New boxing promoter faces hard knocks after death of ward

As a new promoter entering the boxing business, Anson Tiu Co is having to learn the hard way just how applicable Murphy's Law is to the industry. Originally, the maiden promotion for his newly-formed company Shape Up Boxing Promotions was supposed to feature former light flyweight world champion Rodel Mayol. But when Mayol pulled out several weeks ago to take a title opportunity in Mexico, Tiu Co was left hanging without a main event. "Good luck in Cuba, comrade," said Tiu Co, a Manila native, jesting over reports that Mayol was in Cuba training for the fight. Retooled, the show this Friday at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City will now feature undefeated, world-ranked flyweight contender Froilan Saludar (15-0-1, 11 knockouts), a tall fighter with a masterful right cross from Davao del Sur, now training in Cavite, who will face Mexican Jose Alfredo Tirado (27-11, 19 KOs) for the interim WBO Oriental flyweight title. Tiu Co's has had greater challenges than replacing a main event. Tiu Co's commitment to the sport was severely tested last January when his star pupil Karlo Maquinto passed away following a fight in Caloocan City. Maquinto's death sparked Senate hearings and calls for boxing to be overhauled, if not banned outright, in the Philippines. Tiu Co admits he was close to walking away from the sport. "I know he really wants me to continue, Karlo," said Tiu Co. "It drew us closer, me and my boxers, Larry and Macrea. I told Gerry [Peñalosa] at that time, he was visiting at the funeral, I was telling him that I have these two great fighters with me, if he wants to take them under his wing, by all means. I also told my boxers that but they really want to stick it out, they didn't want to leave." Best prospect in Philippine boxing For now, Tiu Co is focused on Friday's fight featuring his main man Froilan Saludar. "For me, Froilan is taking a big risk fighting against Tirado," said Tiu Co of Tirado, who was originally supposed to face Mayol. "The prize money I offered is good enough for him to take the fight." The 23-year-old Saludar, whose brothers Rey and Victoriano are members of the National Amateur team, is considered by many to be the most promising prospect in Philippine boxing today. The show will be broadcast on GMA News TV on Sunday, September 23 at 10 p.m. Also featured that night is junior middleweight Mark Jason Melligen (22-3, 15 KOs) of Bacolod City against Thailand's Sapapetch Sor Sakaorat (28-10, 18 KOs) in the co-featured bout. This will be the 26-year-old Melligen's second fight since his loss to Sebastian Lujan on American soil. Many of the fighters on the card, including Saludar, Melligen and Jerwin Ancajas, are promoted by Cebu's Sammy Gelloani. Tiu Co himself manages Macrea Gandionco (5-0, 3 KOs), a light flyweight from Misamis Oriental, and bantamweight Larry Abarra (1-1-1), both of whom now train in Baguio at Tiu Co's boxing compound at the Cooyeesan Hotel Plaza, which Tiu Co also owns. Gandionco will face fellow unbeaten Pinoy Arnold Garde (2-0, 1 KOs) from Cotabato del Norte, while Abarra faces Danilo Gabisay (1-0). It is out of that hotel, which houses the Shape Up Boxing Gym, that Tiu Co first became acquainted with professional boxing. Tiu Co had previously financed the Baguio amateur boxing team, helping them win the 2005 Philippine Olympic Festival (POF) overall championship in Lanao Del Norte. Pacquiao comes to town It wasn't until 2008, when Tiu Co says GMA's own Chino Trinidad was looking for a decent boxing facility in Baguio where Manny Pacquiao could train, that word spread of the gym. Former world champion Gerry Peñalosa, who at the time was training Nonito Donaire, the four-division world champion born and currently rated no. 5 pound for pound fighter by Ring Magazine, caught wind of the facility and its high altitude environment, and set up camp there. It was Tiu Co's first introduction to big-time boxing. The hotel became a media destination when Manny Pacquiao began hosting his training camps in that gym for the Miguel Cotto fight in 2009. "That was surreal for me, for everyone there," said Tiu Co. "Manny Pacquiao going up to Baguio, going up the stairs, entering the gym, sitting down beside him. It was surreal, who would've thought that would ever happen?" Tiu Co began managing fighters of his own, employing former amateur boxing standout Marvin Somodio as the head trainer for his boxers. Somodio became a favorite of Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach and worked out Somodio's visa so he could join him in Los Angeles to assist in training Roach's fighters. Tiu Co says having helped Somodio get to that situation has been like "having a world champion." "Anson is a very good addition to the boxing community in Philippines because he is a hard working manager and promoter," said Somodio, who is in Los Angeles now working with Roach's boxers. "He always thinks about the future of the fighters and the trainers as well. He spend his own money for the fighters to be the best in shape. He also sent me to the trainer's seminars and he paid for everything. "And look at me now, I am useless because I am here," jokes Somodio. Tiu Co's philosophy on promoting boxing is simple but audacious: Build Filipino boxers locally and create a fan base. "My idea is to follow the footsteps of Manny Pacquiao," said Tiu Co. "He built a name for himself in the Philippines first before going overseas. I believe that's the way it should go for every Filipino boxer, to build a following. It will mean more fighting in another country when you have a whole country behind you, rooting for you." Tiu Co is hoping to promote smaller boxing events in the Philippines on a weekly basis, while mixing in big events like this one four times a year. It's a vision that will require many sleepless nights and a commensurate dedication to the sport, but it's the goal of a man who believes in his vision. "Promoting a boxing event is like being a boxer. The boxer in the ring has to have heart. In order to promote fights, to make it work, he really has to love boxing," said Tiu Co. - AMD/HS, GMA News Ryan Songalia is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) and contributes to GMA News Online. He is also a member of The Ring ratings panel and can be reached at ryan@ryansongalia.com. An archive of his work can be found here. Follow him on Twitter. You can vote for Songalia in the Outstanding Filipino Americans of NY Awards media/publishing category via Facebook here.