Former national amateur boxer Rolando Magbanua takes the big break of his young career when he meets the veteran Ratanachai Sor Vorapin in a 10-round non-title bout in Cebu City Nov. 30.
The fight, staged by Cebu City promoter Sammy Gelloani, is part of Vorapin's comeback following a knockout loss suffered in the hands of Michael Domingo in his defense of his World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental bantamweight title earlier this year.
But while the Thai former world superbantamweight champion holds a distinct advantage because of his vast experience with almost 80 professional fights, at 31, he will be 8 years older than the righthanded Magbanua who hails from Pigcawayan town in North Cotabato and one of the promising boxers of the Braveheart Boxing Club owned by Vice Gov. Manny Pinol.
Magbanua, who holds the monicker "Smooth Operator" because of his fluid boxing style fine-tuned by Cuban coach Honorato Espinosa, stands 5' 5" and holds a clean record of 11 wins in 11 pro fights with 7 knockouts.
In his last fight, it took Magbanua only a 1:30 minutes in the first round to dispose of Thai Petchamchai Sithsoei pummelling the foreign fighter with tremendous body punches before connecting with a crisp uppercut that sent the latter crashing through the ropes.
The fight with Vorapin will be Magbanua's biggest bout since turning pro three years ago. He recently dropped out of college to concentrate on his boxing career.
The fight with Vorapin was initially offered by Gelloani to jr. featherweight Reynaldo Belandres (9 wins, 7 KOs, 1 draw) but he could not go down to 120 lbs. which is the weight limit Vorapin would like to fight in.
Belandres, 23, a legitimate jr. featherweight called "Boy of Steel," is also set to appear in another bout in the undercard of the Vorapin-Magbanua bout.
Belandres' last fight against veteran Jun Eraham for the Phil. Boxing Federation (PBF) jr. featherweight title ended in a draw after he suffered a cut in the 4th round.
10/30/08
OLYMPIC GOLD IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME
Braveheart
By Manny Pinol
for philboxing.com/thepinoyboxers.com
OLYMPIC GOLD IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME
There is a new sense of hope and optimism that engulfs people involved deeply with amateur boxing with the ascension of new and respectable faces to the hierarchy of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP).
There is the sports patron Manny V. Pangilinan, owner of the country's largest telecommunications corporation, PLDT Smart, who assumes the chairmanship of the board of trustees, and his trusted ally, Ricky Vargas, who takes over the ABAP presidency.
It is also expected that when the Vargas group takes over the ABAP in January next year, the grip of the Fortaleza cabal that choked the development of the sport due to favoritism and self-interest would finally come to an end with the appointment of Patrick "Pato" Gregorio as the new ABAP Secretary General.
The presence of Manny Lopez as ABAP vice president will hardly matter by then. I am convinced that Ricky Vargas will not allow himself to become a stooge of Lopez because then he will have to reckon with his boss, the ABAP chairman, MVP, as they call Manny V. Pangilinan through his initials.
The change that has long been dreamed of by those involved in amateur boxing simply because they love the sport is finally dawning.
Never mind the process used in effecting the changes. This is one instance where the Machiavellian doctrine of "the end justifies the means" takes a positive face.
You see, there was no way Pangilinan and his people would have qualified for the positions they occupy now had the old ABAP rules on elections been followed to the letter. In fact, the Lopez group effectively blocked the effort to field former congressman Tonyboy Floreindo for the ABAP presidency by refusing to acknowledge his election three years ago as Region XI chairman.
But obviously what they did before the elections last Wednesday was to convene the 17-man board of trustees of ABAP and amend its by-laws creating three more board of trustee seats which they gave to Pangilinan and Vargas, representing the private sector and Philippine Sports Commission Chairman (PSC) chairman Butch Ramirez as Region XI representative.
With the amendment approved and adopted, the elections were held and voila! we now have a new leadership in the ABAP.
That deft maneuver speaks of the kind of leadership Lopez wielded in the ABAP -- invoke the rules when they protect his turf (as when they shut the door on Floreindo) and bend the rules when his interests are at stake (as in bargaining for the position of vice president just so he would qualify to run for vice president of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).
Thank God that kind of leadership has finally found its end.
I talked to Ricky Vargas yesterday by phone facilitated by Pato Gregorio and I heard from the other end of the line the voice of a person who seemed eager to learn rather than ready to impose.
His first move? To call all amateur boxing stakeholders to a consultation in Bacolod City in December shortly before the 2nd National Open for this year sponsored by PLDT Smart to learn from them and chart a new and reinvigorated direction for amateur boxing in the country.
This is the trait of a person, call him a leader, who realizes that the position that he has now does not give him the license to assume that he alone knows what it takes to realize the cherished dream of a people for the first Olympic gold.
