Casimero retains IBF title, Cebu Boxing packs a wallop at 31st SAC-SMB Awards
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 17 Mar 2013
CEBU CITY? Johnriel Casimero retained his IBF junior flyweight world title in Panama a few hours before he was scheduled to receive his award from the Sportswriters Association of Cebu.
Ian Colina, one of the new trainers from Casimero?s home base, the Omega Boxing Gym of Cebu, received the trophy on his behalf. By fate or by design, Casimero?s beaten challenger, Luis Alberto Rios, was recently chosen as Panama?s Boxer of the Year.
Casimero was honored for his title win last February 2012 against Luis Lazarte in Argentina and his first defense last August in Mexico, winning by split decision against Pedro Guevara.
The second boxer to receive a major award from the Cebu Sportswriters was WBO light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes of the ALA gym, who also kept his title by a majority draw against Moises Fuentes of Mexico last March 2 here in Cebu. Nietes? award was for his title retention win last year against Felipe Salguero in Pasay City.
Michael Aldeguer, President and CEO of ALA Promotions, was also the recipient of a major award for his achievement as the World Boxing Organization (WBO) International Promoter of the Year. Under his leadership, ALA Promotions grew into major player in the international stage and hosted two world title fights last year in Metro Manila. ALA Promotions also staged a world title fight a couple of weeks ago here in Cebu. ALA?s ?Pinoy Pride? boxing series has consistently scored double digit television ratings here in the Philippines.
Citations were handed out to eight other boxers:
1.Genesis Servania of the ALA Gym won two titles last year - the WBC Silver international superbantamweight title and the WBO Asia-Pacific superbantamweight title.
2.WBO Youth Asia Pacific flyweight titlist Romnick Magos of the RWS Gym. Trainer Juanito Ablaca accepted the citation because Magos is currently working as a sparring partner in Japan.
3.WBO International jr.welterweight champion Jason Pagara (ALA Gym).
4.Merlito Sabillo was cited for retaining his OPBF minimumweight title but he was also introduced as the new WBO interim world minimumweight champion. He is now the second world champ from the ALA Gym of Cebu.
5.OPBF superflyweight champion Arthur Villanueva (ALA Gym)
6.WBO International flyweight champion Milan Melindo (ALA Gym)
7.OPBF flyweight champion Rocky Fuentes (ALA Gym)
8.WBO International featherweight champion Rey ?Boom-Boom? Bautista (ALA Gym)
The 31st Sportswriters Association of Cebu (SAC) ? San Miguel Beer (SMB) Cebu Sports Awards was held Sunday afternoon at SM Cebu Northwing. Outgoing SAC President John Pages handed over the responsibility of leading the organization to incoming President Rico Navarro.
The SAC Awards is known as the ?Oscars? of Cebu sports and awards and citations were given to Cebuano or Cebu based athletes who have scored victories at the national and international level.
TOP PHOTO ? Casimero?s trophy and Omega gym trainer Ian Colina receiving his award, Below, Trainer Edmund Villamor with the ALA Gym?s two world champs Donnie Nietes and Merlito Sabillo and other ALA boxers
Photo ? Athlete of the Year Mikeala Calamba flanked by ALA gym boxers ? left to right ? Merlito Sabillo, Arthur Villanueva, Jason Pagara, Genesis Servania, Mikeala Calamba, Donnie Nietes, Milan Melindo and Rey Bautista
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