When Dino Olivetti Got Nibbled

Former professional boxer and now the owner of the prestigious Olivetti Boxing Gym in Biñan City, Laguna, Dino Olivetti, confessed that his fight against Ramie Mancao was the most painful in his career. He said in his Facebook post last July 20, “Ang pinakamasakit na experience ko sa boxing ay ang makagat” (The most painful experience I had in boxing was being bitten), attaching a video clip of the incident. This happened two years before the most famous ear-biting incident in boxing history.

When Boxers Bite

The most bizarre biting incident in the history of the sport is when Mike Tyson bit Evander Holyfield’s ear clean off on June 28, 1997, during the WBA Heavyweight Championship at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Paradise, Nevada, in their second fight.

There are other infamous similar incidents in boxing history. For instance, in October 2014, during the Wadi Camacho-Craig Kennedy-I fight in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, Camacho allegedly bit Kennedy’s neck. Camacho was disqualified by Referee Martin Williams in the second round of the 8-round cruiserweight match, which Kennedy won.

Heavyweight Derek Chisora was also fined and suspended for four months by the British Board of Boxing Control in June 2009 for biting Paul Butlin. Unlike in Camacho-Kennedy, Chisora won by the scorecards. It was their first fight.

Our very own John Riel Casimero was also bitten at least twice reportedly during his February 10, 2012, fight against Argentina’s Luis “Mosquito” Lazarte, ending in what is considered the craziest brawl in boxing history. Every Casimero fan and even his bashers know its details, so there is no need to elaborate.

Olivetti Remembers

Dino Olivetti held a record of 6 wins and 1 loss (3 KOs) when he laced his gloves against Ramie Mancao in his hometown on November 8, 1995. Mancao, more experienced, had fought twice in Thailand and was a contender for the Oriental and Pacific Flyweight crown, which he held until 1997.

Mancao’s most notable opponent in his entire career was Chokchai Chockvivat of Thailand, who later lost his title to Manny Pacquiao via KO in 1997, paving the way for Pacquiao’s rise to world titles and history. Mancao had downed 8 opponents before his encounter with Olivetti.

Fighting before his fellow Lagunense in his hometown Biñan and being a newcomer in boxing, Olivetti was determined to win convincingly, despite his legendary boxing pedigree. He felt that his more experienced opponent underestimated him. He said: “Halata sa galaw niya na alam niya na kayang-kaya niya ako kasi bata pa ako noon at baguhan pa lang noon.” (It was obvious from his movements that he knew he could handle me because I was still young and a beginner then.)

In the first two rounds, Olivetti was hardly wedged by his foe’s solid punches. In the second round, he caught Mancao with a lethal uppercut that resulted in a knockdown. Due to Olivetti’s elusiveness, Mancao was unable to retaliate. In the 5th round, irritated and upset, Mancao nibbled Olivetti near his nipple, causing a deduction for the foul act. Olivetti admitted that Mancao was a heavy puncher, but that night, he was a swift-moving target, making Mancao’s punches miss by kilometers. Olivetti won unanimously in the final tally of their 8-round fistfight.

Describing how it felt, he said, “Ang sakit! Dumugo at nilagnat ako kinabukasan.” (It hurt! I bled and had a fever the next day.)

In Tyson-Holyfield, after the fight, Tyson remarked that his bites were in retaliation for the headbutts from Holyfield. But everything ended well between the two. The two great heavyweights became bosom friends, and in 2015, Tyson even inducted Holyfield into the Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame. They even went into business together in 2022, creating an edible cannabis product in the shape of Holyfield's ear.

But that is not the case for Olivetti. He had never seen Mancao since then.

If Camacho did not leave a biting mark on Kennedy’s collar, Mancao left an ugly scar on Olivetti’s upper left chest. After some years, to conceal the horrid and most painful remembrance of his boxing years, Olivetti covered it with a tattoo of a boxer’s hands clasped in prayer with boxing gloves hanging from it.

Mancao lost his last two fights after losing to Olivetti. His swansong was on June 22, 1996, in Mandaue City, Cebu, via TKO to Noel Panescoro in the 4th round of their scheduled 8-round match. Mancao’s final ring record is 17 wins (10 KOs), 10 losses (6 KOs), and 1 draw.

Frustration, like reality, also bites.

----

(Photos: Dino Olivetti)

So long, Chino; Win, Asero

 Taking a cue from a Facebook post of Viva Promotions last July 14, 2024, the said boxing firm has it that the world title fight between Philippine’s Vincent “Asero” Astrolabio (19-4, 14 KOs) and Japan’s Junto Nakatani (27-0, 20 KOs) will be an appropriate tribute Chino Trinidad’s “legacy and contribution to the growth of Philippine boxing,” the post reiterates.

