Trainer sues for illegal dismissal

Trainer Juanito Ablaca confirmed the other day he has sued Vietnam war veteran Terry Carter for illegal dismissal and alerted immigration authorities that the Stonewall boxing stable owner has no legal basis to live here.

Ablaca, 43, was hired by Carter in 1997 to train fighters in Cebu where the American owns a gym and a factory making silver jewelry for export. A misunderstanding with Carter’s fiancée Joy Ouano led to Ablaca’s dismissal last September. He was promised a separation pay of $1,000. Ablaca earned P6,000 a month and 10 percent of fighters’ purses during his six-year employment by Carter.

Ablaca said his co-trainers Archie Ano-os and Jojo Cayson were also terminated by Carter who hired Erbing and Dodie Boy Peñalosa as replacements.

Ablaca’s lawyers Vernico Sardoncillo, Kai Canete and Dennis Canete filed the suit last November. Ablaca said Carter has sent feelers for a settlement but he will not agree to an amount less than P150,000.

According to Ablaca, the disagreement stemmed from his outside contracts to train superfeatherweight Randy Suico and lightflyweight Joma Gamboa for Japanese Joe Koizumi. Ablaca said Carter approved the contracts and had a business tie-up–which he arranged–with Koizumi for Oriental minimumweight champion Rodel Mayol.

Ablaca blamed Ouano for driving a wedge between him and Carter. He also said Ouano caused Carter to sever relations with Koizumi after Mayol won the Oriental title last December.

Without Koizumi, Ablaca said Mayol’s future as a world contender is doomed. He pointed to Mayol’s demotion from No. 2 to No. 3 in the latest World Boxing Council (WBC) ratings as proof.

"Wala akong kasalanan sa kanila," said Ablaca referring to Carter and Ouano. "Jealous lang sa akin si Joy at very ambitious siya. Si Joe, dating nagbibigay ng gloves at vitamins. Ngayon at inaway siya, nagalit din si Mr. (Akihiko) Honda."

Honda is known in world boxing circles as Asia’s wealthiest and most influential promoter.

Ablaca said when Carter and Koizumi split, the World Boxing Association suddenly withdrew an offer for Mayol to fight in Venezuela. Instead, another Filipino contender Eriberto Gejon was tapped to take Mayol’s spot in the card.

Ouano said Ablaca was terminated because he refused to follow office procedures which she instituted to streamline office operations. She explained that Carter only wanted to keep records orderly.

Ouano signed Mayol to a five-year contract extension and promised a bonus of $10,000 last December. Ablaca said if Ouano fails to deliver the money as promised, Mayol will leave Carter’s stable. Mayol has set the end of this month as Ouano’s deadline, claimed Ablaca.

Since Ablaca’s lawyers alerted immigration authorities on Carter’s tourist visa, he has not stepped foot in the country. Ouano said he is in California awaiting medical results of tests to determine if he has a cancerous tumor in the brain or a blood clot. Carter is reportedly in line to receive substantial benefits from the US government as a former Green Beret.

Ablaca said he filed the suit for peace of mind. Without a regular salary, he relies only on the $100 stipend Koizumi remits monthly for training Suico. Ablaca used to receive an extra $100 for training Gamboa but the fighter has retired.

A hotel and restaurant management degree holder from Southwestern University, Ablaca was a multi-titled amateur fighter before turning pro in 1979. He figured in 21 fights, losing only twice, then retired in 1983 because of a detached retina in his right eye. The closest Ablaca came to winning a championship was when he lost a decision to Siony Carupo for the Philippine lightflyweight title in 1981. His only other loss was a decision to Soon Jung Hang in Taegu in 1982. Among his victims were Little Baguio, Ver Libradilla, Henry Balena, Jun Resma, Tito Abella, Ramon Chan, Dai Chun Park, Nardo Calugay and Rudy Magdasal.

In 1984, Ablaca coached the Southwestern University boxing team and five years later, became head trainer in Tony Aldeguer’s stable. In 1997, Ablaca joined Carter’s stable after Aldeguer took a leave from pro boxing.

In a 15-year career as a pro trainer, Ablaca has worked the corners of Edito Villamor, Andy Tabanas, Noel Tunacao. Gamboa and Wyndel Janiola all of whom fought for the world title. He is known as a disciplinarian in the gym, putting fighters through plyometric drills in a grueling regimen.

Ablaca said he is fully concentrated in training Suico, the WBC’s No. 2 superfeatherweight contender, but is open to other options including rejoining Aldeguer’s stable. "Maski anong oras, babalik ako kay Mr. Aldeguer kung gusto niya at mabait si sir ALA," he said.

What keeps Ablaca awake at nights is the uncertainty of his future. His wife Amabel has worked at the Mitsumi factory making cassette spare parts in Danao City the last 12 years and contributes to the family coffers. Ablaca said he also has to earn for their five children–Jomabel, 11, Junjonel, 10, Julie Ann, 9, Jomia, 3 and Jonjoeko, 1–three of whom are enrolled at the Sta. Cruz Learning Center in Cebu.