Tiger not giving up despite loss

Tiger Ari came home to a somber welcome yesterday after losing to Cassius Baloyi of South Africa on a sixth round knockout in a bid for the vacant International Boxing Organization (IBO) junior lightweight title in Carnival City.

Ari had no excuses for last Wednesday’s defeat. But he promised to bounce back.

It’s not over, Ari vowed, as he set his sights on regaining the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) superfeatherweight throne he relinquished to fight Baloyi for the IBO crown.

Randy Suico and Sung Ho Yuh of South Korea dispute the OPBF title that Ari vacated in Cebu on April 27. Ari said he’d like to face the winner.

Ari confessed that he cried when referee Connors stepped in to end the fight at 1:22 of the sixth round. He wasn’t hurt, he wasn’t bloodied, and he wasn’t battered. But Ari said he just couldn’t breathe and blamed South Africa’s high altitude for the thin air that drained his lungs.

Ari didn’t protest Connors’ stoppage. He had nothing left in his tank. Baloyi, who started slowly, stepped on the gas in the third round as Ari appeared to lose steam early. The 5-11 South African, who had a towering four-inch height advantage, had Ari on the verge of a knockdown late in the fifth but the bell came to the Filipino’s rescue.

A flurry of punches capped by a straight right to the head sent Ari down on the seat of his pants in the sixth. He got up at the count of nine but was clearly in no condition to continue.

Writer Leonard Neill said Ari was a "disappointment." Neill noticed that Ari "faded badly after the third round then disintegrated into defeat under pressure." Neill had previously predicted a close fight and described Ari as "a tough, ringwise veteran (with) the style to beat Bayoli who enjoys boxing on the attack but is often found wanting when it comes to going on the back foot."

Both fighters began cautiously and Baloyi seemed to find it difficult to penetrate Ari’s southpaw defense. But while Bayoli tried to figure out what to do, Ari didn’t capitalize. The big crowd cheered Bayoli from the opening bell and the South African didn’t let down the hometown fans.

Ari said he couldn’t get untracked because Bayoli wouldn’t let him. "Bawa’t suntok ko, mayroon siyang sagot," noted Ari. "Mukhang napagaralan ang style ko. Pagsuntok ko ng hook, may depensa siya. Pagsuntok ko ng uppercut, may depensa rin siya."

Ari said his trainer Erbito Salavarria, the former world flyweight champion, sensed that Bayoli looked to shock with a strong start. The plan was to wait for Bayoli to make his move then counter. Bayoli, however, opened with a jab-straight routine that hardly fazed Ari. The strong start never materialized.

"Hirap akong huminga," said Ari who flew into South Africa a week before the fight. "Napansin ko sa jogging at training ko, hirap akong huminga. Sa laban, akala ko babalik ang aking hangin sa fifth round. Wala rin. Hanggang naubos na ako."

Ari said he had no complaints about the South African hospitality. He was paid his entire $17,000 purse. He stayed at the posh Rundberg Hotel, about a two-hour car ride to the Carnival City casino where the fight was held.

"Hindi malakas sumuntok si Baloyi, makamay lang," continued Ari. "Hilo rin ako sa bandang huli kaya tinigil ng referee. Marami siyang suntok. Sa tingin ko, kung may hangin lang ako, kaya ko siyang labanan ng sabayan. Napagod lang ako."

Ari tipped the scales at 128, two under the limit, during the weigh-in. He was fit to fight but just couldn’t cope with the high altitude.

Ari, who hadn’t lost in eight years, said he’s not finished as a fighter. If Suico wins the OPBF title, he’d like to take him in an all-Filipino showdown that is a matchmaker’s dream. Would he consider fighting comebacking Luisito Espinosa? "Hindi siguro at kumpare ko siya," said Ari.

If it’s any consolation, Ari is unscathed. But he’s understandably downcast. After a few weeks rest, Ari said he’ll confer with business manager Gabriel (Bebot) Elorde on what to do next in his ring career. He insisted retirement isn’t an option.