
Paderna ends comeback bid
By Lito delos Reyes
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 14 Jun 2021

DAVAO CITY – Former PABA super featherweight champion Jun “The Neutralizer” Paderna of Cotabato tried to make a comeback in boxing but after two losses, changed his mind to concentrate instead as a physical fitness instructor.
Paderna, now 39, fought his last fight against Emanuel Augustus of USA and lost by a unanimous decision on May 30, 2008 in Australia.
The 5-foot-5 Paderna made his first comeback fight by facing super welterweight Ashley Theophane of United Kingdom in Dubai last May 3, 2019 where he lost by a technical knockout in the 2nd round. Paderna then met welterweight Faizan Anwar of India last Feb. 8, 2020 in Dubai where he lost by TKO in the 3rd round.
“Short notice lahat. Tinanggap ko lang. Wala kase sila makuha dito. (It was all on short notice. I just accepted because they could not get somebody from here),” said Paderna.
Paderna was then convinced that it was better to hang up his gloves and just concentrate being a physical fitness instructor.
“Mas malaki pa ang kita at hindi ka bugbug (The income is even bigger and you don’t get beaten up),” said Paderna.
He recently assisted matchmaker Brico Santig of Highland Boxing in helping during featherweight KJ ‘The Ipugo’ Natuplag of Ifugao fight against Hasibullah ‘Kalashnikov’ Ahmadi of Afghanistan last June 5 at the Hilton Al Habtoor City in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Natuplag lost by unanimous decision.
Paderna together with some friends including mostly ex-boxers, who are now working as physical fitness instructors to donate to the boxers in the Philippines.
The money will be given to Santig.
Aside from Paderna, also those who pledge to donate were super welterweight JR “Buakaw” Mendoza, super lightweight Ricky “Chocolate Hills Mondo Harada” Sismundo, Venice Dangley, Randy Navarro, Erwin Neri and Tony Jaro, a relative of Sonny Boy Jaro.
Paderna now has 16 private students.
“Share nang kunting tulong. Siyempre alam naman natin ang hirap nang isang boxer (Share a little help. Of course we know how hard it is to be a boxer),” said Paderna.
Paderna said that they will always accommodate Filipino boxers, who will fight in Dubai.
Paderna’s house also hosted Donnie “Ahas” Nietes during his fight against Pablo Carrillo of Colombia.
The 39-year-old Nietes (43W-1L-5D, 23KOs) won against Carrillo by a unanimous decision for the vacant WBO International super flyweight title last April 3, 2021 at the Caesars Palace Dubai.
Flyweight Jayr “The Dreamer” Raquinel also won against Jack Amisa by a knockout in the 1st round last Nov. 22, 2019 at Caesars Palace Dubai.
Raquinel visited Paderna’s house together with his trainer former super flyweight Joven “JJ” Jorda.
Currently, Sismundo is living at Paderna’s house and is starting to have his five clients now.
Paderna started in Dubai in 2016 and a year later his wife Jasmine followed him.
“We have apartments here na pinapa-lease nang asawa ko (We have apartments here that my wife leased),” said Paderna.
PHOTO. Brico Santig (right) and former PABA champion Jun “The Neutralizer” Paderna
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