Quijano: A tale of two giants
One fancies himself as the "Gentle Giant" and rightfully so. Rev Santillan is big by RP boxing standards—standing at a generous 5’ 10” and campaigning at the welterweight division.
The other is truly a colossus among men. In any division and in any sport. Nikolay Valeuv is seven feet tall, wears size 18 1/2 boots and steps over the top rope when he makes his way into the ring.
He even has more hair on his chest than Jun Lozada has on his head.
However, the similarities just about end there. Last weekend, Santillan (24-4, 17KOs)—a notoriously slow starter—got bushwhacked by Motoki Sasaki (29-7, 17KOs) in six rounds and in the process lost (again) his OPBF belt.
In contrast, the much-maligned Valuev conducted himself quite well, handling the highly-rated Sergei Liakhovich very well in 12 rounds.
OPBF OBSESSION. Once upon a time (in Jan. 26, 2001, to be exact), Santillan captured the OPBF welterweight title for the very first time, and was touted to be one of our brighter hopes for a world title. He was young, undefeated and had a growing buzz about him.
But in June of that same year, Manny Pacquiao hijacked Lehlohonolo Ledwaba in six rounds and the rest as they say, is history.
Inexplicably, Santillan has opted to wallow in OPBF waters all these years. As of last count, he has fought for the OPBF belt a total of 12 times—in some capacity either as champion or as challenger.
At age 30, the window of opportunity may be closing fast for this soft-spoken Jaro, Iloilo native. Rev needs to rev his engine somewhere else.
WAITING GIANT. Tomorrow, a big heavyweight unification bout between IBF/IBO champ Wladimir Klitschko and WBO king Sultan Ibragimov is set to take place.
Finally, by virtue of a long arduous process of elimination, we seem to be seeing a bright light on the horizon that will sort out this heavyweight mess. Check out my column tomorrow for the head-to-head comparison.
Whoever may come out the victor, Valuev has positioned himself in a very enviable place in the heavyweight sweepstakes as his last bout was a WBA eliminator.
In the Liakhovich victory, Valuev (48-1, 34KOs) exhibited some boxing skills to complement his immensity, winning every round on all three cards.
Apparently, the careers of these two giants are spiraling in opposite directions.
JOHN IS THE MAN. The Last Round salutes fellow Sun Star Cebu columnist John Pages for his brave effort in trying to finish the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon despite suffering from leg cramps and dehydration.
Don’t worry, John, you will eventually achieve your goal of finishing your first 42-K marathon and conquer several more.
It’s as certain as a fight-ending Nonito Donaire left hook.
For some of us Last Rounders, we can only marvel at your tremendous display of courage and endurance. I can’t even make it up to my court hearings on the 3rd floor without breaking into a sweat and needing a defibrillator.
It’s definitely just a small bump in road (literally) for you, bro’. Don’t let it ruffle your Ryan Seacrest-good looks.
THE PRINCE IS READY. What is Cary “The Prince” Bullos up to these days? Preparing for his much anticipated showdown with Rency Calvelo at URCC CEBU II, set on Feb. 29 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, that’s what.
The event is dubbed “Visayan Pride” and Cary, despite some distractions in his training regimen mainly due to ongoing construction work in their family-owned gym, promises not to let his fellow Cebuanos down.
THE LAST ROUND. It’s on Remberto Chanco of Hilongos, Leyte a proud and doting grandpa to Yanna Isabelli Chanco-Quijano, and on my basketball buddy Roel “Weng” Binolirao who both celebrate their birthdays this week. Cheers guys!
Source:sunstar.com.ph
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