One of the leading lights of the consortium that makes up Third Force Promotions is Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Neri Lim whose involvement is exclusively motivated by bringing honor to the country.
Third Force is behind the “Payback” boxing show at the Araneta Coliseum this Sunday morning.
“We want to show the world we’re capable of staging a major boxing card,” said Lim the other day. “With the rise of Bohol fighters like Boom Boom Bautista, A. J. Banal and Czar Amonsot, I began to familiarize myself with boxing. I saw the honor that Manny Pacquiao brings to the Philippines. I saw how boxing provides an opportunity for outstanding Filipino fighters to make something out of their lives. For about three years, I observed how boxing works from a distance, both locally and internationally. I found out who the major players are, what they bring to the table. I saw who are to be trusted and who aren’t.”
Lim, a prominent lawyer in his own right, said after his self-education, it was time to launch Third Force. He brought in former PBA commissioner Noli Eala to manage the organization backed up by ABC-5 network owner Tony Boy Cojuangco and banker Eric Tagle.
“The consortium is a loose partnership of individuals who share a passion for sports and love of country,” said Lim. “We got together because of our commitment to contribute positively to the development of Filipino fighters. We found an ally in Tony Aldeguer whose stable of fighters is world-class. We want to bring in other Filipino fighters whom we can promote overseas.”
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For Sunday’s card, Lim said Third Force refused to cut corners.
“It’s a first-class show,” continued Lim. “When we negotiated the fighters’ purses, we asked for a range and we never bargained. We gave the highest. Even the GAB people were surprised that we’re paying so much for four-rounders.”
The scuttlebutt is Bautista’s purse is $20,000 for fighting Mexican Antonio Meza who’s being paid $17,000. Jovanny (Bambino) Soto was also imported from Mexico for a $10,000 purse to face Banal who’s taking home $10,000. Philippine bantamweight champion Michael Domingo will be paid $5,000 and his Tanzanian opponent Anthony Mathias, $1,500.
Even Juan Martin (Bai) Elorde, seeing action in only his sixth pro bout, will earn a whopping P25,000. In his last bout, Elorde pocketed P6,000.
“We’re not scrimping,” said Lim. “We want the fighters to know we’re paying good money for a good show. We’re not about to shortchange the fans. We flew in five people from Mexico, including a former world champion who’s now a trainer. We don’t claim to be experts but we know what it takes to put on a good show.”
Lim said while Golden Boy has a three-year contract to promote Aldeguer’s hottest properities Bautista and Z. Gorres in the US, Banal is still exclusively linked to the ALA stable.
“Golden Boy wants Banal but we’ve got plans for A. J.,” said Lim. “We at Third Force want to show the fighters how we take care of them, how we value them without pampering. For instance, we plan to insure A. J.’s fists with Lloyd’s of London for $500,000. We’ve learned how the US promoters operate, how they take cuts from purses. From our experience, we think we’re now in better position to manage the careers of our fighters.”
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Lim took exception to certain quarters firing potshots at Third Force for bringing in a supposed patsy in Meza.
“We do not have to defend Meza because obviously, the WBC that made him Fecombox champion is in the best position to do that,” said Lim. “At the rate Mexico has produced so many glamorous fighters, we will have to take the word of their boxing organizations over a sour-graping small-time promoter. Nobody can cast aspersion on our Filipino boxers, particularly Boom Boom who is itching to redeem himself from a disappointing loss. Nobody can degrade the ALA boxing stable which has shown its commitment to the development of boxing in the country over the years.”
Eala said the timing is perfect for Third Force to become a major player in sports promotions with the advent of world-class Filipino fighters.
The Big Dome card will be the first-ever to feature a high-profile female ring announcer, to air on jumbo screens via a satellite feed a world title fight being held in the US (Donaire versus Maldonado) as a bonus attraction without extra cost to fans, to pay top purses for main eventers and preliminary fighters alike, to work out a closed circuit arrangement between two TV networks inside a fight venue, to bring in an army of top-quality fighters on a single card, to open a VIP section where food and drinks will be served and to offer an exciting entertainment package that includes alluring round girls, the Kitty Girls, Rachel Lobangco and Vina Morales.
No wonder the guest list is filling up. There is talk that former President Joseph Estrada, Sen. Mar Roxas, former Sen. Ramon Revilla, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, Rudy Fernandez and other headline makers will be at ringside for the boxing event of the year. A crowd of at least 5,000 is expected to troop the Big Dome. Over 10,000 US-based subscribers are paying to watch the fights in the internet. And thousands more will tune in on pay-per-view networks.
“Payback” is clearly a can’t-miss proposition.