Big Yellow Gym trainer believes boxing will punch back to normal

CEBU, Philippines — Big Yellow Boxing Gym trainer Christopher ‘Pingping’ Tepora is highly optimistic that boxing will get back to normal one day that he left no stone unturned as far as the training and conditioning of his fighters are concerned.

While he’s staying home in Barangay Sabang, Danao City, Tepora keeps in touch with his boxers regularly, giving them workout routines via Facebook chat and videocalls to help them stay active and in top shape under enhanced community quarantine.

“Right now, I am just staying at home,” said the 36-year-old Tepora. “But we continue with our training so that our boxers will be ready any time when boxing gets back to normal.”

As a veteran strategist, Tepora considers sharpening the skills of John Riel “Cuadro Alas” Casimero and his younger brother Jhack “El Capitan” Tepora to become world champions as his greatest accomplishments.

At the moment, Tepora has seven ring gladiators under his watch at the Big Yellow Gym owned and managed by the husband-wife tandem of Seth and May Tio.

Among them are World Boxing Foundation (WBF) Intercontinental minimumweight champion Clyde Azarcon (17-3-1, 6KOs) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia Pacific Youth bantamweight champion Carlo Demecillo (15-5-1, 8KOs).

Tepora said they are fortunate enough that the generous Tio couple have given them all the support they need in this time of crisis.

“We’re very thankful to our managers, sir Seth and mam May Tio, for their continued support. They are always there for us especially at this time when we need help.”

The future may be uncertain for now amid the coronavirus pandemic but Tepora is extremely confident that boxing will return to its normal state someday.

“I instill in the minds of my boxers not to lose hope because I firmly believe that everything will be back to normal in the future, most especially boxing. We just have to pray and trust in God always,” Tepora ended.