Pinoy Mano Mano underground

well-trained Jordan Herrera scored a big win over TJ Trinidad at the start of Pinoy Mano Mano: The Celebrity Boxing Challenge. This boxing-reality show pits TV and movie personalities against each other and aims to test their mental and physical strength inside the boxing ring.

Jordan’s strongest asset during the fight was his strong lefthand that sent TJ rethinking his strategies. Jordan also moved around the ring a lot and he had more hits than misses compared to TJ who took a while before he warmed up in last Saturday’s fight.

Like Jordan, many of the celebrity contenders are actors who need a second lease in their careers. Take for instance Biboy Ramirez, a former GMA 7 resident young actor who wants a change of image. “There’s so much competition out there, so many newcomers, all hoping to take a crack at stardom. Mahirap makipagsabayan so I thought it might help if I change my image and turn into a character role instead of being frozen as a matinee idol wannabe,” Biboy puts it bluntly. Unknown to many, this 26-year-old actor idolizes Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight Chuck Lidell.

Eric Fructuoso has been away from the limelight for a long time now. After some troubled years as a confused teenager, he got married and has found other means of supporting his family. He is eyeing a post as kagawad in one of the barangays in the South.

Another strong contender is radio-jock turned Pinoy Big Brother (PBB) housemate Rico Robles who has been an amateur boxer for some time now. I’m afraid I’ll hurt my hand, because I’ll be hurting them so much. I’m afraid, too, that my opponents will injure their hands, because my defense is just insane,” claims the confident Rico. Another PBB housemate turned celebrity boxer is Rico Barrera. He has long limbs and can hit with such intensity, too.

Michael Roy Jornales claims that he was a former child actor. He focused on Mixed Martial Arts and believes that his experience gives him the upper hand in this boxing show. Will joining Pinoy Mano Mano revive his acting career?

Newcomer Joem Bascon made sure he finished all his scenes first in Batanes where he is cast in the new Adolfo Alix film starring F4’s Ken Zhou, Iza Calzado and Sid Lucero. Considered by many as the one most likely to follow Piolo Pascual’s footsteps, Joem had to think long and hard before he agreed to be part of this reality show where the overall champion will take home a new car.

These boxers are training rigorously at the Red Corner Gym, under the supervision of Coach Ruel Velasco of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines.

Besides the main event in each weekly episode, another exciting match to watch out for is the match between two female celebrity boxers that will be featured in the undercard. Last weekend, the referee had to stop the fight of John Hall and Juddha Paolo when the latter twisted his injured shoulder, which required the organizers to rush him to St. Luke’s Hospital.

This weekend, it’s the turn of Biboy Ramirez and Michael Roy Jornales to slug it out. Our bet is on Michael Roy.