BIG TIME BOXING RETURNS TO CAGAYAN DE ORO TODAY
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 26 Apr 2008
Cagayan de Oro City -- Waking up from its stupor, big time boxing is back in this bustling city of Northern Mindanao as one of its up-and-coming sons, Eusebio Baluarte, Jr., tries to capture the vacant WBO Youth Junior Welterweight Title against visiting Thai Yai Sithsaithong at the MPSC Gym here tonight.
This city is used to be the mecca of boxing in Northern Mindanao in the 1980s and 1990s when fans from all over the island come to see local heroes strut their wares on a regular basis against visiting pugilists.
"The disappearance from the scene of boxers like Jongjong Pacquing, Jess Maca and Richard Acailar had effectively put to a halt the big time boxing promotion in the city," said Cagayan de Oro based boxing manager and promoter Flory Rontal, whose son Kenneth handles up-and-coming boxer Ciso Morales.
The emergence of Pacquiao in the world boxing scene has inspired every true blooded boxing afficionado in the Philippines to be reinvigorated. Most boxing managers and promoters in the country are now looking for the next boxing star to follow the footsteps of the man from General Santos.
"We are thankful that big promotions are now happening in Lanao and Zamboanga, and now in Cagayan de Oro," said Rontal. "This will only help the overall boxing landscape in Mindanao and will inspire a boxing manager like myself to look for a good prospect so we will be able to compete."
Eusebio Baluarte (12-1 9KOs), who is only 21 years old, is a well-kept secret molded by long time boxing manager Leonil Lazarito. Lazarito now feels that the time has come for Baluarte to go out into the open and make the first step in the long road to boxing glory.
"I feel that now he (Baluarte) is ready," Lazarito told the local media who came in full force at yesterday's press conference at Philtown Hotel. "So I approached Gov. (Oscar) Moreno and asked him if he could help me promote this fight."
The Misamis Oriental governor, who himself has a fledging boxing amateur program in place and who helped promote the fight of another Cagayanon, the ALA Boy Milan Melindo, a few months earlier, readily agreed to Lazarito's request.
"We know that boxing is a good avenue for our youth to make a name for themselves so we give our wholehearted support on it," Gov. Moreno said. He also cited how Pacquiao was able to unite the country single-handedly.
Tonight's card dubbed as "Rumble in Mis-Or, First Step to Glory" and promoted by Leolet Sports Promotion with the support of Gov. Oscar Moreno, is an 11-bout boxing event with most of the province's up and coming fighters seeing action.
Top photo: Eusebio Baluarte, Jr. (2nd from left) and Thailand's Yai Sithsaithong (2nd from right) pose with Gov. Oscar Moreno (center) and boxing officials after yesterday's presscon at Philtown Hotel in Cagayan de Oro city.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Coach Marvin Somodio: Full of Life and Punch at 42
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Fri, 28 Nov 2025Boston Ends Detroit's Winning Streak at 12; Celtics Trip Pistons, 117-114 at the Garden
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 28 Nov 20257-Eleven Run 2026 set on Jan. 31-Feb. 1
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 28 Nov 2025Carlos Cañizales Forced to Cancel Flight to Thailand for WBC World Title Defense
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 27 Nov 2025World Boxing Champions Promotions to Present Manny Pacquiao & Freddie Roach with Inaugural “Centurion Awards” During Manny Pacquiao Promotions Event on November 29
Thu, 27 Nov 2025Atif Oberlton Takes on Vaughn Alexander on Saturday, December 6th at The 2300 Arena in Philadelphia
Thu, 27 Nov 2025Iligan tops in PEKAF Mindanao qualifying tourney
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 27 Nov 2025INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME TO ANNOUNCE CLASS OF 2026 ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4th
Thu, 27 Nov 2025World Renowned Boxing Trainer Bob Santos Launches Private Boxing Camp in Las Vegas
Thu, 27 Nov 2025Eight Boxers Remain in WBC Grand Prix Finals On December 20
Wed, 26 Nov 2025WBA/WBO Cruiserweight Champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez Confirms World Title Fight with David Benavidez on Cinco de Mayo in Las Vegas
Wed, 26 Nov 2025Petecio in, Paalam out
By Joaquin Henson, Wed, 26 Nov 2025Takuma Inoue World Champion Again; Beats Nasukawa for Vacant WBC Belt
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Wed, 26 Nov 2025OLYMPIC BOXING 3: 1920 OLYMPIC GAMES AT ANTWERP, BELGIUM
By Maloney L. Samaco, Wed, 26 Nov 2025Badenas TKO’s Saknosiwi in 10th round
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 26 Nov 2025