People who think that as leaders they alone have the intellect to determine what is right become despots. And despots have always failed and thrown to the wastebasket of society.
With the vast resources of PLDT Smart, all that Pangilinan and Vargas need now to win the Olympic gold is to reach out to people who really love the sport, launch a national search program, upgrade the capabilities of local trainers and implement a national training program for young talents who have the potentials to be Olympians.
At the national level, it would be good if the ABAP leadership could convince Malacanang to issue an Presidential Order directing the different Regional Development Councils (RDC) to adopt amateur boxing as a priority sports program with the aim of winning the Olympic gold.
When these things are done, it will just be a matter of time when we hit the bullseye.
It could happen in 2012 or maybe 2016. But with the right aim, sufficient bullets and a target shooter who draws energy and inspiration from the fact that the crowd is supporting him are all that we need to realize that national dream of winning our first gold in the Games will not be a matter of luck but just a matter of time.
By Manny Pinol
for philboxing.com/thepinoyboxers.
OLYMPIC GOLD IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME
There is a new sense of hope and optimism that engulfs people involved deeply with amateur boxing with the ascension of new and respectable faces to the hierarchy of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP).
There is the sports patron Manny V. Pangilinan, owner of the country's largest telecommunications corporation, PLDT Smart, who assumes the chairmanship of the board of trustees, and his trusted ally, Ricky Vargas, who takes over the ABAP presidency.
It is also expected that when the Vargas group takes over the ABAP in January next year, the grip of the Fortaleza cabal that choked the development of the sport due to favoritism and self-interest would finally come to an end with the appointment of Patrick "Pato" Gregorio as the new ABAP Secretary General.
The presence of Manny Lopez as ABAP vice president will hardly matter by then. I am convinced that Ricky Vargas will not allow himself to become a stooge of Lopez because then he will have to reckon with his boss, the ABAP chairman, MVP, as they call Manny V. Pangilinan through his initials.
The change that has long been dreamed of by those involved in amateur boxing simply because they love the sport is finally dawning.
Never mind the process used in effecting the changes. This is one instance where the Machiavellian doctrine of "the end justifies the means" takes a positive face.
You see, there was no way Pangilinan and his people would have qualified for the positions they occupy now had the old ABAP rules on elections been followed to the letter. In fact, the Lopez group effectively blocked the effort to field former congressman Tonyboy Floreindo for the ABAP presidency by refusing to acknowledge his election three years ago as Region XI chairman.
But obviously what they did before the elections last Wednesday was to convene the 17-man board of trustees of ABAP and amend its by-laws creating three more board of trustee seats which they gave to Pangilinan and Vargas, representing the private sector and Philippine Sports Commission Chairman (PSC) chairman Butch Ramirez as Region XI representative.
With the amendment approved and adopted, the elections were held and voila! we now have a new leadership in the ABAP.
That deft maneuver speaks of the kind of leadership Lopez wielded in the ABAP -- invoke the rules when they protect his turf (as when they shut the door on Floreindo) and bend the rules when his interests are at stake (as in bargaining for the position of vice president just so he would qualify to run for vice president of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).
Thank God that kind of leadership has finally found its end.
I talked to Ricky Vargas yesterday by phone facilitated by Pato Gregorio and I heard from the other end of the line the voice of a person who seemed eager to learn rather than ready to impose.
His first move? To call all amateur boxing stakeholders to a consultation in Bacolod City in December shortly before the 2nd National Open for this year sponsored by PLDT Smart to learn from them and chart a new and reinvigorated direction for amateur boxing in the country.
This is the trait of a person, call him a leader, who realizes that the position that he has now does not give him the license to assume that he alone knows what it takes to realize the cherished dream of a people for the first Olympic gold.
People who think that as leaders they alone have the intellect to determine what is right become despots. And despots have always failed and thrown to the wastebasket of society.
With the vast resources of PLDT Smart, all that Pangilinan and Vargas need now to win the Olympic gold is to reach out to people who really love the sport, launch a national search program, upgrade the capabilities of local trainers and implement a national training program for young talents who have the potentials to be Olympians.
At the national level, it would be good if the ABAP leadership could convince Malacanang to issue an Presidential Order directing the different Regional Development Councils (RDC) to adopt amateur boxing as a priority sports program with the aim of winning the Olympic gold.
When these things are done, it will just be a matter of time when we hit the bullseye.
It could happen in 2012 or maybe 2016. But with the right aim, sufficient bullets and a target shooter who draws energy and inspiration from the fact that the crowd is supporting him are all that we need to realize that national dream of winning our first gold in the Games will not be a matter of luck but just a matter of time.
