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As CEO of Sanman Promotions, Jim Claude Manangquil has assembled dozens of boxing cards both here and abroad. But his most recent, held Saturday in General Santos City, aptly named “The Restart,” was arguably the biggest challenge he’s ever faced.
The five-fight undercard, held at the Sanman Gym compound and highlighted by bantamweight contender Marlon Tapales’s knockout victory over Eden Sonsona, was the second professional boxing event in the Philippines since the pandemic shut down all sports in March. . And like the first boxing event mounted by Omega Boxing in Cebu last month, The Restart was held under the new normal: in a bubble with a limited audience and guided by the Interagency Task Force and the Gaming Board. and Entertainment.
“To be honest with you, this is one of the toughest promotions I’ve ever done,” Manangquil told ESPN5.com via a Zoom call Tuesday morning. “I’ve done about 70 shows with world championships, but after last Saturday’s show I was telling myself that this was probably the hardest. It was difficult because there were so many things that you didn’t know or didn’t expect. They have to be almost perfect because we take this virus very seriously. The IATF and GAB guidelines have to be in tune with the local government, and it was difficult. “
Despite the challenges, Manangquil said he was determined to see it through. “We really pushed him because we want boxing to return to the Philippines. Since March, Omega has only done one promotion. Other sports are slowly coming back, so I thought ‘Why not box?’ I have to do my part to push it despite despite. that it was difficult. “
Only five bouts were approved for Saturday’s card. All the boxers and coaches had to stay in a bubble within the Sanman enclosure for 14 days, and they were divided into two separate private areas within the enclosure. All were monitored daily and temperature controls were taken twice a day. All fighters also had to produce a negative PCR test just before weigh-in.
In addition to following these protocols, travel restrictions limited the group from which Manangquil could choose combatants.
“All the boxers are from Mindanao,” he said. “The guidelines state that they must be from one MCGQ area. If I tried to get fighters from other areas, they may have been required to self-quarantine upon arrival.
“But my main point was to give hope to all the boxing people in the Philippines. At least they saw that boxing is back and maybe we are slowly coming back. I was very happy that I was able to contribute.”
Manangquil also took advantage of his relationship with Top Rank Promotions, which has featured several Sanman fighters on their bubble cards in recent months, for tips and advice.
“I have boxers in this pandemic who have fought in Top Rank bubbles,” he explained. “I would ask [Top Rank] questions and they would send me guidelines. I studied them and found out what they did. I also talked to my boxers who fought in the bubble. “
The night of the fight itself was held in a pavilion in the Sanman compound, just outside the main gym. Only 50 people were allowed in, of whom 30 were boxers, trainers, officials and GAB officials. The remaining 20 were assigned to fans, who had to produce a negative PCR test before they could enter. Only seven, including Manangquil himself, showed up.
In front of that small audience, everything went smoothly on fight night. Manangquil admitted to feeling a mixture of pressure and excitement, but that soon passed as one by one the fights unfolded without incident.
The success of The Restart has Manangquil already planning a December card headlined by undefeated super flyweight prospect KJ Cataraja (11-0, 9 KOs) from Cebu against an opponent to be announced later.
Manangquil hopes other promoters will follow suit and slowly help bring professional boxing back to the country. His advice for those who think so?
“Follow all the guidelines. At first it seems complicated, but you will get used to it. I was also hesitant at first. I recommend everyone to think about slowly returning to promotion.”
