Suarez, Albania shine in U.S.
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 23 Aug 2010
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- Local amateur boxing's hottest properties Charly Suarez and Annie Albania showed why they're are the country's brightest hopes of ending its Olympic gold medal thirst with convincing victories over their respective opponents in the "Philippines vs. California" dual meet Saturday at the Koret Recreational and Sports Center inside the University of California compound here.
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The 22-year-old Suarez, a prized find from Panabo City in Davao, dropped Roman Morales of San Pedro, California Boxing Club in the dying seconds of the third and final round to emerge the winner in their bantamweight class, opening the national men's and women's teams one-week training sojourn in the City by the Bay.
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Albania, who like Suarez is a member of the three-boxer elite team of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines, had U.S. natioal light-flyweight champ Jessica Ponce of the California's vineyard Napa Valley under her control right after smacking a powerful right on her hapless rival's face barely a second of the first in matching her teammate's impressive triumph.
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So overwhelming was Albania,?fighting in the 51-kilogram category in winning the the 2009Asian Indoor Games gold medalist and a major awardee of the Philippine Sportswriters Association, she forced the equally hard-punching Ponce, into mandatory eight-count twice in the last of their four-round encounter to earn the unanimous verdict of the judges.
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"She hits so hard. She's one of the hardest punchers I've meet in my career," Ponce said later of Albania, a member of the RP team since 2001 and a silver medalist in the 2008 World Women's Amateur Championships held in India.
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"These two guys are good. Very impressive. They're lucky to be here and get to train and meet good opponents to get even better," Fil-American USF head boxing coach Angelo Merino who arranged the national teams' training stint here, said.
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Also scoring impressive victory was come backing lightweight Delfin Boholst, who sent Jacob Operskolski of the Kings Gym here kissing the canvas in the third on the way to another point win.
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Light-flyweight Victorio Saludar and?bantamweight Ricky Dulay, likewise, carried the country's colors flying high. Saludar, the youngest of two siblings campaigning here, beat Eros Correa if San Jose?Police League, while Dulay took the measure of Steven Rapadas of Mateen Boxing Club.
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Featherweight Joegin Ladon was not as lucky though when his?fight against Andy Vences, also of San Jose, was discontinued after he fell to the floor middle of the third round recurring his old ACL injury. He was leading when the bout was stopped.
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Josie Gabuco took the first of what could be her series of confrontations with?national teammate Alice Kate Aparri for the right to represent the country in the coming World Women's Championship. Both are pinweights and only one can qualify.
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Rey Saludar took the better of RP teammate Gerson Nietes in another All-Filipino flyweight collision.
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Nesty Petecio emerged as the only other Filipino to have been beaten when she squandered a first three-round lead in bowing to Shanne Rullas of Main Event Boxing Club.
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The group was met by Merino and reigning Fil-Am WBO and IBA super-bantamweight Ana Julaton at the airport. Julaton, who was also impressed with Albania's prowess, promised to conduct workout with the women's team before the delegation?ends their stint here.
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The three-week training and campaign,which will take the 11-boxer squads to Los Angeles, started Friday,a day after the delegation, headed by ABAP executive director Ed Picson, arrived here?with a coaching clinic for RP mentors -- Pat Gaspi, Roel Velasco Nolito Velasco and?Ronald Chavez.
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The Filipino boxers are also scheduled to train at San Leandro, also in the Bay Area where Nonito "Dodong" Donaire Sr. holds court and San Carlos where his son world champion Nonito Jr., calls his home within?the week.?
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The group, whose trip here was made possible courtesy of ABAP chair Manny V. Pangilinan?and president Ricky Vargas,leaves by land Friday for Los Angeles where they are scheduled to resume their bulid-up program at the famous Joe Zanders Gym.
?From Los Angeles, the women's team?will proceed directly to Barbados for the World Championships set Sept. 7-19. The men's side, meanwhile, will take part in the prestigious Southern California Boxing Association-organized Blue and Gold Boxing Tournament while in the world's entertainment capital.
(Top photo ? Annie Albania)
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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