Three-way battle for crown looms in Inter-City boxfest

Team Mandaue and Tagbilaran City pulled off convincing victories to pose as Cebu City Niños' biggest threat for supremacy in the 21st Visayas Inter-City Developmental Age-Group Amateur Boxing Championships, which was transferred to the Maasin City gym.

After the first day of action that was delayed for a day due to the uncooperative weather, Mandaue City sent all its bets to the semifinal round led by 32 kgs. Eddie Boy Aviar and 49 kgs. Rocky Nuñez.

Aviar scrapped through a razor-thin 3-2 victory over Talisay City's Laurence Nacor, while Nuñez forced another Talisaynon pugilist, Marvin Incela, into retirement at the end of the third round.

On the other hand, 19th edition champion Tagbilaran City checked in a total of five simonpures into the penultimate round.

Tagbilaran's Jefferson Reodique scored a 5-0 shutout of Talisay's AJ Bentic in the 36 kgs. division, while the Mandaue City-native, Wilbeth Loberanis, fighting under Tagbilaran's banner, whipped Darrel Ramos of host Maasin, 5-0, in the 45 kgs. class.

With Ramos' setback, Maasin is left with four boxers in the next round through 32 kgs. Virnel Lopez, 36 kgs. Eddiello Abria,Jr., 38kgs.Jason Intia and 40 kgs.Jophet Flores.

Lopez kept his gold medal bid alive after frustrating Jovie Jabay-jabay with a 3-2 win, while Intia salvaged a 4-1 victory against Talisay's Jonard Lukay-lukay.

Talisay is left with two bets as John Lou Apas joined Ever Bacus in the semifinals after the former beat Toledo's Rey Capuyan via Referee-Stopped-Contest due to injury in the third round of their 42 kgs. battle.

The M. Lhuillier Sports Development Foundation (MLSDF)-sponsored Cebu City Niños enjoyed a luck draw that saw one of their entries gaining outright final berth and the rest marching into the semifinals.