dSource is on Twitter @dRealSource and Facebook
Recent Story: Time to set all pettiness aside: Even split is fair for Pacquiao and Mayweather /Donaire plans to stay at 122 for a while
At 19 years and a little over a month old, Morris Santillan East of Olongapo City became the WBA jr. welterweight title in Tokyo, Japan when he knocked out then champion Akinobu Hiranaka on September 9, 1992 in what was Ring Magazine's KO of the year.
Back then, Filipino fighters didn't enjoy the same privileges and did not get the same amount of respect, which meant less opportunities, as opposed to this day and age, thanks largely to Manny Pacquiao's astronomical rise and success in the world of boxing, where Filipino boxers are regular fixtures in big boxing cards.
(Click here for a slideshow of East and Donaire doing mitts, and Donaire's sparring)
Despite all obstacles, East labored through each adversity and has remained significant in the sport that he loves.
That's why it was welcome news to this scribe when East was added to Nonito Donaire, Jr.'s team as a mitts coach after his former mitts coach Jonathan Penalosa had problems securing a working visa.
"I like how 'Mo' holds the mitts for me and he's a great guy," Donaire told me about East and added, "he's helped me out in the past so I know how hard he works and he's one of our great Filipino boxers that deserve his respect and recognition.
East has been helping and training a lot of fighters in the Las Vegas area at the H.I.T. Factory Gym including former world champion Zab Judah.
East will be ringside with Donaire in his corner together with head trainer, and fellow former World Champion Robert Garcia in San Antonio on Feb. 4. Donaire will be gunning for the WBO super bantamweight title against Wilfredo Vazquez, Jr.
- dSG -
("I love Manny Pacquiao" Click this link to watch the video of Floyd Mayweather praising Manny Pacquiao)
Hit the subscribe button on top of the page to get free updates and articles first "Straight from dSource" sent to your e-mail.
Other Filipino Sports Stories - (Click on titles to read story)
- [Basketball] Top high school hooper Jeron Teng commits to play for La Salle
- [NFL] Why sports can use more athletes like Tim Tebow and Manny Pacquiao
[ALSO READ] Shawn Porter wants to fight in the Philippines; not keen on Pacquiao-Cotto 2 / The enigmatic mind of Victor Ortiz / The truth behind the Pacquiao-Mayweather debacle: A Rationalization / Quote of the Week - Mark Munoz: "The Filipino culture.. these are my roots man. I grew up Filipino. I grew up around Filipinos. I just love my culture man."
***
CLICK HERE to find out more on Mark Munoz, his fighting background and bio
CLICK HERE for our visit and inside look at Mark Munoz's Reign Training Center in the Orange County Area in California
** Legal waiver - By quoting, copying and using material from this article to your website, publication or blog, you agree to give full credit to Dennis 'dSource' Guillermo and Examiner.com, provide a link / hyperlink to the original article. **
- For more boxing articles, log on to www.dSourceBoxing.com
Comments