Panama in drought of boxing champions

Panama is not doing well in boxing, many know it as the country of champions in this sport, there are realities, it is currently in a drought world titles.

The last Panamanian to be crowned the new world champion was Jezreel Corrales April 27, 2016, taking the title from Japan’s Takashi Uchiyama in 130 pounds (super feather weight) of World Boxing Association (WBA).

for an entrepreneur Rogelio Espino, who crowned at least 13 world champions between internationals and Panama as: Celestino “Pelenchín” Caballero, Luis “El Nica” Concepción, Jezreel Corrales, “Chantal” Martínez and Vicente “El Loco” Mosquera, There are many factors that influence the bad moment that Panamanian boxing is going through.

“I think it’s a cyclical part, building a boxing career takes many years,” he said. Espino, It is not done overnight, he specified.

According to opinion Espino, Olympic boxing must be supported more and he added that every year fewer and fewer boxers go to professional boxing and Comibox must pay attention to this situation.

“My personal opinion is that professional boxing is not getting new blood,” he said.or Espino.

The businessman, who has never been involved in organizing boxing tickets, added that in previous years boxers looked up to him “La Araña” Vásquez, “Loco” Mosquera, “El Nica” Concepción, “Pelenchín” and “El Maestrito” Córdoba, “Chemito” Moreno if they were world champions and that stimulated them, they would go pro, but since 2015, he has seen fewer and fewer boxers wanting to go pro, he said.

Espino He points out that he is the main boxer and that in his personal opinion the current promoters should also watch out for the Panamanian boxer.

“It depends on the boxer,” he said. Espinowho added that current promoters should keep in mind that “Panama boxers are developing more.”

According to opinion Espino, There are billboards that fight foreigners with foreigners, where a foreigner advances, that is business, but the Panamanian boxer is neglected, that he is developing and there he is”Comibox it has to connect more and not just check if the billboard is done right,” he said Espino.

In your opinion, Espino explains that there must be a relationship between promoter, boxer and agent in order for a Panamanian boxer to develop.

“The main thing is the boxer, not the promoter, not the lawyer, the show is being made, but not to give the Panamanian boxer a career,” he said.

Espino He recalled that when he made his starters, he made them according to his boxers, who were fighting, he didn’t fill in or look at which boxer he could bring because someone was missing.

Coach Mosquera

With 30 world champions in its history, it does not exist Panama another sport that has 5 Hall of Famers, “it’s not easy”, we have talent, but we lack support, replied the coach Juan “Poslovac” Mosquera who was in Corrales corner when he was crowned world super champion.

According to opinion mosque need more support, structure, Pedro “Rockero” Alcazar It’s not a gym, it’s a gallery that still floods when it rains, new talents are additionally lost, because they’ve had 20 fights and already want to become professionals, all because of the need for money to survive, but when they have 4 or 5 fights in the pros , show their shortcomings.

“Novelist” Mosquera He recalled that he fought as an amateur, a professional, and now he is a trainer. “When I made my pro debut in 1997 they paid me $100, now it’s $150, the most I can get is $200,” he said. mosquewho added that a 4-round fight requires at least 2 months of preparation.

The coach discovered that this kind of situation is not profitable for the newcomer and that the new talent runs away, gets lost, because the need forces him to look for another economic activity, “selling bags on the street” for example, earns more.

mosque He repeated that amateur boxing should be supported more, the structures, the refreshment of coaches, he also admitted that the Panamanian boxing style has been lost.

“Businessman” He added that when he travels abroad, many are afraid of Panamanian boxing, a small boxing school “dad, dad and I’m not here”, but that too has been lost, which is why he is advocating that the Panamanian leadership conduct refresher courses for coaches.