JUNDY MARAON IS ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR AND SOUTHERN LEYTE?S PRIDE
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 21 Feb 2009
Jundy Maraon is scheduled to fight for the WBO Oriental bantamweight championship today against Jason Egera at the Mandaue Sports Center. Their Asia-Pacific title fight is part of the promotion ?Battle of the Best Bantamweights.?
Maraon sports an undefeated record of 12-0-1 (9 KOs). Tall for a bantamweight at 5'6?, he is called "Pretty Boy" because of his good looks. His father is a village chief in Suminot, Zamboanga del Sur.
Maraon joined Braveheart Boxing Club in 2005 through M'lang Mayor Lito Pi?ol, brother of Vice Gov. Manny Pi?ol, and immediately made a name by winning fights in Kidapawan City, Cotabato.
Together with fellow Braveheart boxer, Glenn Gonzales, Maraon was signed up by Top Rank Promotions through the support of Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao and went to train in the U.S. in April 2008.
"These two fighters benefited a lot from the training program brought in by Cuban coach Espinosa to North Cotabato," said Vice Gov. Pi?ol.
Maraon was taken as the alternate Filipino fighter in the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Oscar De La Hoya Dream Match in Las Vegas last December 6, in case Saranggani?s Richie Mepranum, who came very late to Las Vegas did not show up. But Mepranum arrived in time and also won his fight.
A spectacular puncher and a southpaw, Maraon is considered as one of the most potent boxers in the bantamweight division. In one of his practices where he had a sparring session in Watsonville, California, Maraon knocked out a top US bantamweight amateur fighter. He was supervised by Mexican assistant trainer Josh Sanchez.
"Such is the power of Maraon and this makes him a very exciting fighter," said Vice Gov. Pi?ol.
The only stain in his record was a draw with Pacquiao boxer Ernel Fontanilla in the undercard of the Pacquiao-Oscar Larios bout. Fontanilla suffered a small cut in the forehead resulting from a shattering left by Maraon in the 2nd round of their fight.
"Fontanilla was on the way down but Buboy (Fernandez) saw a way out by asking the doctor to stop the fight because of that small cut and it was declared a draw," said Vice Gov. Pi?ol.
His fight today in Cebu is a Visayas homecoming for the ?Pretty Boy? because his father hails from Macrohon, Southern Leyte in Eastern Visayas. He is a relative of my wife Chona Maraon-Samaco who also hails from Macrohon.
If Maraon will be successful in clinching the WBO Asia-Pacific title, he will follow the footsteps of Southern Leyte?os Tacy Macalos (IBF champion) and Rod Seque?an (OPBF champion) in giving good name to the province by winning international boxing titles. He is the pride of both Zamboanga del Sur and Southern Leyte.
Top photo: Jundy 'Pretty Boy' Maraon during yesterday's weighin at the Cebu Grand Hotel.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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