My Boxing Stable

My Boxing Stable
It was in 1992 when i filed a license at the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) to manage the "CADORNA BOXING STABLE", where i started recruiting boxers to be trained and develop into a Champion! I had in my stable; Al Pelinio, Andy Espinosa, Dinky Jagdon, Darry "Boy" Caballes, Dodong Peligrino, Bayong Peligrino and Paul Bersaluna, Tirso Ranque. They were the initial boxers in my stable, and later on, i add two boxers.

It was the initiative of Ben Delgado, who was my former boxing trainer in Davao City to organized the stable. He was the one handling the training of all of my boxers. I house them in an apartment in Paquita St. in Sampaloc, Manila just infront of LM Boxing Gym own by Mr. Lito Modejar. It doesn't took as too long to developed a New Philippine Lightweight Champion when Darry "Boy" Caballes was given an opportunity to challenge the reigning Champion Bernabe Aliping from Baguio, City during that time. Caballes won by technical knockout on the 5th round when the Champion failed to answer the bill. Caballes became the New lightweight Champion of the Philippines.

Darry "Boy Caballes became the pride of our stable and he was able motivates everybody including other boxers at LM Gym. We morning the night so to speak, to Celebrate his Victory at LM Gym together with all the boxers and Trainers who were staying in the LM Gym. One of which was Tacy Macalos, who later on became a WBC flyweight Champion, Rolando "Jojo" Pascua who became also a WBC flyweight Champion, Eric Chavez, who also became a World Flyweight Champion, so with Morris East who also became a World Weltherweight Champion, Etc.

That was the happiest moment of our stable. Few weeks later, we had an offer for a title defense against William Magahin. For our preparation for the title defense against William Magahin, Ben (the trainer)suggested to schedule for a none title fight against a lightweight contender Armando Andrade. The fight was held in Daet, Bicol. It was Ben who accompanied Caballes to Bicol together with his son Allan as a helper and one more trainer. They went two days ahead of me because i just have to take a plane on the day of the fight. Unluckily there was no flight schedule during the day of the fight. There was no way for me catch up the fight. If i'll take by land travel, From Manila it'll take 10 hrs. drive and it was after lunch already when i called up the airport to book my flight.

I was at LM Gym the following day waiting for a news of the fight. To my surprised, It was only Ben Delgado who was in the Gym, The boxer and the other trainer so with his son Allan was not around! I was looking straight to Ben's eyes asking him, where are they? His facial expression was so depressed and slowly reporting to me in a very cool voice, and very low pitch.

As per Ben's report, as he slowly told me the entire story, The fight lasted for scheduled 10 rounds but Caballes lost the fight because he lost his stamina in the mid rounds. After the fight manong Ben was surprised of Caballes behavior because Caballes want to fight the Policemen around, Caballes became wild. So they brought Darry "Boy" Caballes to the nearby Hospital for a check up and eventually sleep their. At around 1:00am, Caballes was asking for food and the trainer gave him food. After eating Caballes went to sleep again. It was around 4:00am when they found out that Caballes was dead already.

His body was examined through an Autopsy, and there was a findings of blood clotting behind his nape. It was only Ben who went back to Manila to bring that bad news and the two Allan and the other trainer were left in the hospital to take care of the remains of Caballes. To cut the long story short, His body was brought to Manila after two days and stayed for four days in Manila before i brought it to his Home Town in Cebu City. We received some money from the Games and Amusement Board (GAB), i'm not sure if that's an insurance or contribution, the amount of PHP5,000.00.

The irony of this was, when the body of Caballes was in Manila, That was also the time that the write up regarding my success story written by Quinito Henzon was released and the Major feature was when Darry "Boy" Caballes became a New Champion! It was a one full page issue with the picture of the Champion during the fight. This was published in the Sport Weekly Magazine in May of 1993. It was a mixed emotion on my part and with the entire member of my Stable.

Experiencing a member of a our Stable died after the fight, And he as a Champion, all of my boxer's morale were down including the Ben Delgado (the trainer). It took several weeks before they resume a proper training. There were collections during the four day wake amounting to PPH3,000.00 only. Finally, We got the schedule for Cebu, But my friends were telling me not to go there since the home place of Caballes was a depressed area and noted for the hide out of Criminals.

