Vegas on my mind

Around this time 30 years ago, under the bright lights of the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, I ‘served’ as one of the cornermen of Cebu world title challenger Edito “Ala” Villamor.

That was my first time in the United States and joining us in the corner were the late trainer Juanito Ablaca, Tony Aldeguer, Joe Koizumi and Miguel Diaz.

I caught up with two fellows I was with during dinner a few days ago at Casino Español in Cebu City.

“Was that almost 30 years ago?”

“Yes, sir,” Villamor told Aldeguer as we were all feasting on the famed restaurant’s top picks.

Villamor had lengua while Aldeguer had callos.

I was thinking of having callos as well but Aldeguer told me to go for the ribeye.

I obliged.

Great choice.

The meat was tender and juicy as it went well with veggies and a big scoop of mashed potato.

What made our meeting so memorable was the exchange of stories, anecdotes from that momentous evening in Sin City.

Though Villamor lost on a knockout to Ricardo Lopez of Mexico, the Cebu puncher put up a gallant stand.

That particular fight served as the chief supporting bout to the main event: the world heavyweight title clash between Mike Tyson and Frank Bruno.

Tyson mauled Bruno and as soon as the fight ended, we went back to our room where I saw Villamor nursing his facial wound.

Soon after, Villamor, Ablaca and myself took a walk along the Strip and stopped only when we reached Caesar’s Palace.

By that time, it was almost 4 in the morning and we had to head back to our hotel.

I had a plane to catch bound for San Francisco while Villamor and Ablaca were set to fly back to the Philippines.

Aldeguer and his wife would stay behind for a few more days before heading back to Cebu.

After that, I found myself taking countless trips more to the US to cover the exploits of Filipino fighters.

A little over five years later, I would make a return trip to the MGM Grand to cover another Filipino boxer who turned out to be the greatest of them all.