Save by the Bell head honcho Elmer Anuran believes that it is only the beginning for the new Games and Amusement Board lightweight titleholder Roberto Gonzales.
Coming off a seventh round TKO victory over Arjan Canillas, Gonzales (27-2, 7 KO) proved that he is one of the brightest prospects in the local boxing scene. His promoter Elmer Anuran can attest to that but, at the same time, sees a lot of room for improvement in order to reach Gonzales’ goal of becoming one of the country’s best.
“This is the very first big event for Roberto Gonzales. In fact, para sa akin marami pa akong gusto makita,” Anuran told Tiebreaker Times. “Kasi nakita ko sa sparring, he moves very well and sabi ko nga, for a lightweight, he’s quick.”
“And yung combinations nung Roberto Gonzales, deadly talaga yun.”
Anuran broke down the flaws in the 25-year-old pugilist’s game. “Nakita ko nung early parts of the fight, medyo lumaro siya sa laro ni Canillas, good thing nandiyan yung combinations,” the promoter said. “Good thing yung combination nung punches, yung volume nung punches and particularly yung jab ni Roberto Gonzales. ‘Yun yung tingin ko yung winning secret niya ngayon.”
“He has to learn more pero satisfying naman yung pinakita niya.”
Known for his resilience inside the ring, Gonzales went toe-to-toe against the equally-talented opponent from the famed ALA Boxing Stable in Cebu and stayed composed despite getting rocked multiple times, before carving out the victory via TKO.
Expressing optimism, Anuran hopes that opportunities will now to open for Roberto to prove his worth as a pugilist. “Unang una, yung puso. Yung puso nung Roberto Gonzales,” he said about the Batangueno. “From the start naman, yun yung pinagmamalaki natin, from grassroots boxing nag-umpisa tong bata na ‘to and hopefully, mapagpatuloy natin yung programa para sa bata na ‘to para at least matulungan natin siya.”
“I think deserves a much bigger opportunity.” he said, who revealed that their camp are already planning to schedule him for a potential regional title fight sometime in June.
As for a world or regional title bid, Anuran is in no rush, as it will depend on how his ward will perform in future fights.
“I wanted to give him more fights in Manila until we see that he’s ready.”
