Tiger City still on top

Jay San Pedro’s Tiger City Gym claimed its second straight Chris Sports’ King of the Ring championship by a hairline over Power Punch and the Sarreal Gym before an overflow crowd at the Greenhills promenade parking lot recently.

There were 27 two-round fights, including a pair of non-bearing exhibitions, in the card that featured novices who were leveled off from grades 1 to 5 to even out the competition. Only boxing ‘students’ were allowed to participate in the 10-team event. Organizers made sure none of the protagonists had prior experience fighting in bouts sanctioned by either the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines or the Games and Amusements Board.

For most of the Manny Pacquiao wannabes, it was a dream come true, like playing out a fantasy. The greenhorns put up their dukes and gave it all they had. Some got hurt. Others could hardly stand at the final bell because of exhaustion. But they all had a good time.

The tournament was for bragging rights. Although the spirit of competition brought the participants together, winning took a back seat to working up a sweat. The fighters were, after all, exponents of fitness boxing more than anything else.

Last year, Chris Sports organized the first King of the Ring won by Tiger City. The response to the Eastwood event was so enthusiastic that Chris Sports managing director Gilbert Tang decided to stage a repeat. Now, there is talk of a third King of the Ring with more gyms itching to join in the fun.

Both Power Punch and the Sarreal Gym came close to ending Tiger City’s reign but San Pedro’s charges held on to win by a whisker, 15 points to 14 apiece for the two upstarts.

Under tournament rules, each team or gym is required to line up at least four fighters. If a team has more than four fighters, its final tally will be the total of the three highest scores and the single lowest. Windy’s gloves were used in all the fights – 10-ouncers for 135 pounds and below, 12-ouncers for 136-165 and 14-ouncers for 166 and above.

The winner of each match earned three points for his or her team. Three points were added for a knockout and two points for a technical knockout or a stoppage by the referee.

Three judges were assigned for each bout. In case of a decision, the cumulative scores of the judges were summed up on a 10-point must system per two-minute round.

Two veteran referees Vio Garcia and Danny Rodenas alternated to work the entire card. Executive producers Ericka Fife and Franz Von Muhfeld took care of staging the four-hour extravaganza.

Sarreal Gym was represented by only four fighters Anthony Ng, Kenneth Chow, Edwin Tongco and Raynold Pangan who swept their assignments. Power Punch had 10 with four winners Mark Bicierro, Benjamin de Castro, Aki Cappucino and Jinggoy Aliguin. They registered 14 points each but Power Punch took second place on a tiebreak with one more knockout.

Tiger City won seven of eight bouts with Anthony Reyes, Michael Balberde, Tomas Noda, Dennis Acelar, Lanie Miguillen, Mark Miguillen and Raymond Ramos picking up victories.

The other teams that participated were Celebrity Gym, Charlie’s Gym, Main Event, Manoy’s Boxing Gym, Punch Out, Red Corner and The Champ.

Two ladies fights went the distance. Lanie Miguillen pounded out a 60-53 decision over Celebrity’s Carla Pido in a flyweight bout while Punch Out’s Cris Caballero outpointed Tiger City’s Bunny Tirona, 58-57.

Aside from the team awards, Chris Sports gave out individual citations – to Balberde for the fastest knockout (16 seconds), Cappucino as the Prince of the Ring (the youngest prospect at 17), Caballero as Queen of the Ring (best female fighter) and de Castro as King of the Ring (best male fighter).

Tiger City got a bonus award for best uniform.

One of the most impressive fighters was Manoy’s Michael Dan Rubio who halted Main Event’s Densmore Mama-o at 1:45 of the first round in a superfeatherweight contest. The only foreigner in the cast was Punch Out’s British cruiserweight Paul Retzlaff who stopped Manoy’s Jun Castro with two seconds left in the first canto.

Scoring shutout decisions were Manoy’s Warren Franco, Noda, Celebrity’s Jack Advincula, Red Corner’s Franz Pasquil, Lanie Miguillen, Main Event’s Dr. Rajan Yraola, Aliguin, Pangan and Main Event’s Jimmy Ewican.

Chris Sports marketing manager Arleen Lindo said the initial plan was to stage the King of the Ring once a year. But clamor from fitness boxing enthusiasts and the success of the first two events may prompt Chris Sports to hold the third King of the Ring even before the year ends.