TOKYO, Japan — Keeping fingers crossed that Jerwin Ancajas succeeds in becoming a world champion this Saturday.
You see, around this time 27 years ago, I was at ringside when Gerry Peñalosa won the World Boxing Council super-flyweight title by beating Hiroshomi Kawashina.
The date? February 20, 1997.
Arriving here Wednesday night with Narita as point of entry, I could feel a good vibe that Ancajas would do the same thing to Takuma Inoue in their World Boxing Association bantamweight showdown at the Ryogoku Kokugikan Sumo Arena.
This was also the same venue where Peñalosa knocked the WBC crown off Kawashima’s head.
On the drive to my hotel, the cold weather and the familiar sights brought back memories of the Peñalosa fight.
Though I was just here two months ago for another fight, the return trip still gave me a rush since Tokyo holds a special place in my heart.
It was here where Luisito Espinosa bagged the WBC featherweight title by defeating Manuel Medina at the Korakuen Hall.
That time, I brought a banged-up manual typewriter and as soon as the fight ended, I began pounding away and the Japanese people looked at me and my disintegrating typewriter as though I was somebody who had time-traveled.
Believe me, they all had this weird look on their faces as I was trying my best to come up with a story that I would transmit to our Manila office via fax machine.
I couldn’t blame them, of course, for acting that way.
For chrissakes, they had probably last seen a typewriter being used decades ago while I was there, then a 25-year-old deadline-beater, hammering away and looking very tense.
Anyway, that was in December 1995.
Now, 29 years later, I am still at it, writing this column on my smartphone and grinning as I remember the happy and glorious days covering boxing.
While Tokyo has provided victorious moments, there were likewise a few times when I had to fly back to Manila with a bruised ego and an aching heart.
But with somebody like the tried-and-tested Jerwin climbing the ring, I am supremely confident the flight back to Manila will be an enjoyable one.
Anyway, gotta go.
Time to go out for some sustenance.
The noodle shop around the corner just opened its doors.
It’s going to be a long day.
Mata ne (catch you later).