10/22/08
Grassroots boxing program transform North Cotabato into a virtual gold mine for outstanding pros
Kidapawan City - A grassroots boxing program started in 1998 in the Province of North Cotabato has transformed this agricultural province in Central Mindanao into a virtual gold mine for outstanding professional boxers.
The program called "Paboksing Para sa Masa" (Boxing for the Masses), has already produced seven top professional fighters, one of whom is already in the United States signed up by Bob Arum's Top Rank Promotions.
Started by then Governor Manny Pinol (now Vice Governor of the Province), the program involved the conduct of amateur boxing competitions during village and town fiestas where barefoot kids are allowed to trade punches for three rounds with the winner receiving P100 (roughly $2.25) and the loser P50.
The winner also enjoys the benefit of a free high school education should he be recruited by a team of scouts led by Vice Gov. Pinol's brothers, Noli who is a boxing trainer, and Socrates, now a board member, along with Dante Lerio, brother of Olympians Arlan and Danilo.
In 2003, in an effort to improve the level of competency among local boxing trainers, then Governor Pinol made a trip to Havana, Cuba along with his friend, Recah Trinidad, the Inquirer sports columnist, and recruited a Cuban boxing coach, Honorato Espinosa, 65, who holds the honor of having produced the world boxing power's first Olympic gold in Munich.
Espinosa stayed in the country for 18 months and conducted boxing clinics for local trainers not only in North Cotabato but also in other provinces in the country, including Bohol.
The Cuban coach's influence is shown today by the good boxing postures and tremendous body punching skills of the North Cotabato professional boxers.
In the last boxing event held Oct. 19, three of the top professional boxers of North Cotabato disposed of their opponents through vicious body punching.
Top junior featherweight prospect and former national amateur team member Rolando Magbanua, fighting before a hometown crowd in Pigcawayan last Sunday, banged Thai Yothchailek Sithsoei's midsection four times to probe for a chink in his opponent's armor.
As the Thai tried to cover his body, Magbanua saw an opening and unleashed a beautifully executed right uppercut that caught Yotchailek neat on the jaw sending him crashing through the ropes for a full 10 count with barely 1:30 minutes into the first round of a 10 round bout.
Magbanua, 23, called "Smooth Operator", is now 11 wins with 7 knockouts and is being primed for a crack at the Philippine junior featherweight title.
Nineteen-year-old Rommel Asenjo, fondly called "My Little Assassin" by his handlers, had to go through a more rigorous fight against a taller and talented young Thai fighter, Dechailek Sithsoei, taking some good rights as he pursued the foreign boxer with powerful body punches.
Asenjo floored Dechailek with a stunning left to the jaw but the Thai came back using his long reach in tagging the Filipino southpaw before going down to the canvas for good in the 5th round after receiving punishing body blows.
Asenjo, a miniflyweight and a favorite of Cuban coach Espinosa, is now 9 wins with 7 KOs against 2 losses both by decision.
Body punching also helped Glenn "The Rock" Porras, 23, score a first round knockout against Surigao del Sur's Rolando Malinao.
Porras, a southpaw, floored Malinao early in the fight with combinations to the body and the head but the latter came back and pummelled Porras with powerful combinations sending the North Cotabato boxer defending himself in the ropes.
A well-timed left to the midsection caught Malinao in the solar plexus chopping him down. He fell like timber for a full 10 count. Porras is now 18 wins with 14 KOs against 2 losses by decision.
The other outstanding boxers from North Cotabato greatly influenced by the Cuban fighting style are featherweight Glenn "Rapid Fire" Gonzales, 23, (7 wins, 4 KOs, 1 draw), bantamweight Jundy "Pretty Boy" Maraon, 23, originally from Zamboanga del Sur (10 wins, 8 KOs, 1 draw), jr. featherweight Reynaldo "Boy of Steel" Belandres, 23, (9 wins, 7 KOs, 1 draw), featherweight Lorenzo "Thunderbolt" Villanueva, 22, (9 wins, 9 KOs) and jr. flyweight Edrin "The Sting" Dapudong, 23, (12 wins, 6 KOs, 2 losses).
What makes the North Cotabato boxing program exciting is the fact that there are other young professional boxers in the 4-round and 6-round categories who are showing a lot of potentials, including another Cuban coach Espinosa favorte Jermie Jabel, 5' 5" an 18-year-old miniflyweight who has a record of 6 wins with 4 KOs and bantamweight Rey Juntilla, 20, (6 wins 4 KOs).
About 20 more amateur boxers aged 14 to 18 who are all being sent to high school by Vice Governor Pinol are now quartered in his farm in Paco awaiting for the day when they too will try their luck in the pro league.
