Bright future for Pamisa
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 09 Mar 2020
Eljay Pamisa.
There’s a 5-6, 15-year-old Cagayan de Oro boxer who’s touted to be a rising star and ABAP secretary-general Ed Picson is bullish on his chances to someday become an Olympic champion.
Picson said Eljay Pamisa is now in the ABAP pool receiving a monthly allowance from PSC and trains at the PSC Teachers Camp in Baguio under coaches Gerson Nietes and Elias Recaido. “Eljay has his own style,” said Picson. “He moves a lot like Onyok (Velasco) but also has some deliberate and calculated moves. He’s young so still a work in progress. He’s got a great attitude, though and I hope he stays with that.”
Pamisa started boxing at eight and was taught the rudiments by his uncle Elmer, an ABAP coach. The youngest of five, he took to boxing like fish to water. An older brother Elric, 21, is an aspiring pro with a 1-2 record. Elric, a superflyweight southpaw, made his pro debut in 2018. Another brother is in the amateur ranks.
Pamisa struck gold at the regional meet in Cagayan de Oro in 2017 and that same year, hit paydirt in the Mindanao leg of the Batang Pinoy National Championships in Oroquieta. In 2018, Pamisa went all the way to pocket the gold medal at the Batang Pinoy National Championships in Baguio.
In his first overseas outing last October, Pamisa made waves by bagging the silver medal in the pinweight division at the Asian Boxing Confederation Junior Championships in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates. He was 14 then. The Philippine delegation was made up of Pamisa (44-46 kg), Jericho Acaylar (50 kg), Jimler Cubay (52 kg) and Dave Asi Laurejas (54 kg). Acaylar lost a 4-1 decision to Uzbekistan’s Anvar Boltebaev in his first bout. Cubay drew a bye in the opening session then fell sick and was hospitalized, forfeiting his next fight against Nepal’s Ali Khan Raban by walkover. Laurejas defeated Korea’s Kim Seongmin on points, 4-1, in his initial contest then bowed to Kazakhstan’s Nursultan Altynbek, 5-0, in his second assignment.
Pamisa made an auspicious debut with a 3-2 decision over Kazakhstan’s Nurkhan Zhylykbay then outpointed Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Po Hao, 4-1, in the quarterfinals and blanked Thailand’s Thanakom Aonyaem, 5-0 in the semifinals. In the finals, Pamisa dropped a 3-2 verdict to India’s Vishnavath Suresh. Pamisa made no excuses in letting the gold medal slip away. “Magaling si Suresh, mabilis, may lakas,” he said. “Sisikapin ko mag-improve sa training at kung sakali magkita uli kami, alam ko na kung anong gagawin ko. Yung tinalo ko na taga-Kazakhstan, malaki sa akin. Ginamitan ko ng diskarte. Inutakan ko. Yung Thai, binuhos ko ang lahat.”
Pamisa said he still has a lot to learn in the gym. “Sa tingin ko, kulang pa ako ng suntok,” he said. “Kailangan ma-improve yung balance ko. Improve ko rin ang aking footwork, power at depensa. Dapat damihan ko ang suntok at unahan ko ang kalaban.”
Pamisa was in Grade 8 at Xavier University, Ateneo de Cagayan and will enroll in Grade 9, possibly in a Baguio school, for next schoolyear. He said he hopes to go far in his boxing career to make a better life for his family. His father Elvis is a tricycle driver and mother Majudy used to work in a hotel as a cleaner.
Pamisa will eventually campaign in the lightflyweight or flyweight division in the seniors. At the moment, he’s not sparring with ABAP’s top flyweights Carlo Paalam and Rogen Ladon who fight at a higher level. His dream is to follow in their footsteps. He’s aware of the Olympic medal exploits of the Velasco brothers Onyok and Roel. Someday, Pamisa said it’ll be his turn to stand on the Olympic podium. Will he go pro down the road? “Hindi ko alam, hindi ko pa iniisip yun,” he said. “Ang focus ko ngayon ay mag-improve sa ABAP at sundin ang lahat na tinuturo sa akin ng mga coaches.”
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Weigh-In Results: Fundora and Conwell Ready for Golden Boy Fight Night in Oceanside
Sat, 19 Apr 2025Undefeated, rising Canadian prospect Eric Basran wins in Opening round to advance to quarterfinals of inaugural Riyadh Season/WBC Boxing Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia
Sat, 19 Apr 2025WEIGHTS FROM LONG BEACH
Sat, 19 Apr 2025Weights From Washington, PA
Sat, 19 Apr 2025Jerald Into Advances in WBC Boxing Grand Prix with Dominant Win Over Ahmad Jones
Sat, 19 Apr 2025Press Conference Notes: Keyshawn Davis Set for Homecoming Title Defense against Edwin De Los Santos at Norfolk's Scope Arena
Sat, 19 Apr 2025JAKE PAUL vs JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ JR / ZURDO RAMIREZ vs YUNIEL DORTICOS JUNE 28 in ANAHEIM
Sat, 19 Apr 2025June 8: Junto Nakatani-Ryosuke Nishida Bantamweight Unification Showdown Headlines Tokyo Super Card Streaming LIVE on ESPN+
Sat, 19 Apr 2025Thursday’s Action at the 2025 USA Boxing International Open Concludes
Sat, 19 Apr 2025H2O Sylve Returns to the Ring April 26th At Gateway Center Arena in Atlanta Amado Vargas Is Co-Main Live On BLK PRIME
Sat, 19 Apr 2025FM Arca bounces back, defeats IM Laohawirapap of Thailand in 6th round
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 19 Apr 2025SMITH VS. GERMAIN WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER
Fri, 18 Apr 2025WBO #2 WBA #2 Mikiah Kreps on Weight in Seneca Niagara
Fri, 18 Apr 2025UFC® RETURNS TO PRUDENTIAL CENTER IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY WITH BLOCKBUSER CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLEHEADER
Fri, 18 Apr 2025AMATEUR HEAVYWEIGHT SENSATION LEO ATANG SIGNS PROMOTIONAL DEAL WITH MATCHROOM BOXING
Fri, 18 Apr 2025