Rexona’s DO MORE at the Fight Expo

UFC star Carlos Condit Condit meets loyal Pinoy fans father and son Ari & Red Repalda. The first ever ABS CBN Sports & Action- Rexona Fight Expo was held last November 8, 2014 at the Eastwood City Open Area. Photo by Jude Bautista

Written and photographed

By Jude Bautista

The historic first ever ABS CBN Sports & Action- Rexona Fight Expo was held last November 8, 2014 at the Eastwood City Open Area. While the Philippines has long been the home of boxing icons such as Pacquiao, Donaire, Ellorde, Espinosa and countless more, combat sports has seen a recent resurgence of practitioners and popularity especially with the growth of MMA.

Boxing Icon and PBA coach Manny Pacquiao is also a Rexona endorser—with the latest TVC images here. Photo from official Rexona Philippines facebook

TJ Manotoc of THE SCORE, THE RUNDOWN and Jef Gaitan of BANANA NITE hosted the first ever ABS CBN Sports & Action- Rexona Fight Expo. It was held last November 8, 2014 at the Eastwood City Open Area. Photo by Jude Bautista

The ABS CBN Sports & Action-Rexona Fight Expo is the first event of its kind to bring together activities that truly help encourage more people to get into MMA and boxing. TJ Manotoc of THE SCORE, THE RUNDOWN and Jef Gaitan of BANANA NITE hosted the prestigious event

3 Champs share their warm up and stretching techniques. The first ever ABS CBN Sports & Action- Rexona Fight Expo was held last November 8, 2014 at the Eastwood City Open Area. Photo by Jude Bautista

There have been countless viewing parties sometimes held for free whenever a huge Pacquiao fight rolls along such as the upcoming fight against Alghieri. But almost none of them actually encourage people to GET INTO the sport of boxing. As fitness regiment for both men and women boxing has grown in the U.S. and around the world morphing into TAEBO etc etc.

Boxing Icon and PBA coach Manny Pacquiao is also a Rexona endorser—with the latest TVC images here. Photo from official Rexona Philippines facebook

3 Champs from right: ‘King Arthur’ Villanueva- Int’l Super Flyweight Champ, Genesis ‘Azukal’ Servania -WBO Intercontinental Super Bantamweight Champ and Jason ‘El Niño’ Pagara WBO Intl Light Welterweight pose with fan. The first ever ABS CBN Sports & Action- Rexona Fight Expo was held last November 8, 2014 at the Eastwood City Open Area. Photo by Jude Bautista

Rexona’s tagline of DO MORE is embodied in the many different physical activities that were part of the fight expo. There were free Jiu Jitsu, Boxing, Muay Thai classes conducted by experts. The F.I.S.T. Gym setup booths for consultation, complete with mats and a ring.

UFC Father and son super fans Ari & Red Repalda play Tekken 6 for free at the first ever ABS CBN Sports & Action- Rexona Fight Expo. It was held last November 8, 2014 at the Eastwood City Open Area. Photo by Jude Bautista

Participants got to play arcade games measuring punching strength and TEKKEN 6 absolutely free. Fans also had a chance to win a boxing glove signed by Manny Pacquiao through a contest for the most number of consecutive punches on a speedball.

Pacquiao signed glove is prize in Speedball contest. The first ever ABS CBN Sports & Action- Rexona Fight Expo was held last November 8, 2014 at the Eastwood City Open Area. Photo by Jude Bautista

from left: Flyweight Jomar Bislig of Spartacus (red) won over Argie Guiriba of Elorde Katipunan via unanimous decision. The first ever ABS CBN Sports & Action- Rexona Fight Expo was held last November 8, 2014 at the Eastwood City Open Area. Photo by Jude Bautista

Amateur bouts in both boxing and MMA were also held. This is where the fight expo gives a real boost. Unlike running or basketball finding a safe venue for combat sports such as boxing and MMA are not as prevalent. You have to be a dedicated professional to get into the big events locally such as ONE FC, PXC. That’s IF you’re talented enough to do so. Those have international fighters and high-level competition.

from left: Welterweight Carl Jose Lalu of Tiger MMA (red) wins over Ken Menia of Espinosa MMA by split decision. The first ever ABS CBN Sports & Action- Rexona Fight Expo was held last November 8, 2014 at the Eastwood City Open Area. Photo by Jude Bautista

Middleweight Ramon Nabong III of Tiger MMA (red) wins over Jonathan Rice of Yawsa MMA via Armbar. The first ever ABS CBN Sports & Action- Rexona Fight Expo was held last November 8, 2014 at the Eastwood City Open Area. Photo by Jude Bautista

SO if you’re an MMA practitioner or a weekend warrior who has a day job, doing it for the pure love of sport, where can you go to actually compete? MMA fights have to be supervised in a safe controlled manner. At the fight expo, Pinoy amateur MMA fighters gave a good account of themselves. The event may have been one of the few venues where they could show their skills and passion. People just visiting Eastwood Mall during the weekend who watched the fighters, witnessed the enormous technical mastery in strikes, wrestling and ground game that it takes even at the amateur level to win.

