http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/sports/6857-flushed-a-furious.html
Flushed and Furious
by rick olivares
Flushed and Furious
by rick olivares
“The Flash and the Furious” – the match between IBO/IBF champion Nonito Donaire and Mexican challenger Raul Martinez has been postponed for a second time this time from March 22 to April 19, 2009 due to sponsorship problems.
According to Solar Sports, the local television carrier for the fight, corporate sponsors requested for the move to the second quarter of the year while others remained unsure since Donaire in their opinion is still an unknown commodity.
Donaire has been a world champion for two years after taking the titles from Australian fighter Vic Darchinyan in 2007. The Fil-American fighter from San Francisco was also recently the recipient of his second Athlete of the Year Award accorded to him by the Philippine Sportswriters Association.
The Donaire camp is flying back to the US for a brief vacation and to take up the matter with boxing promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank Promotions. However, some quarters in both camps feel that the plug has been pulled on the match.
Solar Sports’ Vice president for Sports marketing Jude Turcuato says that the cable giant is doing everything they can to promote the fight. In fact, a full page ad promoting the March 22 match came out in major broadsheets last Sunday, March 1, 2009. A part of the reason may have been the change in opponents from Mexican World Boxing Organization Flyweight Champion Fernando Montiel to Martinez who despite a 24-0 record isn’t a known commodity.
Montiel is somewhat preferable and better known to Filipino audiences as he beat Z Gorres via split decision in a match last February 24, 2007 at the Cebu City Sports Complex. Montiel has successfully defended his crown eight times.
Martinez or “The Cobra” as he is nicknamed is currently ranked the no. 2 super flyweight by the IBF and boasts of an undefeated record of 24 wins with 14 knockouts.
The fight if it will push through will be a return match between Donaire and Martinez as they both fought one another during the 2000 US Olympic trials where the former got the better of the latter.
All is not lost on the fight however as Turcuato says Solar Sports is working in concert with Arum to make sure that the fight pushes through. “As far as we’re concerned, we’re determined to make it happen.” said the Solar executive. “We need to further build on his personality and attachment here in the Philippines. Nonito is guaranteed the money so I think everyone needs to be a little more patient and make a few more sacrifices especially for Filipinos to witness his championship fight here.”
According to Solar Sports, the local television carrier for the fight, corporate sponsors requested for the move to the second quarter of the year while others remained unsure since Donaire in their opinion is still an unknown commodity.
Donaire has been a world champion for two years after taking the titles from Australian fighter Vic Darchinyan in 2007. The Fil-American fighter from San Francisco was also recently the recipient of his second Athlete of the Year Award accorded to him by the Philippine Sportswriters Association.
The Donaire camp is flying back to the US for a brief vacation and to take up the matter with boxing promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank Promotions. However, some quarters in both camps feel that the plug has been pulled on the match.
Solar Sports’ Vice president for Sports marketing Jude Turcuato says that the cable giant is doing everything they can to promote the fight. In fact, a full page ad promoting the March 22 match came out in major broadsheets last Sunday, March 1, 2009. A part of the reason may have been the change in opponents from Mexican World Boxing Organization Flyweight Champion Fernando Montiel to Martinez who despite a 24-0 record isn’t a known commodity.
Montiel is somewhat preferable and better known to Filipino audiences as he beat Z Gorres via split decision in a match last February 24, 2007 at the Cebu City Sports Complex. Montiel has successfully defended his crown eight times.
Martinez or “The Cobra” as he is nicknamed is currently ranked the no. 2 super flyweight by the IBF and boasts of an undefeated record of 24 wins with 14 knockouts.
The fight if it will push through will be a return match between Donaire and Martinez as they both fought one another during the 2000 US Olympic trials where the former got the better of the latter.
All is not lost on the fight however as Turcuato says Solar Sports is working in concert with Arum to make sure that the fight pushes through. “As far as we’re concerned, we’re determined to make it happen.” said the Solar executive. “We need to further build on his personality and attachment here in the Philippines. Nonito is guaranteed the money so I think everyone needs to be a little more patient and make a few more sacrifices especially for Filipinos to witness his championship fight here.”
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