Ex-champ Caitom opens boxing gym

CEBU, Philippines — Former WBC Asia Boxing Council minimumweight titleholder Rey Caitom, Jr. fulfills another dream, building and operating his own boxing and fitness gym. He formally opened its doors yesterday.

The newest sweat shop in town is located just beside Caitom’s house in Babag 2, Lapu-L apu City. It has two floors, the first is for weights and fitness activity area while the second has the boxing ring.

“This is it. Finally, naa na gyud ni. Natukod na gyud. Maayo na lang ba naa tay laing makita sa atoang hinagoan,” Caitom proudly shared.

Caitom is aware that only a few boxers in the country have invested their hard-earned money well.

He emphasized, however, that he is not establishing the gym for money but in the hopes of molding future champion.

Since moving to their new home, Caitom has established a connection with less fortunate kids in their neighborhood. He will train them for free as his own way of giving back to the sport that helped made him what he is now today.

And even though he has his own gym now, Caitom will continue to cater one-on-one sessions to individuals who do not want to leave their home and do online training with his clients abroad.

“It’s just about time management. Even the kids around that I’m going to train, I will teach them that. They have to follow their schedule for training and they cannot just go inside the gym at their own convenient time,” said Caitom.

Once the pandemic is over and he is able to train potential fighters already, Caitom plans to enter the world of boxing promotion someday.

“Kung kaluy-an, ma-establish nako diri unya ma-okay na ang tanan wala nay pandemic, mag-promoter pud ko. Boxing never stops. I may be done with fighting, but definitely I will be in boxing forever,” Caitom ended.