I woke up today with a renewed interest in writing. Whether you believe it or not, I was inspired for two reasons.
The first was the electrifying win of Eumir Marcial against Omar Ulises Huerta. Philippine boxing needs more moments like that, something fans can cheer about, something they can talk about, something that creates excitement around the sport.
And I can’t believe I’m saying this, but even after all the controversies and the rift surrounding the Casimero brothers, we need more of John Riel Casimero.
Philippine Boxing Is in a Rest State
People might argue that it isn’t, but compared to the Manny Pacquiao days, I think we can all agree that none of our current boxers have come close to generating the kind of interest that the “Pambansang Kamao” brought to the country and continues to bring to this day.
I know it’s unfair to compare today’s fighters to Pacquiao. But whether we like it or not, he set a standard and created expectations for Philippine boxing.
When we see a good boxer or an impressive highlight reel, most people will still say, “Wow! It’s like a Pacquiao punch!”
Drunk but Recovering
We have consumed so much of the Pacquiao fever that when he was gone, it was simply hard to recover.
The Philippines is known as one of the great boxing nations in the world. Yet, as of this writing, we only have one world champion: Pedro Taduran.
Can you believe that?
And even though Taduran is arguably one of the most skilled and fearless boxers today, it seems that his current level of popularity is not enough to pull in the masses.
And that isn’t his fault.
We are simply living in a different world today.
Popularity Over Skills
A boxing purist may hate me for saying this, but in today’s world, character and popularity seem to carry more weight with audiences and, more importantly, with the money.
The rise of Jake Paul, Ryan Garcia, and, here in the Philippines, John Riel Casimero, has brought many people to the realization that marketing yourself is no longer just an option. It is necessary, especially on social media.
They may arguably not be the best boxers in terms of pure skill, but they certainly know how to bring eyes to the sport.
I am not saying that you don’t have to be a good boxer. You still need skills. You still need to train. Because after all the hype and marketing, you still have to use your hands and fight to win.
So it’s not about popularity and marketing alone. But I would argue that these have become top priorities in boxing today, especially with the rise of celebrity boxing and boxing vloggers, people who may not necessarily possess professional-level boxing skills but still manage to build large followings and generate interest from boxing fans.
In the Philippines, we have guys like Boy Bagsik, a boxing vlogger who I can argue is more popular than the majority of professional boxers.
Some may say that’s a sad reality.
But it is still a reality.
Casimero Character
I am not encouraging fighters to trash-talk. Please take note of that.
What I am saying is that fighters, managers, and promoters in the Philippines need to understand the importance of marketing their product properly.
The sad reality is that many local boxing events seem to focus mainly on getting that one win on a fighter’s record, putting together mismatches, and building their own fighters because, from a business perspective, it makes sense.
But what they also need to realize is that these practices can stagnate the sport. Local fans will not grow, and worse, hardcore boxing fans may eventually lose interest.
Budget and sponsorship have always been concerns in any sport. But ask yourself:
If the fighter is not charismatic enough, if the matches are one-sided, and if the event quality and production are not good, then why would someone invest in it?
Why would major media outlets want to cover it?
And why would fans pay to watch it?
Reality Check
The majority of Philippine boxing fans blame the economy and their financial situation for not being able to afford tickets. Many refuse to pay and instead ask for freebies.
And honestly, that is sad.
But who can blame them? They have gotten used to it. And to be fair, there are some boxing events that I wouldn’t pay to watch myself.
There are levels to everything. Understandably, some promoters can only do so much because of budget constraints, and that is something we have to acknowledge.
But we need more promoters willing to step up and elevate the local boxing scene.
We need to elevate boxing events so fans can see the value and eventually become willing to pay.
Because honestly, some of the same fans who refuse to pay for a boxing event are later willing to spend money betting on the fights, partying, and indulging in other forms of entertainment.
What does that tell us?
Does it mean they see more value in those activities than they do in boxing?
Maybe.
But perhaps if we produce better-quality events, we can also attract a different kind of audience, fans who see the value in the sport and are willing and able to pay for the experience.
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