BY NICK GIONGCO
Around this same time last year, Filipino boxer
was on the brink of death in a Yokohama hospital his head wrapped in bandage strpaped on a ventilator.
Arizala was in the ring with a heavy-handed Japanese named Tatsuyoshi Temada, who stopped him in the sixth round of an undercard featherweight fight.
Shortly after the fight that took place on March 31, Arizala, who entered the bout with a very pedestrian record of 13-8 with four KOs, passed out and within minutes, he was on the ER with Japanese experts getting ready to perform a craniotomy (brain operation).
Almost four hours later, Arizala was wheeled into the ICU, his future bleak.
But in a couple of days, the Masbate-born fighter began moving his fingers and responding to questions from well-wishers, including Japan-based Filipinos and Kei Nidaira, who used to be a member of Jerwin Ancajas’ team.
Arizala made the trip simply to earn a few cash.
Promoters guaranteed him $1,500 (P75,000) in what looked like an ordinary day in the office.
The knockout loss proved to be devastating.
“Masakit tanggapin na hindi ko na maaabot yung pangarap ko na maging world champion,” said Arizala, who resides in Bacoor, Cavite.
“Noong una hindi ko matanggap na hanggang doon na lang po yung panagrap ko pero siguro ay may dahilan si Lord lung bakit ginawa nya sa akin.”
One year removed from that harrowing experience, Arizala is thankful that he survived the operation and came back home to his family.
“Masaya po kasi nabigyan po ako ng pangalawang buhay po tapos hindi rin po ako pinabayaan ng Panginoon po kasi may mga tao po sa tabi ko na umaalalay sa akin katulad po ng mga magulang ko at coach at si (Games and Amusements Board) chairman Abraham Mitra,” said Arizala, who celebrates his 26th birthday on April 12.
The fact that Arizala was able to return to his family and given a job at the GAB by Mitra is proof that he was not just plain lucky.
“Masasabi ko lang din po na milagro lahat nangyari sa buhay ko. Aminado naman po ako kung dito sa Pilipinas yung aksidente, maaring patay po talaga ako. Unang-una po wala po kaming sapat na pera pang opera.”
It was the Japan Boxing Commission that shouldered Arizala’s hospital expenses with the help from local promoters.
In the Philippines, financial assistance to boxers injured during a fight is limited; in Japan, it is the opposite.
And it is for that reason why Arizala managed to get his life back on, unlike two other Filipino boxers who had the same fate.
In 1995, Lucas, a three-time world title challenger, collapsed after losing a hard fight to Korean Chang Jae Kwon in Tokyo.
While the operation was successful, Lucas was never the same again and he walks with a pronounced limp and part of his skull missing.
To make matters worse, Lucas’ wife left him as finances began to mount in the household, leaving himself with no choice but to be with his parents.
Gorres, a promising flyweight from the ALA Boxing Club, and like Lucas, fought for a world title, was hospitalized in Las Vegas in November 2009 after passing out following a victory over Colombian Luis Melendez.
Gorres did return to Cebu but is coping with life after boxing, suffering the same fate as Lucas when his wife left him many years ago.
Nowadays, Gorres lives with his parents in Mandaue City.
As Lucas and Gorres struggle to stay upbeat, Arizala seems to be in a much better place.
Late last year, the JBC people came over to Manila to hand over a cash donation of ¥3 million (P1.4 million) to Arizala for the career-ending injury he sustained.
Arizala was tearing up during the turnover rites.
Who wouldn’t be?
