SUICO, LAGUNA VICTORIOUS IN MASBATE TIFFS
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 25 Jun 2007
CATAINGAN, MASBATE--Apol Suico and Roel Laguna took contrasting wins at the "Paraksian San Kiray sa Khokak" last Sunday in a boxing event held as part of the three-day Bagat-Dagat Festival here.
The boxing card was part of the multi-event fiesta celebration sponsored by Congressman-elect Antonio Kho, Governor-elect Olga Kho and Cataingan Mayor-elect Wilton Kho at the family-owned Khokak Beach Resort, which is envisioned to become the next tourism destination in the region.
Suico, a protege of the Rex 'Wakee' Salud Stable, took the initiative early, dictating the pace of the action as opponent Jerry Manganip of Butuan City took the defensive stance against the power-punching knockout artist. The Cebu-based fighter, however, somehow wilted under the heat of the sun, and allowed Manganip to stay on his feet to make for an exciting fight.
Suico came on strong in the last round, enough for a unanimous decision verdict in a fight held at eleven in the morning.
In the chief support, former national amateur team mainstay Roel Laguna proved too much for Rico Genon, unleashing his vaunted arsenal for a fine technical knockout victory at the 2:04 mark of the fifth round.
Laguna used his superior lateral skills, and took off using his height advantage to keep Genon at bay, while delivering crisp body and head punches at will before referee Ben Necesario called a halt to the fight.
In the day's most appauded bout, Zamboanga's Nelson Llanos and Bato, Leyte's Janry Canete engaged in a no-tomorrow give-and-take that upstaged the sweltering heat of the sun.
Canete counter-punched and had his moments in the first three rounds, but slowed down thereafter as Llanos continued pressuring his shorter foe until Canete's corner literally threw in the towel at the 44-second mark of the sixth round.
RWS Stable's Darell Pucdol, a young prospect, knocked down Butuan's Romnick Rapista in the third round before eking out a unanimous decision verdict after six rounds.
In an explosive curtain-raiser, Jun Pangandoyon of RWS was tested to his limits by RH George of Mandaue before eking out a unanimous decision win after four rounds of non-stop action.
"Thank you so much for the support, we hope to achieve our goal for a peaceful, progressive and abundant province of Masbate," said Congressman Antonio Kho.
The 3-day 'Bagat-Dagat Festival,' held at the world-class Khokak Beach Resort, ran from June 22 to 24, and featured, aside from boxing, a 3-Cock Derby, nightly concert by Cebu bands, Dos Companeros and a Manila female group, a Bikini Open, Juego De Toro, Subiran Race, a fishing expedition, horse-fighting, horse-racing, beach volleyball, motocross, tug-of-war, suerto sa manok, cattle-dispersal and the popular 'carambola' featuring several fighting cocks let loose all at one time.
"We want to position Masbate as the tourism destination of the future. We have lined up several developments in this area, and we hope to see results in the near future," said incoming Cataingan Mayor Wilton Kho, who at 21 years of age, is probably the country's youngest mayor.
Top photo: Apol Suico (R) exchanges leathers with Butuan's Jerry Manganip.
Suico (L) attacks Manganip in this bit of action from Sunday's fight..
Roel Laguna (R) hits Rico Genon with a right cross.
In the day's most entertaining fight, Zamboanga's Nelson Llanos outpoints Leyte's Janrey Canete.
Horse fighting event.
Three teenagers battle it out for top honors in the horse racing event.
Youthful Cataingan mayor Tonton Kho (R) poses with PhilBoxing.com's Salven Lagumbay with the Kho Beach Resort as a background.
Locals try to catch and go home with a chicken.
Bikini open contestants pose for a souvenir photo.
Notes and Photos from Khokak
--The youthful Mayor Wilton 'Tonton' Kho took time out to tour this writer and Philboxing's Dong Secuya around the Khokak Beach Resort property, which will include, among other amenities, a convenience store and a golf course soon.
--The Saturday boxing event, slated in the evening, had to be cut short and moved to Sunday morning following a heavy downpour at Khokak. GAB sources say it made history as the first pro boxing event held right beside a beach and in broad daylight at that. The event was preceded by a 30-minute performance by the well-applauded Dos Compadres.
--Props to referee Ben Necesario, who maintained his poise despite almost three hours of non-stop refereeing under the heat of the sun. GAB sources say Necesario will receive a special award soon from promoter Rex 'Wakee' Salud, who could not make the trip despite personal invitation from Congressman Antonio Kho.
--Kudos to Dr Allen Ching of D' Barn fame for the hospitality. And to his able assistants, who made sure the boxers didn't starve.
--A trip to Khokak Beach Resort won't be complete without having to drop by what Mayor-elect Tonton Kho calls the pride and joy of his dad, the 10-branch coconut tree somewhere near the very famous Khokak Gamefarm.
--The plaza at the Khokak Beach Resort reminds me of UP's Sunken Garden. No surprise there, as Mayor-elect Tonton Kho is a UP grad. Now, will boxing matchmaker Willy Flores tell me who conceptualized that Oblation Run they had at Khokak?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
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