Veteran Tagle is the 'underdog'
Erwin Tagle, despite being the more experienced fighter, will come in as the underdog on Saturday when he challenges Ale Cali for the latter’s flyweight title in Pacific X-treme Combat (PXC) 34 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Tagle is considered one of the pioneers of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in the Philippines, retiring early almost 10 years ago, when little interest in the sport was shown during its early stages in the country. He said he became discouraged from continuing to fight after he was not paid by a promoter for an event in Pasay City. He then shifted to head coach and trainer at Submission Sports Gym in Quezon City, and lent his expertise as a commentator at PXC-organized fights. “When PXC came to the Philippines they asked me if I want to come out of my retirement and fight, I was hesitant at first and told them: ‘I just want to watch your fights first.’ They then offered me to be a fight analyst,” said Tagle, who added that PXC promoter EJ Calvo even offered ...