Boxing venture plans July 11 event

Two local businessmen, a former senator, and a Guam-based promoter have joined together to bring to the public a free boxing event this July 11 at the Nauru Building parking lot.

Dubbed the CNMI Big Night, the sporting and entertainment event is expected to feature amateur fights from up to five weight classes and performance from live bands and musical groups from noon to midnight.

RadioCom president and CEO Leo P. Ganacias, BJ Group of Companies president and CEO Hong Sik Baik, former legislator Joe P. Mafnas, and AOPJ International Promotions of Guam president and CEO Andy Padilla are all bankrolling the event under the flag of BJ Sports and Entertainment.

During a press conference held yesterday at the BJ Halina Restaurant in San Antonio, Padilla said that the CNMI Big Night would be an exciting fusion of sports and entertainment.

He said aside from boxing, the public will also be treated to raffles and giveaways, serenaded by beautiful local, Filipino, and English songs, and indulge their palate to an assortment of food from boots stationed in the periphery.

Padilla also said that the joint venture is preparing for all contingencies and has even borrowed a 40×40-foot canopy to cover the boxing ring in case of rain.

He also said the promotions outfit has asked the help of Power Association Saipan, Inc.’s Mario Corpuz to prepare the evening’s entertainment.

Ganacias, for his part, said that the event also aims to benefit the man‘amko, disabled, and the youth by appropriating part of the net profits to that particular sector of the CNMI society.

He also said that the joint venture might also decide to donate sports equipment to the Division of Sports and Recreation or any similar government agency.

Baik, on the other hand, said the group decided to stage the event because he saw the interest the sport has generated on the island.

He said his experience in helping out a boxing promotion last February opened his eyes on the possibility of coming up with grander events in the future.

Baik also said that he is planning to recruit a boxing trainer from his native South Korea in order to improve the sport on Saipan.

The three also said that Mafnas, who is the fourth wheel of the joint venture, wasn’t able to make it to the press conference because of prior commitments. They said the former lawmaker is doing the rounds of government agencies asking for their support.

The group has handed the reigns on actual boxing matters to veteran CNMI referee Al Taitano, who says that he has up to 11 prizefighters currently training for the event.

He also said that a similar or even bigger number of pugilists would be coming over from Tinian the day of the fight.

He says there’s a possibility that the fight will utilize the Saipan vs. Tinian format done in previous boxing events on Saipan and Tinian. Fights will be from the lightweight to light heavyweight categories with matches limited to three rounds each.

Taitano said he has seven returning boxers with four new fighters willing to show up the veterans. Fighters from Tinian would fight out of the stable of Tinian Mayor Francisco Borja and handled by former Senator Ray Dela Cruz.

BJ Sports and Entertainment hopes to accrue its expenses through solicitations and advertising spots from sponsors like MARPAC, East West Rental, and Coca Cola.

For more information on the CNMI Big Night, please call Joe Mafnas at 234-8668 or 235-3006.