Brawl At The Mall: GLORY — Moralde Now More Inspired To Win

Undefeated featherweight John Vincent “Mulawin” Moralde of Davao City is now more inspired to win the vacant World Boxing Federation (WBF) International title because his girlfriend is currently having their second baby.

Moralde’s girlfriend Karen Mae is now 3-month old pregnant. They already have a 5-year old boy named Prince Kaiden Matthew and will soon get married also this year. His girlfriend and son, however, are staying with Moralde’s family at the NHA Buhangin in Davao City. Moralde’s mother Erlinda takes care of them while his father Edwin is a farmer in Indangan.

The 21-year old Moralde (14W-0L-0D-7KOs) is slated to fight Anthony “Zorro” Sabalde (10W-4L-0D) of Cebu on Feb. 13 at the Gaisano Mall Atrium in Gensan for the main event of the “Brawl at the Mall: Glory”.

“Mas inspired ko na mag boxing karon tungod sa akong nagadako na pamilya. Excited na pud ko na maka dula balik (It inspired me to fight now because of my growing family. I’m also excited to be able to play again),” said the 5-foot-7 Moralde.

Moralde has not seen a video of Sabalde’s past fights. But he thinks Sabalde of the Flores and Wacky Salud Stable is not a patsy but a good boxer.

“Maayo siguro na siya kay mga maayo man pud iya mga nakalaban na (Well maybe he is good because his opponents were also good),” said Moralde, a former two-time gold medalist in the National Open Amateur Boxing Championships held in Cagayan de Oro and Panabo City and Mindanao Cup Best Boxer.

Moralde is still only two years under the Sanman Promotions in General Santos City.

But he has already fought in Queensland, Australia and captured the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) Asian Boxing Council Continental featherweight title via a unanimous decision against previous undefeated Australian Brayd Smith on March 14, 2015.

The exciting title fight, however, ended in a tragedy after Smith died due to head injuries after two days in the hospital. Moralde, however, has recovered already from that sad experience.

“Naka-adjust na pud ko karon hinay hinay. Naga-pray na lang ko sa Ginoo permi ug bago ko musaka sa ring na dili na mausab to (I’ve adjusted now slowly and I just always pray to the Lord and pray before I ascend to the ring that I will not happen again),” said Moralde.

Moralde said he does not want that incident to bother his boxing career but in fact it he makes it as one of his inspirations. He was able to bounce back from that tragic incident by scoring a second round knockout against Fil-American William George on July 11 at the Robinson’s Mall Atrium in Gensan.

Moralde followed it up with a unanimous decision against Jerry Castroverde of Cebu at the Gaisano Mall Atrium also in Gensan on September 26 last year. Moralde, however, admitted that he was a little bit careful in his comeback fight.

But Moralde is now determined to work harder to achieve his dream of becoming a world champion just like his two Filipino ring idols – Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire.

In fact, the following day after Sanman’s Christmas party last January 3, Moralde and several boxers including WBF Asia Pacific featherweight champion Rimar Metuda (9W-0L-0D-4KOs) and Romero Duno (8W-0L-0D-7KOs) immediately practiced at the Sanman gym.

“Dili ko puede mag-absent sa among training kay gamay sipyat masayang tong among gihaugan na preparasyon (I cannot take time off from training because a little flaw can waste our preparation),’ said Moralde, who will start his hard training next week.

Moralde has been sparring already with Metuda, who is also a southpaw and a featherweight just like Sabalde. His other sparring mate is Duno, who is also his playmate in the Dota computer game. Both of them had also just arrived from Japan after they were hired as sparring partners by a former Japanese world champion for three weeks.

“Dili puede puro boxing na lang. Kailangan pud ko mag relax. Naga-dula pud ko ug basketball ug naga jogging didto sa amua pag muuli ko sa Davao (It could not be just pure boxing for me. I also need to relax. I also play basketball and do jogging every time I go home to Davao),” said Moralde.

The 8-time world champion Pacquiao also plays basketball to maintain his body fit.

Moralde, who started boxing when he was still 6 years old, turned pro in 2011. He and his younger brother Engelbert “Aguila” Moralde went to Baguio City to practice at the gym of promoter Brico Santig.

“Pero wala me naka pirma sa iyaha (But we did not sign up with him),” Moralde said.

Then the Moralde brothers transferred to Cebu City to sign up with the ALA Promotions. However, the Moralde brothers later asked for their release papers to join the Sanman Promotions under CEO Jim Claude “JC” Manangquil in Gensan.

“Mas ganahan ko dire sa Sanman kay maayo kayo muatiman ang among mga boss. Mura lang me nila ug igsoon ug barkada dire (I like it more here in Sanman because our boss attends better to us. They treat us like brothers and a gang here),” said Moralde.

The Sanman Promotions is also composed of Chief Finance Officer Dexter “Wangyu” Tan and his wife Tata and sportsman-businessman John Ray “JR” Manangquil. Each of them has their own boxers under Sanman. (PNA) RMA/LCM/LOLITO T. DELOS REYES/LDP