Rexona gave a boost to MMA and boxing by creating a venue for practitioners to compete. The first ever ABS CBN Sports & Action- Rexona Fight Expo was held last November 8, 2014 at the Eastwood City Open Area. Photo by Jude Bautista

3 Champs from left: ‘King Arthur’ Villanueva- Int’l Super Flyweight Champ, : Genesis ‘Azukal’ Servania -WBO Intercontinental Super Bantamweight Champ and Jason ‘El Niño’ Pagara WBO Intl Light Welterweight. The first ever ABS CBN Sports & Action- Rexona Fight Expo was held last November 8, 2014 at the Eastwood City Open Area. Photo by Jude Bautista

3 Boxing Champs + UFC Fighter Carlos Condit

If all the action wasn’t enough for you 3 Pinoy boxing champs: Genesis ‘Azukal’ Servania -WBO Intercontinental Super Bantamweight Champ, ‘King Arthur’ Villanueva– Int’l Super Flyweight Champ and Jason ‘El Niño’ Pagara WBO Intl Light Welterweight were also there. They not only had a meet and greet but shared their warm up, stretching exercises with participants.

Carlos Condit former UFC Interim Welterweight champion and WEC Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit had a meet and greet session with fans in Eastwood Mall. The first ever ABS CBN Sports & Action- Rexona Fight Expo was held last November 8, 2014 at the Eastwood City Open Area. Photo by Jude Bautista

Not long after former UFC Interim Welterweight champion, WEC Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit, had a meet and greet session with fans. The day was a huge success with a bona fide UFC star in Condit touching base with his Filipino supporters. Condit was able to pose with super fan Ari Repalda and son Red.

RUN TO YOUR BEAT is the premiere running event in the country
Photo from official Rexona Philippines facebook

Rexona / Unilever Sports and beyond

Rexona has been a very active brand in sports development in the Philippines. UNILEVER the company that produces Rexona has a commitment to sports that can be seen through out their personal care brands.

RUN TO YOUR BEAT is the premiere running event in the country
Photo from official Rexona Philippines facebook

For several years now Rexona also supports and organizes RUN TO YOUR BEAT, which is the premiere running event in the country combining a widespread sport with music. Last June there was the CLEAR DREAM MATCH that brought Manchester United legendary players Andy Cole and Paul Schole. The exhibition match has been led by superstar footballers Phil & James Younghusband.

Followed by the Master Game Face Challenge where Chris Tiu and Marc Pingris led all stars from the PBA, NCAA and UAAP in an exhibition match. The Master Game Face Challenge also brought in NBA player Kevin Love for a half time exhibition show/skills challenge.

Unilever however has far more brands than just REXONA, Master Facial Wash or CLEAR shampoo. Under the personal care branch are: Eskinol, Dove, Vaseline, Cream Silk, Tresemmé, AXE, Block & White and Pepsodent.

They produce popular home care products such as: Surf, Domex & Cif.

Rexona is only one of many top brands under the UNILEVER, AXE is also one of the successful brands in the personal care category.
Photo from official AXE Philippines facebook.

In their food products division is one of my favorite homegrown Pinoy ice cream brands of all time: Selecta. The food division also includes kitchen essentials like: Knorr, Lady’s Choice, Best Foods. And top selling tea and iced tea mix: Lipton.

Condit poses with Pinay fan who shoots a selfie. The first ever ABS CBN Sports & Action- Rexona Fight Expo was held last November 8, 2014 at the Eastwood City Open Area. Photo by Jude Bautista

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3 Champs share their warm up and stretching techniques. The first ever ABS CBN Sports & Action- Rexona Fight Expo was held last November 8, 2014 at the Eastwood City Open Area. Photo by Jude Bautista

IN THE CLINCH MMA Lightweight- Oyo Cruz of Xtreme Boxing Gym (blue) wins over Dik Lopez of Spartacus by split decision. The first ever ABS CBN Sports & Action- Rexona Fight Expo was held last November 8, 2014 at the Eastwood City Open Area. Photo by Jude Bautista

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Corner of Welterweight Carl Jose Lalu of Tiger MMA (red) wins over Ken Menia of Espinosa MMA by split decision. The first ever ABS CBN Sports & Action- Rexona Fight Expo was held last November 8, 2014 at the Eastwood City Open Area. Photo by Jude Bautista

from left: Genesis ‘Azukal’ Servania -WBO Intercontinental Super Bantamweight Champ and ‘King Arthur’ Villanueva- Int’l Super Flyweight Champ. The first ever ABS CBN Sports & Action- Rexona Fight Expo was held last November 8, 2014 at the Eastwood City Open Area. Photo by Jude Bautista

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Carl Jose Lalu of Tiger MMA (red) on top and in the guard of Ken Menia of Espinosa MMA. The first ever ABS CBN Sports & Action- Rexona Fight Expo was held last November 8, 2014 at the Eastwood City Open Area. Photo by Jude Bautista

Carlos Condit poses with Pinay fan. The first ever ABS CBN Sports & Action- Rexona Fight Expo was held last November 8, 2014 at the Eastwood City Open Area. Photo by Jude Bautista

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Fight fan works the punch-testing machine for free at the first ever ABS CBN Sports & Action- Rexona Fight Expo. It was held last November 8, 2014 at the Eastwood City Open Area. Photo by Jude Bautista

Dik Lopez of Spartacus lands right hook on Oyo Cruz of Xtreme Boxing Gym. The first ever ABS CBN Sports & Action- Rexona Fight Expo was held last November 8, 2014 at the Eastwood City Open Area. Photo by Jude Bautista

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Ken Menia of Espinosa MMA (blue) lands a leg kick on Carl Jose Lalu of Tiger MMA (red) The first ever ABS CBN Sports & Action- Rexona Fight Expo was held last November 8, 2014 at the Eastwood City Open Area. Photo by Jude Bautista

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