"They have to go through the virtual eye of the needle," said Vice Gov. Pinol emphasizing that discipline, courage, strength and the willingness to sacrifice are demanded from the young boxers before they are allowed to turn pro.
Those who do not make it to the pro league are encouraged to pursue a college degree under the provincial scholarship program.
"The professionals are now showing their talents, the young amateurs are going to tough crucibles while barefoot boys in the farflung villages are being given the chance to display their potentials," said Vice Gov. Pinol.
With this program, the Vice Governor believes North Cotabato will become a virtual gold mine of future boxing talents who will dominate Philippine boxing in the years to come.
The program called "Paboksing Para sa Masa" (Boxing for the Masses), has already produced seven top professional fighters, one of whom is already in the United States signed up by Bob Arum's Top Rank Promotions.
Started by then Governor Manny Pinol (now Vice Governor of the Province), the program involved the conduct of amateur boxing competitions during village and town fiestas where barefoot kids are allowed to trade punches for three rounds with the winner receiving P100 (roughly $2.25) and the loser P50.
The winner also enjoys the benefit of a free high school education should he be recruited by a team of scouts led by Vice Gov. Pinol's brothers, Noli who is a boxing trainer, and Socrates, now a board member, along with Dante Lerio, brother of Olympians Arlan and Danilo.
In 2003, in an effort to improve the level of competency among local boxing trainers, then Governor Pinol made a trip to Havana, Cuba along with his friend, Recah Trinidad, the Inquirer sports columnist, and recruited a Cuban boxing coach, Honorato Espinosa, 65, who holds the honor of having produced the world boxing power's first Olympic gold in Munich.
Espinosa stayed in the country for 18 months and conducted boxing clinics for local trainers not only in North Cotabato but also in other provinces in the country, including Bohol.
The Cuban coach's influence is shown today by the good boxing postures and tremendous body punching skills of the North Cotabato professional boxers.
In the last boxing event held Oct. 19, three of the top professional boxers of North Cotabato disposed of their opponents through vicious body punching.
Top junior featherweight prospect and former national amateur team member Rolando Magbanua, fighting before a hometown crowd in Pigcawayan last Sunday, banged Thai Yothchailek Sithsoei's midsection four times to probe for a chink in his opponent's armor.
As the Thai tried to cover his body, Magbanua saw an opening and unleashed a beautifully executed right uppercut that caught Yotchailek neat on the jaw sending him crashing through the ropes for a full 10 count with barely 1:30 minutes into the first round of a 10 round bout.
Magbanua, 23, called "Smooth Operator", is now 11 wins with 7 knockouts and is being primed for a crack at the Philippine junior featherweight title.
Nineteen-year-old Rommel Asenjo, fondly called "My Little Assassin" by his handlers, had to go through a more rigorous fight against a taller and talented young Thai fighter, Dechailek Sithsoei, taking some good rights as he pursued the foreign boxer with powerful body punches.
Asenjo floored Dechailek with a stunning left to the jaw but the Thai came back using his long reach in tagging the Filipino southpaw before going down to the canvas for good in the 5th round after receiving punishing body blows.
Asenjo, a miniflyweight and a favorite of Cuban coach Espinosa, is now 9 wins with 7 KOs against 2 losses both by decision.
Body punching also helped Glenn "The Rock" Porras, 23, score a first round knockout against Surigao del Sur's Rolando Malinao.
Porras, a southpaw, floored Malinao early in the fight with combinations to the body and the head but the latter came back and pummelled Porras with powerful combinations sending the North Cotabato boxer defending himself in the ropes.
A well-timed left to the midsection caught Malinao in the solar plexus chopping him down. He fell like timber for a full 10 count. Porras is now 18 wins with 14 KOs against 2 losses by decision.
The other outstanding boxers from North Cotabato greatly influenced by the Cuban fighting style are featherweight Glenn "Rapid Fire" Gonzales, 23, (7 wins, 4 KOs, 1 draw), bantamweight Jundy "Pretty Boy" Maraon, 23, originally from Zamboanga del Sur (10 wins, 8 KOs, 1 draw), jr. featherweight Reynaldo "Boy of Steel" Belandres, 23, (9 wins, 7 KOs, 1 draw), featherweight Lorenzo "Thunderbolt" Villanueva, 22, (9 wins, 9 KOs) and jr. flyweight Edrin "The Sting" Dapudong, 23, (12 wins, 6 KOs, 2 losses).
What makes the North Cotabato boxing program exciting is the fact that there are other young professional boxers in the 4-round and 6-round categories who are showing a lot of potentials, including another Cuban coach Espinosa favorte Jermie Jabel, 5' 5" an 18-year-old miniflyweight who has a record of 6 wins with 4 KOs and bantamweight Rey Juntilla, 20, (6 wins 4 KOs).
About 20 more amateur boxers aged 14 to 18 who are all being sent to high school by Vice Governor Pinol are now quartered in his farm in Paco awaiting for the day when they too will try their luck in the pro league.
"They have to go through the virtual eye of the needle," said Vice Gov. Pinol emphasizing that discipline, courage, strength and the willingness to sacrifice are demanded from the young boxers before they are allowed to turn pro.
Those who do not make it to the pro league are encouraged to pursue a college degree under the provincial scholarship program.
"The professionals are now showing their talents, the young amateurs are going to tough crucibles while barefoot boys in the farflung villages are being given the chance to display their potentials," said Vice Gov. Pinol.
With this program, the Vice Governor believes North Cotabato will become a virtual gold mine of future boxing talents who will dominate Philippine boxing in the years to come.
Pigcawayan fighters dominate Thai opponents
Pigcawayan, North Cotabato - Junior featherweight Rolando Magbanua and mini-flyweight Rommel Asenjo more than lived up to their townmates' expectations after scoring impressive victories against their Thai opponents in this frontier town of about 60,000 people Sunday, October 19.
Magbanua, known as "The Smooth Operator," easily disposed of Yodchamchai Sithsoie with successive body punches followed by a mean uppercut which brought the Thai fighter down to the canvass at 1:29 in the 1st round of their 10-round non-title match.
It took a few minutes before Yodchamchai could recover from the effect of Magbanua's powerful punches.
The former national amateur team member, who comes from Poblacion 2 in this town, improved his still unblemished professional record to 11 wins and 7 knockouts with his TKO victory over Yodchamchai.
Asenjo meanwhile scored a knockout against the much taller Denchailek Sithsoie at 2:50 in the 5th round of their own 10-round non-title fight.
The southpaw Asenjo, who is from Bolacaon 2 here, showed the crowd early in the fight why he is called "Little Assassin" when he brought Denchailek down with a punch to the Thai's jaw 1 minute into the first round.
With his win, Asenjo avenged his controversial points loss to Denchailek's stablemate in Thailand in February this year.
He now has a 9-2 win-loss record with 7 knockouts.
In the undercard matches, top Philippine bantamweight contender Glenn Porras scored a knockout over Roldan Malinao of Butuan City at 1:25 in the 1st round of their 10-round fight.
Light-flyweight Jermie Jabel, another Pigcawayan native, also wowed his cheering townmates who filled the municipal gymnasium to the rafters with his 1st round knockout win over Jimboy Jacinto of Bislig City in their 6-round match.
Rey Juntilla, another very promising bantamweight of the Braveheart Boxing Club, completely dominated Bernard Amper of J. Elorde Stable of Manila in their 6-round bout to score a unanimous decision in his favor.
The professional boxing event dubbed "Bakbakan sa Pigcawayan" was part of the fiesta celebration of the town which only recently was one of the areas affected by the conflict between the government and a rebel group.
In his message during the short opening program North Cotabato Vice Gov. Manny Piñol said the event is a way of showing to everybody that life is back to normal in North Cotabato.
Pigcawayan Mayor Herminio Roquero meanwhile thanked Vice Gov. Piñol, who also manages the Braveheart Boxing Club, for giving the people of Pigcawayan the opportunity to see the two outstanding fighters in action against foreign opponents.
Magbanua, known as "The Smooth Operator," easily disposed of Yodchamchai Sithsoie with successive body punches followed by a mean uppercut which brought the Thai fighter down to the canvass at 1:29 in the 1st round of their 10-round non-title match.
It took a few minutes before Yodchamchai could recover from the effect of Magbanua's powerful punches.
The former national amateur team member, who comes from Poblacion 2 in this town, improved his still unblemished professional record to 11 wins and 7 knockouts with his TKO victory over Yodchamchai.
Asenjo meanwhile scored a knockout against the much taller Denchailek Sithsoie at 2:50 in the 5th round of their own 10-round non-title fight.
The southpaw Asenjo, who is from Bolacaon 2 here, showed the crowd early in the fight why he is called "Little Assassin" when he brought Denchailek down with a punch to the Thai's jaw 1 minute into the first round.
With his win, Asenjo avenged his controversial points loss to Denchailek's stablemate in Thailand in February this year.
He now has a 9-2 win-loss record with 7 knockouts.
In the undercard matches, top Philippine bantamweight contender Glenn Porras scored a knockout over Roldan Malinao of Butuan City at 1:25 in the 1st round of their 10-round fight.
Light-flyweight Jermie Jabel, another Pigcawayan native, also wowed his cheering townmates who filled the municipal gymnasium to the rafters with his 1st round knockout win over Jimboy Jacinto of Bislig City in their 6-round match.
