?WHO wants to oil the midgets??

The voice of James the announcer boomed on the microphone. It took some prodding, but we finally managed to cajole two of our female friends out of their seats and towards the boxing ring, where they gingerly squirted two little people with oil.

Soon, the oiled men were rolling around the ring as everyone else cheered them on.

Later, another friend refereed two female boxers who wore oversized boxing gloves. The punches didn?t look like they hurt. It was clear?in this boxing ring, the goal is entertainment, not violence.

Sparring fun

It was a typical Thursday night at Ringside, a bar in Burgos Avenue, Makati, whose main attraction is a boxing ring. Every night is a different night for sparring fun?lady boxing on Mondays, lady boxing and lady oil wrestling on Tuesdays, midget boxing and lady boxing on Wednesdays, lady boxing and midget oil wrestling on Thursdays, beautiful boxers on Fridays, lady oil wrestling on Saturdays and lady boxing on Sundays.

And?the audience is drawn to be involved; they can choose either to help oil the fighters, referee, or even join the fight themselves.

Between matches, dancers take over the ring and begin long choreographed numbers set to thumping music.

Good food

Strangely, for a bar smacked in the middle of Makati?s red light district, Ringside didn?t feel that sleazy. A lot of people feel the same way too, apparently. Ringside customers include not just red light district habitues, but also celebrities and barkadas who are after a different kind of fun. Even famous striptease artist Dita Von Teese stopped by on her trip here last year.

Naturally, people go to Ringside to drink. Local beer and softdrinks are P160, special drinks like the Jager Bum and Margaritas at P350. And the food is good too. Must-tries include the Buffalo Wings (P354), All Star Nachos (P336), Hungarian Sausage (P384), Chicken Bbq Pizza (P540) and Veggie Pizza (P540). They also serve regular bar chow?everything from gambas and calamari to quesadillas and loaded potato skins.

Flor dela Cruz, Ringside?s operations manager, is proud of what the place has to offer. ?Ringside is also home to Ana Marie Garbo, winner of an international pole-dancing competition. She won against dancers from Japan, Russia, Singapore and others. We also have a lot of theme parties.?

Events manager Lui Silvestre plans these special events. ?We call these events Ringside Fever. We?ve had blackout parties, laser parties, DJ competitions, we had a dragon dance competition during Chinese New Year.?

Clearly, there?s a lot of fun tat Ringside?whether you want just to eat or drink, oil the midgets or even fight in the matches. Just leave political correctness outside the door.

Ringside, 4853 Kalayaan corner P. Burgos St., Makati City, opens at 8 p.m. everyday. For more info and reservations, call 8997106.