Up-and-coming Filipino boxer Michael “Hot & Spicy” Dasmarinas, is all set for his boxing debut for Singapore-based sports management and boxing promotions outfit, RingStar Boxing. His fight is set to take place on October 20 at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre, for the much-anticipated ‘The Roar of Singapore III – The Chosen Wan’.
The IBO undercard bantamweight division fight will see Dasmarinas go up against a newly announced Thai opponent, Phupha Por Nobnom.
The 25-year old Dasmarinas, who has a record of 25-2 and the former WBC World Youth Super Flyweight champion, recounted how he had to fight for his passion for boxing while growing up.
When he was nine years old, a family member burned his boxing gloves, just so he would give up the sport. He was also bullied and was told that he would never make it as a boxer because he was thin and frail-looking.
But he persevered and was guided by a cousin who was an amateur boxer that time and proved that this was his calling. He was also inspired by world-renowned Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao.
In fact, it was because of this sport that he was able to obtain a high school scholarship, and thus, was able to graduate.
This Camarines Sur native who is the 9th of 11 siblings, also shared how trying his growing up years were financially. He, in fact, recounted, how happy he was with the first income he made from boxing, which was a mere P200.00. Dasmarinas says, “Masaya na ako noon sa halaga na iyon, maski papaano kumita ako ng pera. Naging inspirasyon ko ito para ipagpatuloy ang boxing. (I was happy I made that amount of money. It became my inspiration to carry on and pursue the sport of boxing).”
And when he started winning more fights, he realized that this was what he was called to do, so he kept on.
Dasmarinas is excited that this will be his debut fight for RingStar, which gave him a 3-year contract. Apart from his fight purse, he will also receive a percentage of endorsements and sponsorship from RingStar’s sponsor—Cellmaxx, a sponsorship deal which the promotions outfit recently concluded.
Dasmarinas says, “Handa na po ako para sa laban ko sa Singapore. Sana po suportahan po ito ng mga kababayan nating Pilipino, lalo na yun mga nasa Singapore.” (I am ready for my fight in Singapore. I hope my fellow Filipinos can support me, specially those who are based in Singapore.)
Sanctioned by the International Boxing Organization (IBO), The Roar of Singapore III will take place on Friday, 20th October, 2017 at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre.