Cebu fighters rule Visayas regional meet

MANILA, Philippines - Cebu beat Bago City in four of their six title fights and went on to claim the overall championship in the first Smart/ABAP Visayas Area Amateur Boxing Championships in Ormoc City Thursday.

Margarito Moya sparked the Cebuano fighters’ charge with a stirring come-from-behind 9-8 victory over Bago City’s Charlie Panes in the kids 31-kg class.

Jack Tepora, 13, showed a lot of promise as he disposed of Alvin Sibuga of Bacolod City, 22-7, in the 38.5-40-kg division for another gold for Cebu. He was also adjudged the Best Boxer in the school boys’ division.

Other Cebuano winners were Danlou Codilla, who beat Sonny Boy Abella of San Carlos City, 11-4, in the school boys division; Jahlee Payao, who won over Jhonriel Muagro of Bohol; and Edu Serrano, who defeated fellow Cebuano Allan Refuela, in junior boys class;

Adrino Pescante, who edged Bago’s Martin Cordova, 17-16, in youth boys; Anthony Sabalde, who trounced Geldon Cordova, also of Bago City, 23-16; Marjohn Baliguat, bested Jason Concepcion of Northern Samar, 9-6; Julito Tuastumban, who stopped teammate Timoteo Altubar with an RSC win in the second round in the youth boys category.

Cebu sent 17 fighters to the final while Bago had 14.

Bago actually won the first three title duels against Cebu with Ian Lescano dominating Melmark Dignos, 11-6 in the kids division’s 28-kg event and Ryan James Flores scoring a close 9-7 win over Ronald Ellenas in the 29-kg class. Bago’s Niel Tambanillo tallied the first stoppage win, scoring an RSC at 1:29 of the first round over Bernard Arandilla of Negros Occidental.

Bacolod finished third overall with Juren Labordo scoring an impressive 16-2 rout of Cebu’s Velmark Dignos in the 37-38.5-kg category of the school boys’ division.

Other notable winners were youth girls campaigner Christy Jan Rivas of Bacolod City, who won by RSC in 1:33 of the first round over fellow Bacolodnon Stefanie Melliguen; Bago City’s Rogen Ladon, who essayed an 11-1 rout over against Espiridon Pubadura of Iloilo in the junior boys class where he also emerged as the division’s best boxer.

Other gold medal winners in the kids division were Jimmy Barazon, who won over Bago’s Rommel Tagamolila, 14-1; Bago’s Raymart Alera, who defeated teammate Junriel Jimenez, 15-3, and Christian Cordova who prevailed over Olivar Cordova, 13-4.