Rey Juntilla, another very promising bantamweight of the Braveheart Boxing Club, completely dominated Bernard Amper of J. Elorde Stable of Manila in their 6-round bout to score a unanimous decision in his favor.
The professional boxing event dubbed "Bakbakan sa Pigcawayan" was part of the fiesta celebration of the town which only recently was one of the areas affected by the conflict between the government and a rebel group.
In his message during the short opening program North Cotabato Vice Gov. Manny Piñol said the event is a way of showing to everybody that life is back to normal in North Cotabato.
Pigcawayan Mayor Herminio Roquero meanwhile thanked Vice Gov. Piñol, who also manages the Braveheart Boxing Club, for giving the people of Pigcawayan the opportunity to see the two outstanding fighters in action against foreign opponents.
10/15/08
Ring War in Davao on Oct.10 at Rizal Memorial Colleges
Jose Abad Santos mayor Alexander Wangkay, new WBC international super bantamweight champion Balweg Bangoyan, Davao City vice mayor Sara Duterte and Davao del Sur governor Douglas Cagas celebrate the victory.
Boxing commentators North Cotabato vice governor Manny Pinol and Joaquin Henson (center).
Guests from Holland.
Before the bouts.
10/10/08
WBC international bantamweight title fight on Friday night at RMC gym in Davao City
Jose Abad Santos mayor Alexander Wangkay holds the WBC internationalbantamweight belt at stake on Friday’s championships bout between
challenger Balweg Bangoyan (left) and champion Sande Otieno (right) of
Kenya at the RMC gym in Davao City.(DAVAO SPORTSWRITERS ASSN.)
WBC international bantamweight champion Sande Otieno during theweigh-in at Metro Lifestyle Fitness Center.(DAVAO SPORTSWRITERS ASSN.)
Challenger Balweg Bangoyan during the weigh-in, Thursday at Metro Lifestyle
Fitness Center in Davao City.(DAVAO SPORTSWRITERS ASSN.)
10/8/08
Bangoyan, WBC champion Otieno at Dwenzyl's Resort
Jose Abad Santos mayor Zhander Khan (extreme left) presents to themedia challenger Balweg Bangoyan and WBC international bantamweight
champion Sande Otieno of Kenya and trainer Paul Otieno on Monday night
at the Dwenzyl's Resort and Seafoods Restaurant. The championship
fight is on October 10 at the RMC gym.(DAVAO SPORTSWRITERS ASSN.)
Magbanua, Asenjo face Thais on Oct.19 in Pigcawayan
Pigcawayan, North Cotabato - This frontier town about 60,000 people, scene of many conflicts in the past, will experience a different kind of encounter -- a more exciting and enjoyable spectacle -- when two of its young boxers go up against opponents from Thailand at the municipal gymnasium here on Oct. 19.
Former national amateur team member Rolando Magbanua, a junior featherweight who has remained undefeated in a young professional career with 10 wins and 6 knockouts in his record, and the flashy and exciting Rommel Asenjo, former Palarong Pambansa gold medallist, will showcase their talents before their townmates on the even of Pigcawayan's town fiesta.
Magbanua, 22, who stopped veteran international campaigner Ruben Santillanosa in his last outing, will be going up against Thailand's Yodchamchai Sithsoei in a 10-round non-title main event of a card sponsored by the Association of Barangay Chairmen of Pigcawayan and the Sangguniang Kabataan of Barangay Capayuran.
Magbanua, called "Smooth Operator" because of his artful movements inside the ring, is one of the top prospects of the Braveheart Boxing Club of North Cotabato for an international title.
Asenjo, 19, on the other hand hopes to avenge his points loss in Thailand earlier this year as he takes on another Thai fighter Denchailek Sithsoei in another 10-round miniflyweight encounter.
Asenjo, a southpaw who is called "Little Assassin", holds a record of 8 wins with 6 knockouts as against 2 losses, both coming by decision in very close fights. One of that loss is a controversial points loss to a stablemate of Denchailek in February this year in Thailand.
North Cotabato Vice Governor Manny Pinol, who manages both Magbanua and Asenjo, said that fights of the two Pigcawayan boxers before the hometown crowd is part of the fiesta celebration of the town which only recently was one of the areas affected by the conflict between the government and a rebel group.
"This is our way of sowing to everybody that life is back to normal in North Cotabato," the vice governor said.
Pigcawayan Mayor Herminio Roquero said the whole town is excited over the prospect of seeing the two outstanding fighters get into action against foreign opponents.
In the undercard, top Philippine bantamweight contender Glenn Porras who is preparing for a crack at the Philippine title takes on a local opponent for 10 rounds.
At least 6 more professional fights and a long list of amateur bouts will be featured during the event promoted by Fortstone Sports Promotions of Board Member Soc Pinol.
