Tonight, I will fly to Bangkok, Thailand to witness a boxing event which will involve one of our boxers, Ryan Rae Ponteras.
The fight will be for a regional title and in boxing a regional title is not really a big deal.
But I decided to join Ponteras in this fight because this young boxer from Santa Josefa, Agusan del Sur has symbolized what a little caring can do to a poor boy trying to find his place under the sun.
Ryan Rae, 22, used to be known as a journeyman. Neglected by his manager, he used to fight from 105 lbs. to 122 lbs. This is not an easy thing to do moving up and down the weight categories.
I have seen Ponteras in many fights before he came to the Braveheart Boxing Club. I felt he had the guts and the fighting style to make it.
Ponteras has fought the likes of Fernando Lumacad, who escaped with a controversial draw, undefeated Aroel Romasasa by split decision and Froilan Saludar by decision.
When he was taken to fight in a tune up bout for Rommel Asenjo as the latter prepared for a world title fight, he knocked down Asenjo and almost scored an upset.
But at the time he wanted to join Club, he had a very bad record of eight wins, nine losses and one draw. I hesitated at first but upon the prodding of my brothers who wanted to give Ponteras a chance, we took him in.
Since joining the Braveheart Boxing Club, Ponteras has won all of his last four fights, three of them by knockout.
If he wins in Bangkok tomorrow night, he could get a chance to fight for a world title.
What a way to go for a young boxer who used to train on his own, travel alone and fight in distant places just to make a little money.
The lesson here is that in each one of us there is an innate talent, unmeasured strength and undiscovered skills and all that we need is a break, a chance to prove to the world what we can do.
And caring and love could open the doors of opportunities for all of those who dream of success.
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