by Nick Giongco
Filipino featherweight Renerio Arizala risked life and limb for $1,500 when he fought over the weekend in Yokohama, Japan.
Still confined at the ICU of the Yokohama Minato Red Cross Hospital since Sunday after suffering a sixth-round stoppage to Tsuyoshi Temada, Arizala knew the dangers of the sport, his agent Art Monis said on Wednesday.
“Alam niya, alam naming mga boxers kung ano ang pwedeng mangyari pero yan ang pinasok namin kaya’t tanggap namin ‘yan (He knew about the risks and we boxers know what could happen and we accept it as a fact),” said Monis, who was at ringside when Arizala collapsed after the referee halted the fight in the sixth and final round.
Monis said that while the $1,500 pay seems low, it is actually decent considering that had Arizala fought here, he would’ve just earned less than P10,000.
“He’d be lucky to bring home P3,000 (after all the deductions),” said Monis.
Like many fighters before him, Arizala accepted the Japan fight so he can travel and get a better pay.
“Chance din kasi ng mga boxers na maka-byahe at kumita ng mas maganda (It’s a chance for them to travel and earn more),” added Monis.
Filipino boxers also get an allowance for food when contracted to fight in Japan or elsewhere.
Games and Amusements Board (GAB) chairman Baham Mitra said on Wednesday that the agency will be stricter in approving foreign fights in the light of what happened to the 24-year-old Arizala, who has already awoken from coma, according to the GAB chief.