By Carlos Costa

Tough-as-nails Filipino featherweight boxer Renerio Arizala is fast recuperating strength after the successful brain surgery that he underwent following his sixth-round knockout lost to Japanese Tsuyoshi Tameda ten days at ago at the Osanbashi Hall, Yokohama, Japan.

Thankfully, the 24-year-old Renerio is already talking, moving his arms, drinking without any help his favorite energy drink Pocari Swat, and even beginning to walk, which underlines the perfect accuracy of his boxing ring nickname, “The Amazing.”

Indeed, it is amazing how speedy the young Filipino boxer born in the Town of San Pascual in the island province of Masbate in Luzon’s Bicol Region is recuperating.     The encouraging progress triggers hopes that strong Renerio might be able to travel back to his home in the Philippines as fast as possible, hopefully, next week.  Of course, it all depends on Renerio’s doctors in Japan.

In the meantime, the good news fills the hearts of the Filipino boxing community with hope and joy.

Renerio’s family, his many friends and the whole Pinoy boxing family can thank God for having their boy getting so much better so unexpectedly quick.

The feeling of appreciation goes as well to the neurosurgeon doctors in Yokohama for a flawless brain operation, and there should be a place in the hearts for a Japanese man of boxing Kei Nidaira who has been heartfully caring for Renerio Arizala during these most difficult days of his life.

Once again, life teach us that it is in the roughest of situations when we can see who bears goodness in his heart, and who does not care.

It is true that without warning Japan brutally attacked the Philippines during WW II.  But that is the past.    Through the years wounds have been healed and, today Kei Nidaira, a Japanese man, cares for the Filipino boxer in deep trouble.  And the Nippon kind man does that with kindness, without asking for anything in return; and that feeling is so beautiful so as the recuperation of Renerio Arizala.

Days ago, Nidaira promised Renerio to give him a pair of brand new sports clothes and rubber shoes so that he could wear them to walk.    Renerio got his shoes, just as Kei promised, and the young man is now even more motivated to wear them.. to stand up and walk again!

That is why during the past hours, Filipino men of boxing from all over the county have been saying thanks in social media to Kei Nidaira for his kindness and his good heart.

By far the most eloquent words of appreciation have come from veteran Manila boxing promoter Dante Almario, who wrote in Kei Nidaira facebook page:

“Kei Nidaira san…   On behalf of all Filipino boxers, promoters, managers, trainers, matchmakers, and boxing stakeholders ..we would like to say…THANK YOU SO MUCH (DOMO ARIGATO) for assisting and supporting Filipino boxer Renerio Gemino Arizala, who is still at Yokohama Hospital recuperating with speedy recovery after the successful brain operation/surgery…  Salamat po sa lahat ng tumutulong sa ating magiting na boksingero…  God bless always.”