New hope for RP pug

Iloilo southpaw Joven Jorda was one or two losses away from ending his professional boxing career. He turned pro in 1994 and it didn’t look like his dream of becoming a champion would ever come true.

Jorda, 30, hasn’t earned more than P10,000 in a fight on local shores. Last May, he pocketed his biggest purse–$1,200–but lost to Rattanachai Sor Vorapin on a fourth round knockout in a bid for the World Boxing Organization Asia-Pacific bantamweight title in Samut Sakorn, Thailand.

After nearly 10 years as a prizefighter, there isn’t much in Jorda’s bank account. Boxing is his only means of livelihood and it hasn’t been a kind profession. Jorda’s wife Angie gave birth to their second child, Vincent, only a few months ago and a baptism is set in Mandaluyong today. Their first son, Louie, is five years old. Jorda wonders how much longer he can keep boxing to put food on the table.

In 1998, Jorda overstayed in Japan after his sparring contract ran out. For over two years, he labored as a waiter in a disco in Shizuoka. But life is never easy for a TNT. He came back home and resumed his boxing career in January 2002, hooking up with Japanese freelance photo journalist Yuki Murayama.

Jorda’s career has been topsy-turvy. Murayama, who lives here with his Filipina wife and their daughter, said Jorda fights with little science and technique. Jorda’s chief asset is his two-fisted power. He hits like a mule.

Last August, Jorda lost to Roselino Campana on a technical decision then a month later, bowed to Carlo Jayme on a disqualification for ignoring referee Vio Garcia’s repeated warnings to avoid butting. His record slumped to 15-20-3. The writing was on the wall. Murayama told Jorda after one or two more losses, to quit boxing. Because Jorda learned how to speak Nihonggo during his TNT years, Murayama said he would find work for him as a trainer in Japan when he retires.

Then came an offer for Jorda to face World Boxing Council (WBC) No. 5 superflyweight and former WBC flyweight champion Medgeon Singsurat in Thailand. It was a chance of a lifetime. His purse was only $600 but Jorda didn’t care. He was desperate. It was the start of a new year and he prayed for a breakthrough.

Jorda trained like a dog during the holidays. When Murayama threw a Christmas party for his fighters, Jorda went jogging instead of feasting on food and drinks.

The hard work and discipline paid off.

A few days ago, Jorda stopped Medgeon at 0:55 of the fourth round. He decked the Thai–who won the WBC flyweight crown from Manny Pacquiao in 1999–with a right straight in the first round and floored him twice in the fourth to climax the carnage. Two right uppercuts to the chin sent Medgeon down for good.

Only Murayama was in Jorda’s corner for the fight. There was no budget for his trainers Texas (Mug) Gomez and Lando Espinosa.

Murayama said the original fight contract stipulated a weight limit of 115 pounds but the day before the bout, it was reset to 117 to accommodate Medgeon. Still, the Thai came in at 117 1/2 while Jorda was on the dot at 115.

Murayama said he didn’t share in Jorda’s paltry purse but deducted P2,000 from it to cover an advance. Because of the upset win, Murayama said he’ll write off Jorda’s debt of P12,500 to him as a bonus.

In boxing, power makes a big difference particularly for a fighter on hostile territory. Murayama said Jorda’s power is evident in his frightening stoppage rate–14 of his 16 victories were by knockout.

"I will gamble everything on Joven," said Murayama. "Boxing is so unpredictable. Who would’ve thought Joven could knock out Medgeon?"

Jorda, rated No. 10 by the Games and Amusements Board in the bantamweight division, will likely crash the top 10 in the WBC ratings because of his win over Medgeon. Murayama said he has been assured by WBC officials Rex Walker and Edward Thangarajah of Jorda’s ascension.

Murayama said he will immediately work for a crack at the WBC title of either superflyweight Masamori Tokuyama or bantamweight Veerapol Nakhonluang. He noted that Veerapol may be an easier target because Jorda is well-known in Thailand. Jorda has seen action in 13 fights in Thailand, winning four. Two of his fights were against Veerapol–in 1997, the Thai got off the canvas to score a controversial sixth round technical decision and a year later, posted a sixth round knockout.

"There are many things that happened to me in boxing last year and many times, I was discouraged," said Murayama. "Natalo si Randy (Mangubat) in a WBC title fight then he lost his WBC International championship. But Joven has given me hope again. Mabait na bata siya. I will try my best for him to get a title shot. My goal is to win a WBC title this year."

For Jorda, redemption can never be too late.