Skeptics

The Nakatani-Astrolabio fistfight will occur today, Saturday, July 20, 2024, at Ryōgoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan. The game is promoted by Akihiko Honda, a globally recognized promoter.

Vincent Diazen Astrolabio is a huge, massive underdog coming to this fight and we cannot blame even Filipino boxing fans and pundits (including those who pretend to be an authority in the sport) for saying that the Asero will pass through the eye of the needle to get this one.

Nakatani, a former karateka, the current WBC bantamweight belt holder, a 3 division champion, and arguably next best to Naoya Inoue when it comes to popularity, power, and skills among other current Japanese champions. When Nakatani turned professional in 2015, he won his first 8 fights and 7 of them were via KO. Further, after his only 4 years as a pro, he already won straps in 3 different weight divisions.

Imagine that. Indeed, it was a @highlight of a tall order for Astrolabio.

This is Astrolabio's second attempt to get a world championship strap after bowing last May 2023, via a majority decision to Jason Moloney for the vacant WBO bantamweight title.

But in one of his recent outings before he died, the great Chino Trinidad positively declared, “Vincent Astrolabio is a world champion in the making,” and Viva Promotions also posted that “[Trinidad] has been an inspiration to us all, motivating us to work harder in promoting and supporting the local boxing talent in the Philippines”.

Farewell

The best and the most admirable thing about Chino Trinidad is that he was able to live and make a name outside the shadow of his equally great father Recah Trinidad. He made a very distinct journalistic style, at least from my perspective as a lowly boxing fan in a remote island province in the country. I was not into the circle of sports personas and had never been in big sporting events therefore I do not know Chino personally and have never seen him in person.

I love his style of reporting and presenting his views, there’s a wit and humor in it, has a good command of every language he utilizes. Though very casual in telling his stories, his passion is oozing in his eyes and lips whenever I see him on TV.

Manny Pacquiao said in his mini-tribute to the man, “Chino was more than a great journalist; he was a true patriot who loved Philippine sports with all his heart. His honesty and dedication inspired many,” says the world’s only 8-division champ.

Vincent Astrolabio is a protégé of Manny Pacquiao and Sean Gibbons, all friends of the late Chino Trinidad.

Upset

The beauty of boxing is that it is the most unpredictable of all sports. There is a litany of remarkable upsets in the history of the sport. Douglas-Tyson, Ruiz-Joshua, et al, name it. As long as it lingers in every boxing fan’s memory, the possibility is always there.

Astrolabio and his team are now in Japan after a rigid training at the MP Boxing Gym Davao under the tutelage of the distinguished coach Nonoy Neri.

Do not underestimate Astrolabio. Especially if it comes from our biases and assumptions or his association with those you do not like. Things that do not necessarily reflect the fighter’s true capacity and capabilities.

When a great person passes and a big underdog upsets an opponent, they often receive more appreciation albeit retrospectively.

Fight, Asero, fight and win in hostile soil today!

-------

(Postscript: Nakatani won via First Round body shot KO and retains his title)

Traffic Lights On in SJ

Occidental Mindoro’s prime municipality installed the first traffic lights in the province.

It was reported that there was a high percentage of increase in vehicles in the last few years but perhaps, I had first to ask the details from the San Jose Municipal Planning Officer Joey Salgado on such details on vehicles. The two busiest streets in downtown San Jose are the junction of Liboro and Rizal Streets where the lights were erected. The newly installed Traffic Signalization System is aimed primarily at addressing congestion woes on the said roads in town. At the moment, traffic officers are still assigned at the intersection as the lights are on their observation period.

But temporarily, the lights do not have a power source. Frederick Arroyo of the Municipal Engineer's Office says, "The power source of our traffic lights is from OMECO as of now. Since the traffic lights system requires minimum power, it can be upgraded to solar power in the future and can be connected to the standby power source of the municipality."

The first traffic light in the country was installed in Plaza Goiti (now Plaza Lacson) located at Santa Cruz, Manila in 1938.

The inaugural switching and dry run of the facility was initiated by Mayor Rey C. Ladaga on July 2, 2024, together with local government officials, the San Jose Municipal Police Station Chief PLTCOL Jeny P Magan among other key persons.

Ladaga expects that the device is expected to provide convenience and safety to the public at major crossings. 

It is no doubt one of the LCE's best legacies.

-----

(Photo: MIO San Jose)