The way to the boxing gym of Brix Flores in Cebu province requires the visitor to worm his or her way through a labyrinthine alleyway that is either paved with cement or hardened soil.

The training facility is located in Mandaue City, a few blocks from the city center and home to a handful of professional fighters as well as kids who dream of finding a way out from a life of poverty.

Flores is a soft-spoken fellow who is known as a friend to everyone in the fight game.

While his gym lacks the sophistication and savvy of others in the boxing-rich province, it has a solid track record of producing not just national and regional standouts but world-caliber punchers.

Unbeknownst to many, Flores was among the country’s top amateurs in the roaring 1980s.

In fact, he bagged the bronze medal in the bantamweight class in the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul.

He did that by winning his first two bouts before suffering a loss in the semifinal round to Thailand’s Sophon Sujarikul, who competed in the 1984 Los Angeles and 1988 Seoul Olympics.

“I was still very fortunate but we prepared long and hard for the Asian Games,” he said.

The Philippine team, also spiked with Leopoldo Serantes and Leopoldo Cantancio, spent half a year in Florida for training.

“It was a long camp and while we were there, we competed regularly in dual meets. One time, we won gold medals, me, Serantes and Cantancio while undergoing training there,” Flores said.

After a solid amateur career, Flores decided to join a batch of Cebuano boxers who would turn professional.

“I was the first to turn pro,” said Flores, stressing that he fought under the fabled Antonio L. Aldeguer (ALA) Stable.

Soon after, the likes of Gerry Penalosa, Edito “Ala” VIllamor and Andy Tabanas, all amateur standouts from the Queen City and representing ALA, followed suit, signaling the start of Aldeguer’s production of high-quality boxers.

But Flores’ pro career was short-lived.

Just after nine fights in a span of about eight to nine months, he was forced to retire.

To get himself busy, Flores went to school and he graduated with a degree in Physical Education from Southwestern University.

From 1997 until 2000, he was a member of the national boxing team.

“I was based in Baguio City,” he said.

Still, he had to go back to Mandaue City and attend to his family’s gym, which was built by his father, Pacing Flores, one of Cebu’s premier cornermen.

“The gym was put up in 1977 and I grew up here training with my Papa.”

Haven for kids

Nowadays, the gym is the place where a few pros and kids train.

There are morning sessions and afternoon sessions and the gym is always busy and on the day DAILY TRIBUNE paid Flores a visit, his pros were all there.

Despite this, Flores longs for the old days when boxing was very much alive with promoters such as the now-retired Wakee Salud would tap his fighters.

“Before, my boxers were always busy because there was somebody who was regularly promoting. Boxers need regular activities to enable them to rise in the rankings. If they don’t have fights, they become stagnant and they will stay inactive.”

Once a boxer stays dormant, his rating drops and that is something Flores wants to avoid at all costs.

Nowadays, Flores turns to Manny Pacquiao’s Blow-By-Blow for activities but the weekly boxing show happens every month and it doesn’t guarantee that all of his boxers would be recruited to fight.

As for his amateurs, Flores only wishes and prays that help from authorities would come.

“Like the pros, the young boxers need exposure,” he said.

Sometimes, Flores himself stages in-house tournaments on site to ensure that they all get to test their skills against each other.

Even the need to bulk up on boxing equipment is a problem as these are a bit expensive.

To soften the cushion, Flores gets help from friends who lend a hand by donating stuff from time to time.

While training and managing and even promoting is difficult, leaving boxing is the last thing Flores said that he will do.

“I love boxing and my involvement is for the long haul.”

With boxing, Flores was able to tour the world not just as a fighter but as a trainer.

“I enjoy being around boxers and the entire boxing family. I am not going anywhere.”

Family support

Flores has a very supportive wife and three kids who all have vowed to back him up every step of the way.

“My kids are all professionals and I am very proud of them.”

When the schedule allows it, Flores and his family travel to nearby Bohol to rekindle ties with relatives.

A plan is under way to put up another gym there.

“I am looking at building another gym in Anda (town).”

Located just under 100 kilometers from Tagbilaran, Anda, Flores insists, is an ideal place to put up a gym.

“It’s near the beach and it’s beautiful there. No distractions.”

Nowadays, Flores continues to look for that one guy who will make it big.

Owing to his being kind and compassionate, it’s a matter of time before one of his very own strikes it big.