Former national amateur team member Rolando Magbanua, a junior featherweight who has remained undefeated in a young professional career with 10 wins and 6 knockouts in his record, and the flashy and exciting Rommel Asenjo, former Palarong Pambansa gold medallist, will showcase their talents before their townmates on the even of Pigcawayan's town fiesta.
Magbanua, 22, who stopped veteran international campaigner Ruben Santillanosa in his last outing, will be going up against Thailand's Yodchamchai Sithsoei in a 10-round non-title main event of a card sponsored by the Association of Barangay Chairmen of Pigcawayan and the Sangguniang Kabataan of Barangay Capayuran.
Magbanua, called "Smooth Operator" because of his artful movements inside the ring, is one of the top prospects of the Braveheart Boxing Club of North Cotabato for an international title.
Asenjo, 19, on the other hand hopes to avenge his points loss in Thailand earlier this year as he takes on another Thai fighter Denchailek Sithsoei in another 10-round miniflyweight encounter.
Asenjo, a southpaw who is called "Little Assassin", holds a record of 8 wins with 6 knockouts as against 2 losses, both coming by decision in very close fights. One of that loss is a controversial points loss to a stablemate of Denchailek in February this year in Thailand.
North Cotabato Vice Governor Manny Pinol, who manages both Magbanua and Asenjo, said that fights of the two Pigcawayan boxers before the hometown crowd is part of the fiesta celebration of the town which only recently was one of the areas affected by the conflict between the government and a rebel group.
"This is our way of sowing to everybody that life is back to normal in North Cotabato," the vice governor said.
Pigcawayan Mayor Herminio Roquero said the whole town is excited over the prospect of seeing the two outstanding fighters get into action against foreign opponents.
In the undercard, top Philippine bantamweight contender Glenn Porras who is preparing for a crack at the Philippine title takes on a local opponent for 10 rounds.
At least 6 more professional fights and a long list of amateur bouts will be featured during the event promoted by Fortstone Sports Promotions of Board Member Soc Pinol.
10/7/08
`Ring War in Davao’ on Oct.10 at RMC gym
The WBC international bantamweight championship bout between champion Sande Otieno of Kenya and challenger Balweg Bangoyan of Jose Abad Santos, Davao del Sur is on October 10, 5:30 p.m., at the RMC gym.
Ticket prices are P150, P300, P500, P1,000 and P2,000.
Watch the exciting fight presented by ABC president Paolo Z. Duterte and ZK International Promotions.
The event is dubbed “Ring War in Davao”.
There will be a lot of surprises on Friday. Get your tickets now at the RMC gym or Fernandez Optical along Anda Street and look for Mrs.Adriano.
Thanks to Pagcor, BJ Marthel, Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte for the support!
The other backers are Fabian's Catering Services, BAMA Trading, Viajeros Economy Inn, JCR T-shirt Gallery and Printing Services, Aquabest, WOW!, Jollibee, Nice Hotel, MAXD Motors, Royal Mandaya Hotel, New Asia Restaurant, Metro Lifestyle Fitness Center, Grand Men Seng Hotel, Bangka Buffet ni Kuya Ed, Felis Resort Complex, Regency Inn, Apo View Hotel, DWENZYL Resort Seafoods Restaurant, Chippens, Banoks and Rico Yu Uy.
Porras, Magbanua score KO’s in Bakbakan sa M’lang
Bantamweight Glenn “The Rock” Porras improved his knockout record to 10 in 16 wins while Junior Featherweight Rolando Magbanua maintained his impressive no-loss record after both pummeled their opponents to submission in last Saturday’s “Bakbakan sa Mlang” at the M’lang Municipal Gymnasium.
Hometown hero Porras, who comes from Barangay Luz Village in M’lang, pounded Dondon Jimenea of General Santos City to submission in the 5th round of their 10 round non-title main event match.
Jimenea tried to frustrate the hard-hitting Porras with hit-and-run tactics but the latter’s strong body punches eventually took its toll on the cocky Jimenea who told his corner that he has had enough.
Magbanua meanwhile brought down Ruben Santillanosa of Upi, Shariff Kabungsuan in the 2nd round before finally scoring a TKO in the 4th.
The former RP boxing team member from Pigcawayan, North Cotabato showed little respect for his opponent who was billed as a veteran of several fights in Australia , scoring impressively with head and body punches against Santillanosa.
Magbanua improved his record to 10-0-0 with 6 knockouts while Santillanosa dropped to 7-16-2.
Young Rey Juntilla from Dalapitan, Matalam also scored an impressive 2nd round TKO against Charlie Lamela of Mangagoy in their 6-round Bantamweight match.
Juntilla now has a record of 5-0-0 with 3 knockouts.
