We took a quick visit to meet an all time great Filipino boxer right in the heart of Downtown San Diego — former WBC International Minimum Weight Champion (105 pounds) and former IBF Minimum Weight Champion, none other than Manny “Cabalay” Melchor. Melchor was one of the great champions of boxing of Filipino descent. Manny retired from boxing in 2003. Other boxers during his championship reign included all time favorites: “Sugar” Ray Leonard, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier and many others making this period in boxing one of the greatest.
Manny Melchor at 42-years-old now trains youth and promising boxers at the City Boxing Gym, will have the opportunity to learn from someone who is recognized as one of the best. “I developed my own style through careful observation,” stated Melchor.
Eddie Enriquez an SCCPress.com reporter asked, “Manny…what got you interested in boxing?” Although, Manny prefers to speak in Tagalog but practiced his English said, “I saw the struggles my mom was going through and wanted to help out financially so I decided to take up boxing at 15-years-old; in the Philippines amateur boxers got paid.”
For further info on training with Manny Melchor and other professional trainers contact City Boxing Gym, (619) 233-5444, 1059 14th Street, San Diego. The center has trainers that specialize in Muay Thai Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).
