Jonathan Taconing: Fighting battles inside and outside the ring

It's 1PM in the afternoon. The sun is up with its rays pouring down the crowded boxing gym full of boxers aspiring to become a world champion someday. 

It's Wednesday, and this time of the week is extra busy as several dozens of fighters meet inside the ring for a sparring session to be witnessed by their fellow boxers, managers and promoters.

Despite the heat and staggering blows traded by fighters getting in and out of the ring, the eyes of the people inside the renowned Elorde Sports Complex are focused on one person alone: Jonathan Taconing. 

The world rated, one-time world title challenger is deep within training camp and is focused like he's never been before. 

After four years of waiting, the hard-hitting southpaw is finally due to get his second chance at a world championship; a mandatory title shot against Mexico's WBC world light flyweight champion Ganigan Lopez on July 2 (July 3 in the Philippines) in Mexico.

The 29-year-old Taconing was due for a ten-round sparring session that day, trading gloves against several fighters alternating between rounds to keep him on his toes. After the first three rounds, Taconing had to spar with three different partners as the first two weren't able to deal with his crisp punches and punishing body blows. 

His come forward fighting style has proven handful for his opponents in his nine years as a prizefighter. He throws power punches from all angles, pressure foes with little regard if he's going to get hit in the process. 

Taconing was on the verge of becoming a world champion when he challenged Kompayak Porpramook in Thailand for the same title in 2012, but shady officials denied him the chance of wearing the strap around his waist. 

He'd fought nine times since then, winning eight of them by KO/TKO to compile a record of 22-2-1 with 18 knockouts.

As always, Taconing is planning to go for the kill come fight night. His team is leaving no stone unturned in preparation for the fight that was originally scheduled on June 11, but was postponed after they've received the news that the defending champion allegedly suffered an injury in training camp.

"We are ready," says Taconing's trainer, Eddie Ballaran, who believes that the fight postponement was nothing more than a move to disrupt their training camp.

"We rested after the fight was postponed. They're trying to ruin our conditioning, I think it was just a delaying tactic. We'll go inside, keep attacking and force him to trade."

"Taconing is giving it his all in training," added Taconing's manager, Johnny Elorde. 

"We're hoping to pull through with the help of a little luck. We were told that Lopez suffered an injury in training so we rested a bit so he doesn't overtrain."

After ten rounds of sparring, Taconing then went to work on the double end bag, speedball, did skip rope, shadow boxing then floor exercises -- leaving the crowd in awe.

"He's really good, strong and his conditioning is exceptional. He hits hard despite our size difference, he still manages to stun me with his punches specially with his left hand," said one of his sparring partners, Cris Alfante.

"It's hard to spar with him, I can barely throw punches [because of his aggression]. I think his left hand will win him the fight though he also hits hard with his right."

HOW HE STARTED

Taconing started to box at the age of 14, fighting in a total of 30 amateur contests in fiestas where he was paid 500php (around $10) for three rounds of work. 

It was only after seeing Pacquiao beat 3K Battery in Taguig that Taconing was inspired to turn pro. At 19 years old, Taconing braved traveling to Manila to try his luck at professional boxing. He eventually linked up with the son of Gabriel "Flash" Elorde, Johnny, and has been with him as his manager since then.

Not only did Elorde help Taconing fulfill his goal of having a boxing career, he also provided Taconing a place to stay for free at the Elorde compound in Sucat for the coming years. It was also in Manila where he met his wife, Marybeth, and had children. With a standard rate of 1000php per round, being a pro boxing starter in the Philippines can be really tough. For that reason, he was also given a part-time job as a gate guard during weekends that helped him get by.

HIS BATTLE OUTSIDE THE RING

The toughest part in Taconing's training camp happened outside the ring. On June 6, Taconing's older brother, Felix, passed away. The news had of course shocked the fighter, and there was even a time when he was in tears before climbing the ring to spar. Elorde suddenly found himself playing an unexpectedly even more important role in camp, consoling his fighter and reminding him to keep his eyes on the prize.

"I told him, 'Such is life, things like those come around. But you can't afford to go home now because your fight is getting near. For now you have to endure, continue your training and for the meantime let's call your parents. Let's ask for their pardon and understanding that you wouldn't make it because you have an important fight coming up.'," recalls Elorde.

"So I spoke to his parents and received their blessing to have him keep his training and delay coming home. At first he didn't agree with it, he wanted to come home, but perhaps he also realized that if he did his training will be affected."

From poverty to traveling to Manila in hopes of a better life, to getting robbed in a world championship and up to preparing for another world title fight with a lost loved one in mind; Taconing had to deal with taking blows be it inside or outside the ring throughout his life.

He dreams of a better future not for himself but for his family -- and is willing to lay it all on the line to achieve so. All he knows, at this point, is that Ganigan Lopez will be on the receiving end of all his pain, sadness and anger.

"[Losing my brother in the middle of training camp] is very hard. We haven't seen each other for fifteen years, and yet I couldn't even get a glimpse of him because of my upcoming fight. I had to endure all of that for this fight. I'm dedicating this fight to my brother," told a teary Taconing.

"I saw him (Lopez) fight, I think he's a different fighter now so I can't be overconfident. I will take the fight to him, I'm a hundred percent motivated to win the world title. This is my dream, this is for my family." — APG, GMA News