Prospect Watch: Michael Adolfo Punches through Poverty for Boxing Glory
By Reylan Loberternos
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 04 Nov 2022
Michael Adolfo.
Tagbilaran City, Bohol – In a community devoid of chances and means of decent living, boxing has been an avenue for some of the marginalized to put food on the table. One need not look any further. The greatest Pinoy boxing icon in Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao is the epitome of a rags to riches boxing story. Boxing has meant a great deal to these pugs and their families. Like many others that came before him, professional boxing newcomer Michael Adolfo is no different.
His primary motivation is to get his family out of poverty. The second eldest among a brood of six, Adolfo is determined to put the weight of his entire household on his broad shoulders and help his parents provide for their family. His father, a fisherman, toils daily at sea, battling the elements, while his mother cares for his three other siblings (one of his siblings passed away and their eldest no longer lives with the family) at their very humble home in Cadiz City.
Michael Adolfo (rightmost) is joined by close friend, Alpha Kappa Rho brother,, and Cebuano-Boholano boxing aficionado Ritchie Fernandez Basillote (middle) and fellow boxing prospect Kit Garces (leftmost) at the famed Prime Fight Boxing Gym in Talisay City, Cebu.
Blessed with the heavy hands, fearlessness, and the bravado that make him a prime prospect for pugilistic stardom, Adolfo is excited about his future in the professional ranks. He’s had 300 plus amateur bouts to his name and at a very ripe age of 23, is now just scratching the surface of his true potential. His first two bouts as a prizefighter were separated by three years due to the pandemic. He debuted at 118 lbs in April of 2019, but only got to follow that up in early September this year.
A picture of the Adolfo family sharing a meal at their home in Cadiz City.
Head trainer and coach Fernando Ocon will have his hands full in molding Adolfo into a complete fighter. His protégé has power on both hands and is not afraid to exchange punches. Like many sluggers, however, Adolfo has the propensity to do away with the jab and just go for the kill with every punch thrown.
It may work for lesser foes, but as he works his way up the rankings, when the competition becomes tougher and better, pure brute force almost always isn’t enough. He must develop a stiff jab and ultimately learn to box as well. He has time, though. He’s still young and though understandably still too raw, he is a lad who listens. Unlike most proud fighters, Adolfo is a learner and a good student of the game.
Boxing trainer and coach Fernando Ocon (rightmost) is joined by boxing prospects and aficionados at the Prime Fight Gym in Talisay City, Cebu.
The fighting pride of Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, Adolfo is going to strut his stuff once again, as he faces Cebuano Reycar Auxilio of Big Yellow Boxing Gym in the undercard of Kit “Piston Punch”Garces versus Ian Donaire headliner for the vacant World Boxing Foundation (WBF) Australasian flyweight championship to be held tomorrow, November 5, 2022 at the Talisay City Sports Complex in Talisay City, Cebu.
Like Garces, Adolfo is also managed by Pocholo Padilla and fights under Prime Stags Boxing Promotion of promoter Atty Jigo Dacua.
Comments are highly appreciated. You may send them to reylanloberternos@yahoo.com.ph and you may follow me @reylan_l on twitter.
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