I decided to go against the advice of my friends in boxing. I went to Cebu with the two sisters of Caballes and with me was the "LUZPROBA" Luzon Professional Boxing Association Secretary Maming Pascua, who used to be the Manager of Rolando "Jojo" Pascua, and Allan Delgado the son of Ben Delgado. Few minutes before we land at the Pier of Cebu, the two sisters of the late Darry Caballes told me, It's up to you to protect yourself! They are all Angry with you! That was the statement of the two sisters to me. We finally land, I saw six men wearing lose shirts waiting for the coffin of Caballes to download. There were three of the six having short fire arms.

I finally went down and introduced myself to them. I was holding my clutch bag and i live it open to show them psychologically that i have also a fire arm. My opening statement to them was "I KNOW THAT YOU'RE MAD AT ME, BUT CAN YOU ALLOW ME TO TALK FOR FEW WORDS"? and the response was go ahead! I told them No body wants this to happen! My objective when i got Darry "Boy" Caballes in my stable was to developed him to become a world Champion! And lastly if i have misgivings on Darry, i won't show up! I'm here because i considered him as a family member!

The head spoke to the group and told them, I'll take care of Peter Cadorna! You can go ahead to the house. I don't know what does he mean for his statement but i was on alert. The truth of the matter is i don't have any fire arm with me! We were left in the Pier together with his one body guard and my two companions. The mother of Darry "Boy Caballes was demanding me top replace the coffin worth PHP30,000.00 more or less
and demand for best funeral services. I spoke to the group head whom i found out later happens to be an Ex-Military, the Uncle and the first Boxing trainer of Darry "Boy" Caballes. It was him who spoke to the mother not to demand that much. While we were waiting at the funeral home, we had sharing of thoughts, information and Insights. I was surprised when the Uncle told me that the Champion was communicating to him frequently even before Caballes became a Champion with all the praises on my way of managing the boxers as a whole in my stable. At this point in time, I was a bit relaxed with the feeling of winning little by little his trust and respect.

It was already 6:00pm, I hand it to the mother the amount we collected and i gave some amount as my personnal money to her to help for the burial expenses. We proceed to the house of the mother of Caballes where i met a lot of drunk people with knife even with hand gun on their waist. The Bombo Radio personnel was their to interview me, this is the famous Radio Station in Cebu City, Since they got a lot of information ahead, they no longer talked to me. It was my 5th night that i don't have complete sleep, since the wake started in Manila.

In few minutes the dinner was ready. With his group we were on a long table together with my two companions. The food was ready, but what was in my mind was a defense move. I told the head we won't eat if you'll not start eating. From where he started taking his food, and i just follow him where he got his food. It was a nice dinner! He smiled at me! And i whispered to him , I hope you understand, He said it's ok! Being an Ex-Military, he understand my message. I was hesitant to eat afraid if the food they prepare for us might have poison.

After we ate our dinner, i have to ask permission so we can take a rest to a near by cheap Hotel. He drove us to the Hotel and we checked in there. After few minutes i told Allan, the son of my trainer, Check them if they're still around, and if they're gone, we must checked out. I instructed Allan to call a taxi, so we checked out and rode a Taxi and i told them, we can't afford to stay on this Hotel, they are in control! I was surprised that the Hotel was paid already! It was 11:00pm already and we went direct to the Pier upon knowing from the Taxi Driver that a Ship bound for Manila is about to leave by 2:00am. When they were on the ship, i told my companions, i won't go with you, have to look for a ride bound for Bohol which is my Home Province. In a week time, i'll be their in Manila. These were the moves i was thinking of, to protect ourselves. When i arrived to my Parent's house bringing that bad news, my mother was crying. My home town friends were also sad of what had happened to my boxer. He died as a Champion!

See you on my next post, "About Myself" More thrill...

Thank you for your time,

Sincerely,

Peter E. Cadorna
Author
Copyright ©2009 Pedro E. Cadorna All Rights Reserved.