It was in 2002 when IBF president Daryl Peoples made his first visit to the Philippines. He was the fight supervisor of IBF superbantamweight champion Manny Pacquiao’s title defense against Thailand’s Fahprakorb Rakkiat-Gym at the Rizal Memorial Colleges in Davao City. Pacquiao scored four knockdowns before referee Bruce McTavish ended the carnage at 2:46 of the first round. At the time, Peoples was IBF’s Ratings Committee chairman.
The year before, Pacquiao wrested the IBF 122-pound crown from South Africa’s Lehlo Ledwaba at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas. Peoples had a hand in making that match possible. “Manny was ranked No. 6 and Ledwaba was scheduled to defend against Mexico’s Enrique Sanchez,” recalled Peoples who was in Tagbilaran City to supervise the Regie Suganob-Sive Nontshinga IBF junior flyweight title eliminator last Saturday. “Sanchez pulled out after suffering an injury in training two weeks before the fight and the promoter looked for a replacement. Ledwaba was among the world’s top pound-for-pound fighters and it wasn’t easy finding a contender willing to step in at short notice. But Manny was ready. As IBF Ratings Committee chairman, I approved Manny to challenge Ledwaba. Guys like Lou DiBella, Jim Lampley and Larry Merchant questioned my approval but I stuck with my decision. Manny ended up knocking out Ledwaba in the sixth round.” Peoples joined the IBF as an administrative assistant in 1994, became Ratings Committee chairman five years later and assumed the presidency in 2010.
The Bohol trip was Peoples’ third in the country. The second was a brief stop in Manila on the way to Thailand some years back and Peoples took the opportunity to drop in on Pacquiao during the visit. It’s possible that Peoples may be back in town in November when IBF minimumweight champion Pedro Taduran stakes his throne against Spanish challenger Brandon Moreno. Two Filipinos are lined up to challenge for IBF titles before the year ends. On Sept. 26, Mark Vicelles takes on IBF junior flyweight ruler Thanongsak Simsri of Thailand in Shizuoka, Japan and in November, No. 1 contender Miel Fajardo is likely to battle IBF flyweight champion Masamichi Yabuki in Tokyo.
Two other Bohol guests shared their stories of connecting with Pacquiao. Referee Tony Weeks, who has been on the job since 1994, worked Pacquiao’s fights against Oscar de la Hoya, the Marco Antonio Barrera rematch and the third encounters with Tim Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez. He recalled Pacquiao displayed blinding speed in forcing De la Hoya to quit, the same speed that flustered Antonio Margarito in winning the WBC superwelterweight diadem. Judge Steve Weisfeld of New Jersey was assigned four Pacquiao bouts, including his most recent outing against Mario Barrios in Las Vegas last year. Weisfeld scored the Pacquiao-Barrios fight a draw. Pacquiao was ahead on Weisfeld’s scorecard, 87-84 after nine rounds but he gave the last three frames to Barrios. Weisfeld was also a judge in Pacquiao’s fights against Yordenis Ugas, Marquez (when Pacquiao was knocked out) and Bradley (the third meeting).
PMI Bohol Boxing head Atty. Floriezyl Podot brought in Peoples, Weeks and Weisfeld for the recent 26th edition of Kumong Bol-anon. Other foreign guests were referee/judge Koji Tanaka of Japan and judge Kriengsak Thonghong of Thailand.