KIDAPAWAN BOXERS ARE DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 02 Jul 2007
KIDAPAWAN CITY -- "Today is a very significant day for me because I am ending my 9 years as a governor and it was 9 years ago that we had started our amateur boxing program," the outgoing governor of North Cotabato, Manny Pi?ol, told the media the day before the "Triple Trouble" boxing event.
The good governor then went on to praise his boxers which he nurtured since they were about 8, 9 years old to become amateur medalists and then had significant wins since entering the pro league. He also praised the Cuban coach Se?or Honorato Espinosa, who had stayed in the country for a year, for honing the skills of the boxers as well as the trainers.
"And now the time has come to showcase their skills. They are a testament to the success of our endeavor in North Cotabato," Manny Pi?ol said.
"Are they really good? Have you seen these boxers fight?," veteran referee Bruce McTavish threw the question at me. I told him "Nope, I am as interested to see how these boys would perform. Let's wait and see."
A day and twelve fights later, knockout after knockout and a fine display of boxing skills, our questions had definitely been answered.
Of the twelve bouts, the Pi?ol boys had only dropped one fight and there were at least 5 fighters that shone brightly that night.
Top photo: Reynaldo Belandres.
Rommel Asenjo (L) sends Noel Rosa to the canvas.
Glenn Porras (R) tags Indonesia's Marangin Marbun with a right cross from Saturday night's contest.
Edren Dapudong (foreground) walks away from the fallen Thai Sakmanee Sitkamnanchaliaw as referee Tony Pesons readies to administer the count.
New Zealand referee Bruce McTavish waves his hands to signal the end of the bout after Indonesia's Boido Simanjuntak was flattened by local boy Glenn Gonzales (R) in the first round.
Reynaldo Belandres (L) shows too much class against Isidro Balabat to notch a shutout victory after six rounds.
5. The diminutive Rommel Asenjo (3-0 3KOs), fighting as a minimumweight, strutted the confidence of a veteran to dispose Noel Rosa in the 3rd round.
4. Glenn Porras (11-1 6KOs) badly punished Indonesia's Marangin Marbun (10-2 5KOs) with well-timed counters and combinations throughout the night to capture the WBO Asia Pacific Youth Bantamweight Title with a lopsided decision win.
3. Edren Dapudong (7-1 4KOs) only got a point for a possible 6 from the 3 judges going into the 3rd round as Thai Sakmanee Sitkamnanchaliaw (8-3), a veteran Muay Thai fighter, beat him to the draw with body and head punches. But Dapudong displayed heart by going toe to toe with the Thai and dished out his own body attack that sent the game Sitkamnanchaliaw to the canvas two times, the last one for good at 2:46 of the 3rd round. Dapudong was awarded the WBO Asia Pacific Youth Minimumweight Title.
2. Glenn "Rapid Fire" Gonzales (6-0-1 4KOs) lived up to his monicker as he hit Indonesian Boydo Simanjuntak (11-4 4KOs) with a series of 6 unanswered head blows that sent the hapless Indonesian flat on his back at 2:03 of the first round. McTavish, who refereed the contest, would later comment that Simanjuntak was already out before he hit the canvas. Rapid Fire Gonzales is now the new WBO Asia Pacific Youth Featherweight champ.
1. The night's best review however has been reserved for Reynaldo Belandres (3-0 2KOs), nicknamed 'Boy of Steel' by promoter Soc Pi?ol. There was no title at stake in the 6-round encounter against Isidro Balabat of Bohol for Belandres nor were there knockdowns during the fight. But Belandres' awesome display of ring generalship, good balance and well-timed jabs and combos on the way to a shutout victory against Balabat was like poetry of motion and had everyone praising the 20-year-old local fighter. Although Balabat had lost his last 6 fights going into last Saturday's contest with Belandres, Balabat came in to fight as he always had when he fought and lost to a veritable up and coming names in the Philippine boxing scene: Jun Eraham, Eden Sonsona, Sonny Boy Jaro, Apol Suico and Bogie Delada. Balabat also fought and lost to reigning flyweight champ Pongsaklek Wonjongkam of Thailand. McTavish said that Belandres has the potential to become a world champion especially if he fights at 108 lbs where the competition is not very strong.
Manny Pi?ol said that the next step for his boys will be a sojourn to the U.S. Pi?ol has partnered with Chicago-based Filipino-American sportsman Rolando Hiso of Chicago and the boys will hold camp and most likely will have their inaugural fights in the U.S. in the Chicago area.
It is too early to tell whether these boys will barge into the world's elite but what we can say at this point is "so far so good" and it's noteworthy to say that the Philippines, which is currently making waves in the world boxing scene largely due to the exploits of Manny Pacquiao, will not be lacking of potential stars in the short term.
Related stories:
- GONZALES, PORRAS, DAPUDONG SNATCH WBO TITLES by Salven L. Lagumbay.
- HARVEST TIME by Manny Pi?ol.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
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