Davao boys stamp class in boxing meet

Jolan Bughanoy and Mark Anthony Barr posted emphatic victories to lead Davao del Norte’s surge to the semifinals of the 2010 Smart-Abap National Amateur Boxing Championship late Wednesday at the Puerto Princesa coliseum. Bughanoy, the 18-year-old reigning Palarong Pambansa champion, Raymund Jhon Tabugon of Misamis Oriental via a referee-stopped-contest in the quarterfinals of their youth boys’ flyweight match.

Barr, for his part, pulled off an impressive 21-8 win over Espiridion Pubadora in the junior boys’ pinweight division to help Davao del Norte in its drive for the overall title since skipping last year’s edition in Bacolod City. Davao del Norte remains the tournament top performer after sending 11 of its 16 entries to the semifinals while Misamis Oriental has six of its seven entries in the medal round. Also coming up with gallant effort in this five-day tourney were Bago City, Puerto Princesa A and Palawan which will be represented by five boxers each in the semis. “Isa siya sa pinakamahusay (na boxer) dito kaya pinaghandaan namin siya talaga," said Bughanoy, referring to his victim, who was the only Misamis Oriental bet who failed to reach the next round. Another promising pug who stole the show was Nico Magliquian, a Talisay City native who is now campaigning for Tayabas, Quezon. The nephew of two-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Juanito Magliquian impressed the crowd with his speed and craftsmanship to escape with an 11-9 victory over Raymund Lerio, the nephew of former Olympian Arlan Lerio, in the quarterfinals of the junior boys’ flyweight division. Other winners in the boys’ flyweight class were Jason Concepcion of Northern Samar, who won via the disqualification of Romel Cahilig of Boracay and Rey Milligin of Bacolod City, who stopped James Dela Cerna with only a second left in the three-round bout. In the featherweight division, Ian Abaniel of Puerto Princesa C and Aljohn Tubieron of Caloocan City sealed their finals showdown after stopping their respective rivals while Antonio Lagsit of Sorsogon and Jheritz Chavez of Mandaluyong City won over their respective foes to square off in the finals of the lightweight match. Championship bouts start on Friday. - GMANews.TV