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By Ruben Manahan IV Reporter
AT least 350 amateur boxers,
including members of the national team, will see action in the Smart
National Open Boxing Championships slated September 30 to October 6
in Cagayan de Oro City.
Manny Lopez, president of the
Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines, said all is set for
the staging of the biggest amateur tournament which also aims to
discover promising talents from the countryside.
“The tournament will not only
serve as training for the national athletes but also to scout
possible members of the national pool,” said Lopez, who together
with Gov. Oscar Moreno of Misamis Oriental and boxing promoter Ed
Picson graced Tuesday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s UN Avenue.
“Our objective for holding the
tournament is to widen the identification and recruitment of
potentially talented boxers who will be scientifically trained and
molded into future members of the national team,” explained Lopez.
Events on tap are seniors (19-32
years old), women (17-34 years old), juniors (17-19 years old),
cadets (15-17 years old), school boys (13-15 years old) and kids
(11-13 years old).
Lopez added that Cuban boxing
coach Dr. Alcides Sagarra Caron will also conduct a seminar-workshop
for coaches and trainers at the Don Gregorio Pelaez Sports Center.
“We hope that all boxing fans
and afficionados will be able to participate in this seminar,”
Lopez said.
The tournament will be capped by
a title fight between Milan Milendo, a native of Cagayan de Oro, and
Thailand’s Naupayak for the WBO Asia-Pacific Minimum-weight
Championship to be held at Mindanao Polytechnic State College gym.
Picson said Milendo, an orthodox
boxer, has a record of 11 wins and no loss. “I have talked to
Ronnie [Nathanielz], and we shared the same opinion that that
Milendo is more of a Gerry Peñalosa-type, more on counterpunching.
He will definitely give Sakkririn a good fight.”
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