On August 9, 1970, three boxers debuted together at the
Araneta Coliseum and created a buzz with their awesome performances in the
ring. But more amazing was the fact that the three were real-life brothers: Eduardo
(Eddie), Jose Maria (Joe), Ricardo (Colly) Zanadrin Coloma,
collectively known as the Saloma Brothers.
The Saloma Brothers came from a large family of 10 children from Iloilo City. Bantamweight Eddie, the eldest of 7 brothers explained the reason for their shared fraternal interest in pugilism: “Boxing is our first love,” he says, “It’s in the family’s blood. I have an uncle who is in the US Navy who won trophies as an amateur in the United States. If my younger brothers who are still in their knee pants grow up, they too, will become boxers.”
However, in his Araneta Coliseum outing against
the sly Tom Rico, another toprated bantamweight contender, lost in a questionable decision that was
roundly booed by the crowd. But Eddie took it all in stride simply
saying that boxing should not be fought the way Tom Rico did, in which
he kept shoving Eddie with against the ropes, putting him (Eddie) at a disadvantage. One aficionado
even remarked that the next time Eddie fights Tom Rico he would
“win without a fuss.”
Younger brother, Joe, 20, an Electrical Engineering student at the Western Visayas College of Science and Technology and University of San Agustin, was a featherweight and was known for his powerful “atomic punch,” which gave him a record of 28 wins, 1 loss, at his peak.
Hoping to make a name in bigtime boxing, he was matched against Fil del Mundo, a rated featherweight from Laguna, and a favorite to win the bout. True enough, he dealt Joe telling blows that caused his brow to bleed profusely. The two exchanged blows amid the pandemonium in the stadium, each boxer neither giving nor asking for any quarter. Then it happened. Barely 2 minutes before the round ended, Fil del Mundo, for all his ruggedness and ring know-how, hit the deck in the twinkling of an eye, caused by flashy Joe’s killer “atomic punch,”
In his Araneta Coliseum duel with the more experienced Arturo Eracho, Joe sustained another injury that threatened his bid. But Joe came back from the 5th round to the last to beat Eracho, dealing him with series of “very clean punches”, as described by Manila Times day editor, O.O. Sta. Romana. The more gleaming and potent ”clean punches” that the newsman spoke of turned the face of Eracho into a bloody mess, and Joe won the bloody fight by unanimous decision.
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Meanwhile, Colly (Ricardo) is a high school
graduate and has had 22 fights in his credit prior to his last one at the Araneta
Coliseum in which he knocked out Jun Martin in a dramatic fashion on
the fourth round. He never lost in any fight and last February won the amateur
flyweight championship of the Philippines “Class C”. He turned pro at the age
of 16. Ambition: to be a world champ and a lawyer.
The young boxers are managed by Mamerto Besa, businessman and sports promoter, whose craving desire is to produce a world champion from among his wards “before I retire.” Some of his successful boxers which he developed were Bert Somodio, former lightweight king of the Philippines, Randolf Masala and Tiny Palacio,
Besa says he has every reason to look forward to the day when the Saloma brothers would grab a world title. “First,” he says, “they are dedicated boxers—they take interest in their profession with whole heart; second, they are well-discipline for they behave properly and don’t indulge in any vices; and third, they are efficiently trained and managed. I, myself devote my full attention to their welfare…”
Such a set of high standards that characterize the pugilistic ventures of the Saloma Brothers would therefore make one expect that their best is yet to come. Through the 70s, the Salomas were names to be reckoned with, fighting in Guam, Korea, and the U.S. Joe had his last bout in 1973, while Eddie and Colly continued their international quests until 1977.
WHERE ARE THE SALOMA BROTHERS NOW?
A surprise e-mail to this writer was received from
Joe Saloma in 18 May 2017 who managed to read a short article I have
written about the slugging brothers for
the popular website, FilipiKnow, included in my list of “Sports Legends Who
Proved Filipinos Are Kickass Athletes.”
In it, he wrote: “It's an honor to be part of the FilipiKnow Greatest Filipino Athletes. It's been over four decades when we were in the peak of our boxing career. Thank you for believing in us. God is so good for giving us a wonderful life after ending our boxing career in the Philippines. Because of our hard work and determination, we were blessed with good life, family, and successful careers.”
Joe provided updates about himself and his acclaimed brothers, Eddie and Colly who are now U.S.-based. while he lives in Guam.
Joe is currently a resident of Agana, Guam. He retired from the U.S. military with over 22 years of active service and presently working with the Guam Department of Corrections.
Eddie studied at NW Institute of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine. He is now a Licensed Acupuncturist and Physical Therapist at the Oriental Acupuncture & Therapy Clinic, Inc., practicing in El Paso, Texas,
Colly is a resident of Virginia and also retired from the U.S. military with over 20 years of active service.
Photos by Mr. Domonador Suba, STM
FB pages of Jose Marie Saloma, Eduardo Saloma and Colly Saloma.
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