SOUTHERN LEYTE, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Mar. 24, 2008) - A promising young Filipino boxer in Maasin City died after a 10-round bout with his opponent in Leyte’s Villaba town.
The 23-year old Alex Lasaga Aroy died after fighting recently with Arnel Tadena, from Bohol province. The victim’s mother, Matea Lasaga-Aroy, has been informed about the death. The boxer belonged to the team of Rex Salud, a prominent trainer in the central Philippines.
She said his son had fever prior to the fight and was advised by Salud not to pursue the bout also due to lack of training and practice, but the boxer insisted because he had already signed the contract with the boxing promoter.
“He said he felt that he’s okay to fight since his fever was already gone”, the woman said.
Because of Aroy’s insistence and the determination to fight, Salud finally gave in to the boxer’s insistence, she said, adding, two 2 trainers who were only identified by their first names Archie and Boboli, accompanied the boxer with matchmaker Willy Flores.
At the dressing room, Aroy reportedly puked and complained difficulty in breathing and was rushed to the hospital, but died later. His mother said Aroy was first brought to Villaba hospital, but it had no oxygen supply and they had to rush him to another hospital, but died along the way.
“The hospital is ill-equipped. It has no oxygen supply and no ambulance. If they only have oxygen, mostly probably my son will be saved,” she said.
Maasin Mayor Maloney Samaco urged the Games and Amusement Board in Manila to conduct an investigation to the death of Aroy.
The 108-pound Aroy, who held the Philippine Boxing Federation Junior flyweight title had 10 wins, 2 draws and 3 loses. He was one of Maasin’s most promising boxers. His fight with Tadena was considered a rematch because they had fought in Maasin City last year. (Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.)