Other winners, all scoring unanimous decisions, in the 7-fight event promoted by North Cotabato ABC Federation President Soc Piñol of Braveheart Sports Promotions were Edrin Dapudong who fought Julius Alcos of Cebu City (10 rds. - 108 lbs.), Jermie Jabel who battled Kenneth Parreño of Gen. Santos City (6 rds. - 108 lbs.), Randy Lagos of Lebak, Sultan Kudarat who faced Roy Taguibalos of Digos City (4 rds. – 115 lbs.) and Rey Mercado, also from Lebak, who went up against Elbert Guardario of Davao City (4 rds. – 105 lbs.).
Talented junior featherweight goes for PBF title on Oct.11 in Davao
One of the country's talented junior featherweights, the undefeated Reynaldo Belandres, takes his first crack at a national championship title when he goes up against the veteran Jun Eraham for the Philippine Boxing Federation (PBF) title Oct. 11 in Davao City.
Belandres, 21, a native of Dalapitan, Matalam, North Cotabato and a former member of the Philippine National Amateur Boxing Pool, holds an unblemished record of 9 wins with 7 knockouts in a young boxing career that started only a little over a year ago.
Eraham, 25, a tough veteran of many fights has a record of 8 wins against 15 losses and 2 draws and is considered by local boxing experts as a spoiler who relies on his vast experience inside the ring in his many difficult fights.
Belandres, however, has the distinct advantage of having sound boxing fundamentals which were polished by former Cotabato amateur boxing coach Honorato Espinosa of Cuba who stayed in the province for over one year.
While the PBF may not be as prestigious as the regular Philippine championship recognized by the Games and Amusements Board, it is nevertheless an important fight for the young Belandres.
"This is a coming out fight for Reynaldo Belandres," said his manager, North Cotabato Vice Governor Manny Pinol who has handled Belandres even during his days as an amateur fighter.
Vice Governor Pinol said a victory over Eraham could open the door for a possible championship fight against either Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista or Ciso "El Terible" Morales, who is also undefeated in his pro career.
"We're initially looking at these two top Filipino fighters to test the mettle of Reynaldo before we bring him the US for the big fights," he said.
Vice Gov. Pinol, however, said that the dreamed fight of Belandres against Bautista or Morales could only happen if the handlers of the two Cebu-based boxers would accept the challenge for either of them to defend their WBO titles against the North Cotabato fighter.
The Belandres-Eraham title fight is one of the main undercard of the World Boxing Council (WBC) superbantamweight International Championship between defending champion Sandy Otieno of Kenya and Davao City's Balweg Bangoyan.
The Otieno-Bangoyan championship bout, to be held at the RMC Gym in Davao City, will be aired on a delayed basis over NBN Channel 4 and is promoted by Jose Abad Santos, Davao del Sur Mayor Zander Khan.
Belandres, 21, a native of Dalapitan, Matalam, North Cotabato and a former member of the Philippine National Amateur Boxing Pool, holds an unblemished record of 9 wins with 7 knockouts in a young boxing career that started only a little over a year ago.
Eraham, 25, a tough veteran of many fights has a record of 8 wins against 15 losses and 2 draws and is considered by local boxing experts as a spoiler who relies on his vast experience inside the ring in his many difficult fights.
Belandres, however, has the distinct advantage of having sound boxing fundamentals which were polished by former Cotabato amateur boxing coach Honorato Espinosa of Cuba who stayed in the province for over one year.
While the PBF may not be as prestigious as the regular Philippine championship recognized by the Games and Amusements Board, it is nevertheless an important fight for the young Belandres.
"This is a coming out fight for Reynaldo Belandres," said his manager, North Cotabato Vice Governor Manny Pinol who has handled Belandres even during his days as an amateur fighter.
Vice Governor Pinol said a victory over Eraham could open the door for a possible championship fight against either Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista or Ciso "El Terible" Morales, who is also undefeated in his pro career.
"We're initially looking at these two top Filipino fighters to test the mettle of Reynaldo before we bring him the US for the big fights," he said.
Vice Gov. Pinol, however, said that the dreamed fight of Belandres against Bautista or Morales could only happen if the handlers of the two Cebu-based boxers would accept the challenge for either of them to defend their WBO titles against the North Cotabato fighter.
The Belandres-Eraham title fight is one of the main undercard of the World Boxing Council (WBC) superbantamweight International Championship between defending champion Sandy Otieno of Kenya and Davao City's Balweg Bangoyan.
The Otieno-Bangoyan championship bout, to be held at the RMC Gym in Davao City, will be aired on a delayed basis over NBN Channel 4 and is promoted by Jose Abad Santos, Davao del Sur Mayor Zander Khan.
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