involved in managing fighters.

Elorde’s widow Laura is the glue that keeps the family together. As the matriarch, she’s the stabilizing factor and mediator when there are incidents of conflict.

Bebot and Johnny are immersed in the game. They monitor their fighters’ training in the gym. They map out strategies and watch tape. They put up boxing shows. On the business side, their wives take care of the pesos and centavos. Bebot’s wife Arlene and Johnny’s wife Liza are invaluable assets in the family’s boxing ventures.

Because they operate distinct stables, Bebot and Johnny never work the same corner. Until a few weeks ago when in the rarest of exceptions, they accompanied Melvin Magramo to London.

While Johnny is Magramo’s manager, Bebot came along for brotherly advice. Together, the brothers worked Magramo’s corner in his fight against Hawk Makepula of South Africa for the vacant International Boxing Organization (IBO) flyweight title at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London.

Incidentally, the Elorde brothers’ aunt Violy—the Flash’s sister—has lived in London for years.

For Magramo, it was the chance of a lifetime. His brother Ronnie was once the World Boxing Federation (WBF) minimumweight titlist. His dream is to become a world champion, too.

Magramo, 30, held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Intercontinental flyweight crown for two years but it never led to a shot at the real world championship. In 1999, he captured the Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) 112-pound diadem via a 10th round disposal of Japanese Katsuhiro Akita but lost it in his first defense to another Japanese, Hiroshi Nakano on points.

The IBO isn’t as prestigious as the World Boxing Council (WBC), World Boxing Association (WBA), or International Boxing Federation (IBF). Still, it’s recognized as a player in the confusing alphabet soup index of world governing bodies for the sport. An IBO titleholder may not be as highly-regarded as a WBC ruler but it doesn’t deny him recognition as a world champion.

Against Makepula, Magramo was rough and rugged. He repeatedly waded in, absorbing blows, for the chance to connect from close range. Makepula found Magramo an easy target but his hardest blows couldn’t slow down the rampaging Oriental Mindoro brawler.

"Magramo fought like he looked–rough and tough," wrote Tony Connolly in Boxing News. "His weather-beaten face could probably have taken punches all night. All Magramo really had was typical Filipino gameness and awkward effectiveness. He did show out a few times after eating left hands but then got back down to scrapping away manfully."

Connolly didn’t score a single round for Magramo and said, "it was never a question of whether Makepula would win but could he stop his man."

Connolly reported that Magramo soaked in punishment for 20 seconds, without replying, in the seventh and walked back to the wrong corner at the bell.

"Someone in the crowd shouted ‘Stop it’ early in the ninth and that was the general feeling now as Melvin continued to come under steady fire and looked a well-beaten, disorganized man," continued Connolly. "However, while (referee John) Coyle looked determined to end it all, he couldn’t because every now and then, Magramo would throw something back. Finally, Magramo reeled under a burst and that was the referee’s cue. Time: 2:09 of the ninth."

Bebot told The Star he was surprised at the stoppage. He refuted Connolly’s observation that the fight was lopsided. Magramo never went down and it wasn’t as if he was defenseless. Magramo himself was puzzled—he wanted to fight on. Bebot admitted Makepula led on points but didn’t discount the possibility of Magramo bouncing back to score a late knockout.

"Si Melvin, slow starter, parang diesel engine," said Bebot. "Mayroon pa siya sanang ibubuga sa late rounds. Questionable ‘yung referee’s decision na hintuin ang laban. Kung kilala lang niya si Melvin, ‘di titigilin ang laban. Nagpapasuntok lang si Melvin at kaya naman niya ang lakas ni Makepula."

Johnny echoed Bebot’s sentiments. "Magandang laban—hindi one-sided," he said. "Bigayan ang dalawa. May dugo si Makepula sa ilong, si Melvin naman, sa bibig. Never groggy si Melvin. Quiet nga ang mga fans noong tinigil ng referee. Makamay si Makepula but ‘di siya knockout puncher."

Both brothers said Magramo was biding his time, patiently waiting for the opening to launch an attack, when Coyle intervened. Johnny blamed Magramo for offering himself as a willing target to lure Makepula within slugging range. The tactic gave the impression that Magramo was a sitting duck. The trick backfired as it not only made Makepula look more aggressive but also convinced Coyle that Magramo wasn’t in his class.

Johnny said he won’t protest Coyle’s decision but will send a letter to the IBO asking for an official explanation as to why the fight was stopped.

Magramo, meanwhile, is preparing to defend his Philippine flyweight title against unbeaten No. 1 contender Rolly Lunas. If he polishes off Lunas, the battle-scarred Magramo could be in line for a rematch against Makepula.

Surely, Magramo deserves more than an unconvincing end to his quest for a world crown.