The man called Sugar

LAS VEGAS – In boxing circles, coach Ting Ariosa is called Sugar. Not because he resembles Ray Leonard or Ray Robinson in any way. It’s more a term of endearment for a man who once coached the Philippine boxing team at the 1984 Olympics and has been involved in the fight game since his college days. Three years ago, Sen. Manny Pacquiao took in Ariosa to join his team and he’s looked after fighters like JohnRiel Casimero and Michael Dasmarinas.

Ariosa, 62, was more into karate than boxing at the start. In Cebu, he enrolled in nursing school but after a few semesters, decided it wasn’t for him. So he left for Manila and enrolled at Letran to take up business administration. Then, he was invited to organize the Makati Youth Development Foundation for Mayor Nemesio Yabut who happened to be the ABAP president at the time. Because of his experience in combat sports, Ariosa put up competitions for kids in the city and when there was a coaching gap to fill in ABAP, Yabut pulled him in.

“I remember Mayor Yabut tried to get American boxing coach Joe Clough but he wasn’t available,” said Ariosa. “Mayor Yabut wasn’t happy with our American coach Gene Menacho and with little time to find someone else, I was made coach of our Olympic team in 1984 with Nelson Jamili, Efren Tabanas and Leopoldo Cantancio. In the 1983 SEA Games, Jamili, Tabanas and Cantancio all won gold medals with Raymond Suico. In the Olympics, Cantancio got a raw deal. He slipped but the referee ruled a knockdown and stopped the fight.”

Ariosa said for decades, Olympic boxing was marred by bum decisions and corrupt officials. So he was overjoyed that in the Tokyo Games this year, the conduct of the boxing competition was by and large fair. The IOC actually took over supervision of boxing and disenfranchised AIBA. “I was very impressed with the showing of our boxers,” he said. “It’s good for boxing that the decisions were fair. (Nesthy) Petecio, (Carlo) Paalam and (Eumir) Marcial deserved their medals. In the past, our boxing team had no scouting because we just had a few coaches and they were concentrated on the next fights without checking on who could be our future opponents. But in Tokyo, I heard we had five coaches so that’s a positive development.” Ariosa said one of the Tokyo coaches, Boy Velasco, was a protégé. “When I was with ABAP, Boy was in our national pool but I saw his potential as a teacher and I encouraged him to become a coach,” said Ariosa.

In 1986, Ariosa migrated to the US and worked 16 years in an assisted living facility. Whenever he could, Ariosa would train pro and amateur fighters. Now that he’s retired with a pension, he’s a full-time boxing coach taking care of two pros and four amateurs, including 17-year-old southpaw lightweight Kenneth Roiles. “I’ve endorsed Kenneth to ABAP,” he said. “I think he can be an Olympian and since L.A. is hosting the Olympics in 2028, it would be the right timing for Kenneth. He has a 12-year-old sister who also wants to be an Olympic boxer.”

Ariosa said with his three children graduated from college, he can focus on boxing. One is an architect, another a biochemist and the third a Master in nursing. “I support Sen. Manny 100 percent in whatever he does,” he said. “There will never be another Manny Pacquiao. No one will ever win world championships in eight weight divisions. One of Senator’s boxers who has a bright future is Mark Magsayo. He works hard and is determined to become a world champion. Mark’s a good kid, he’s coachable, he listens. Sometimes, I’m asked to help out coach Rodel Mayol’s fighters and I also worked with Aston Palicte when he fought Donnie Nietes in Los Angeles. I bring fighters to Wild Card, Churchill gym or the Brickhouse where Brian Viloria trains his fighters. I even train some guys in the garage of their homes like Kenneth.” Boxing is in Ariosa’s blood and it’s the sport that keeps him on his toes, living and loving life.