Morris East gives back
“It doesn’t matter how strong you are but if you lack the discipline and resistance you won’t last when you strive to go the distance.” – Morris East
Former WBA light welterweight world champion Morris East visited the Philippines three weeks ago, happy to have finally found a way to give back to the country and the sport he has loved from his youth. Now a sought-after trainer at Floyd Mayweather’s gym in Las Vegas, East has molded the styles and helped guide the phenomenal career ascensions of fighters like Zab Judah and Nonito Donaire Jr. Aside from earning him the WBA belt, East’s devastating 11th round knockout of Akinobu Hitanaka in 1992 was hailed the Knockout of the Year, and made him the youngest Filipino to ever become a world boxing champion, at the age of 19 years and one month. He is also the second youngest to ever wear the 140-pound crown.
“My love for boxing started when I saw boxing as a way to find my father,” says East, who developed his boxing abilities in Cebu. “I always thought if I became champion one day hopefully I would find him and it became a reality. But as I honed my craft, I realized it was something I was good at, and I guess I have a way to lighten up a boxers’ spirit and motivate them.”
East is now spokesman, boxing adviser and trainer for Ferlenski International Boxing Promotion, a group of like-minded individuals who seek to develop the careers and support the aspirations of deserving Filipino boxers. The group is made up of founders, promoters and investors Ailenn Syskowski and Ferdinand Syskowski, operations manager and matchmaker Reginald de Leon, business adviser, boxing manager and investor Cal Williams, and East.
“Why I got attracted to the project: I’ve been wanting to do this for a long time, but I finally got a chance to sit down with a group of people who had the same objective and vision that I had, and they actually listened to me,” East told
The STAR in an e-mail. “Speaking from a boxer’s point of view who experienced a lot of anomalies in the business, I believed it would all happen at the right time with the right people and in God’s time.”
Ferlenski International’s first foray into organizing a major boxing event is entitled “Clash of Boxers”, which will be staged on Oct. 21 at the Makati Cinema Square. The bouts will feature protagonists from the US, China, South Korea and the Philippines. The local pugs come from places as widespread as General Santos City, Batangas, Makati, Boracay, Cebu and Manila.
“We have eight bouts in total,” says Williams, “including the eighth fight of Sen. Manny Pacquiao’s cousin Jonel Dapidran Pacquiao from Gensan, and former WBC Youth world champion Argie “Bomba” Toquero. We will also have the professional debut of Gilbert “Batman” Parlan from Las Vegas.”
Fighting in the 140- pound class, Jonel Pacquiao has an unblemished 7-0 record with four knockouts. His fellow native of General Santos, Jade Bornea, is fighting in a 115- pound bout, and is also undefeated with five wins and three KOs. Three of the boxers will be making their professional debuts in the event.
“My objective is to give back to all aspiring and talented boxers and give them an opportunity to excel in their craft and improve their quality of life,” says East. “I want to serve as an inspiration that as long as you dream big and never give up, the sky’s the limit. I too am a product of a Cinderella story. From very poor beginnings, I never lost hope that one day all will materialize with my PHD: Poor Hungry and Determined.”
This generosity of spirit has brought East back to the Philippines, where he sees his reflection in the next generation of boxers who want to follow in his footsteps.