Nazario's lasting legacy

The man who took a chance on Manny Pacquiao and made him a global boxing phenomenon has passed away.

From when Pacquiao fought in small cards, Rod Nazario watched over him. He was Pacquiao’s business manager for 10 years. In 2001, Nazario took Pacquiao to the US and opened the doors for his ascent to the top of the world’s pound-for-pound ratings.

Nazario battled cancer for a little over a year and died last Sept. 24. He celebrated his 74th birthday over a week earlier with wife Justice Minita, seven children (Roberto, Raymund, Dedet, Myra, Rhoderick, Rommel, Karen), grandchildren, friends and relatives showing their love and affection at a gathering in his Parañaque home. On the night of his birthday, Nazario was brought to the Our Lady of Perpetual Help hospital in Las Piñas and never returned home. His cancer was initially detected in the lungs and later spread to the brain and liver.

Nazario’s bosom buddy Ramon (Moy) Lainez said even in his final lucid moments, boxing was on his mind.

“I spoke to Dolfo when he phoned from the hospital Saturday night (Sept. 19),” recalled Lainez. “He told me Manny visited him that morning, brought a bunch of fruits and they talked about his boy Eden Sonsona fighting in the (Miguel) Cotto undercard in Las Vegas. Dolfo even reminded me to prepare for our big ‘In This Corner’ promotion in December.”

On Monday (Sept. 21), Lainez visited Nazario at the hospital. “Dolfo had deteriorated,” said Lainez. “His son Rhoderick (a doctor based in Florida) told me only 20 percent of his liver was functioning. Dolfo was on morphine his last three days. He was nauseous and mentioned to his wife it was time to go.” Three days later, Nazario was gone.

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Last May, Nazario was in Las Vegas to witness Pacquiao’s two-round demolition of Ricky Hatton and spent a month in the US visiting family in Sacramento and Florida. He was in good spirits.

When the TV boxing show “In This Corner” held its ninth anniversary at the Wild Card Gym in Parañaque last Sept. 10, Nazario came and so did Pacquiao. Nazario phoned Pacquiao two days earlier to invite him.

“Dolfo was already weak and used a walker,” said Lainez. “But he didn’t want to miss the celebration with Manny. It was his 15th year in TV boxing because he produced ‘Blow By Blow’ for six years. There was lechon and Dolfo even ate balat. His friends showed up, like Arthur Alonte of Biñan. We had a good time. Dolfo had undergone chemotherapy and radiation but he enjoyed the gathering with his friends especially since Manny came.”

Pacquiao visited Nazario at the hospital twice before reporting for training in Baguio. He came Friday afternoon (Sept. 18) and Saturday morning (Sept. 19).

“Dolfo and Manny had a good chat,” said Lainez. “Of course, Dolfo made sure Manny listened to his advice. He told Manny his left hand will win the fight against Cotto because Cotto has a tendency to lower his right after throwing a left hook. He predicted that the same left hand that put Hatton down for good will take out Cotto.”

Lainez said from his long years of involvement in boxing, Nazario had a sixth sense when it came to predicting outcomes.

“I’ll never forget Dolfo telling me when we were in Las Vegas that as soon as Manny hit Hatton with the left hand, that was it,” said Lainez. “It was like Dolfo knew what would happen. Against Cotto, his forecast was Cotto will end up like Hatton. My own opinion is it won’t go over five rounds. Cotto has never been the same since the beating from (Antonio) Margarito (last year), regardless of whether he had plaster of paris in his handwraps. Cotto will be like (Oscar) de la Hoya against Manny – slow and he’ll get beaten up. Cotto should’ve lost to (Joshua) Clottey in his last fight but probably got the decision to protect his big-money bout against Manny. He’s too slow for Manny. Hatton was even faster and look what happened to him.”

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Lainez said one of Nazario’s final instructions was for his son Rommel, an engineer, to take care of the Wild Card Gym. “Rommel will manage it,” said Lainez. “That was what Dolfo wanted. We’ll rename it Rod Nazario’s Boxing and Fitness Gym. We’ll also rename our TV show “Rod Nazario’s In This Corner” in his memory. We’ll launch the new name and logo on our show on Nov. 1, a day before the 40th day after his death.”

Lainez said he’ll also take charge with Gerry Garcia of the seven pro fighters handled by Nazario. One of them, Philippine superflyweight champion Danilo Peña, will see action against a Mexican in an “In This Corner” promotion at the Ynares Gym in Pasig this December.

“Dolfo had arranged the sponsors for the show and they’re all making good their commitments,” said Lainez. “During Dolfo’s wake, (San Miguel Corp. president) Mr. (Ramon) Ang came and promised to support all of Dolfo’s projects. Gov. (Ito) Ynares also pledged his all-out support. Even Manny made the same promise and has already instructed Michael Koncz to facilitate the issuance of Sonsona’s US visa.”

Pacquiao assured Nazario he would include Sonsona, a 20-year-old bantamweight with a 16-5 record, in the Las Vegas undercard on Nov. 14.

“After Manny visited Dolfo at the hospital, he went to the Wild Card Gym and met Sonsona,” related Lainez. “Manny told him to get ready, to work hard and not to let Dolfo down. He gave a long lecture. They’re both from General Santos so they understood each other.”

On a personal note, I am fortunate to have known Mang Rod. We were together when Pacquiao won the WBC flyweight title from Chatchai Sasakul in 1998 and lost it to Medgeon 3-K Battery the next year, when he took the IBF superbantamweight crown from Lehlo Ledwaba in Las Vegas in 2001, when Mang Rod took Pacquiao to the HBO offices in New York City for his first meeting with the network bigwigs and when he brought Pacquiao to meet Marian Muhammad at the IBF headquarters in New Jersey.

Even after Pacquiao took over his own business affairs from Nazario in 2005, they remained close. Pacquiao always called him “Ninong.” Nazario had a gruff exterior, often speaking with a loud voice, but his heart was as soft as a marshmallow. He was a caring person, generous to a fault and a visionary who saw in boxing a way out of poverty for the less privileged. Nazario gave Pacquiao and countless others the chance to make a difference in their lives. This is how he will be remembered.

There are many, like Lainez and Pacquiao himself, who will continue what Nazario began – his mission to give those with less in life the chance to beat the odds. More than anything else, that is Nazario’s legacy.