CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- Davao City, which used to be a powerhouse in amateur boxing in the late 90s, finally ended its campaign in the nationwide PSC-Pacquiao Amateur Boxing Cup on Saturday in Cagayan de Oro City.
All three fighters from Davao bowed to their respective rivals in the Mindanao semifinals held at the Macasandig covered court to settle for the bronze medals.
Reymond Alburera was the first casualty after he was stopped by body-punching Mark Lester Durens in 52 seconds of Round 2 in the Junior Boys light flyweight (48 kg.) division.
Davao’s best prospect John Ednoel Prevendido, on the other hand, dropped a split decision (3-2) to Gensan’s Ariel Almamento in the Youth Boys light flyweight (46-49 kg.) category.
“Abi nako pilde ko (I thought I lost),” said 17-year-old Almamento, a Grade 11 student of Ireneo National High School.
The third victim was John Alvin Gonzales, who also lost via a split decision (4-1) in the Youth Boys lightweight category to Kidapawan’s Jan Reyan Dapidran, a cousin of former world champion Manny Pacquiao.
Davao City is now hosting the Mindanao finals in April without any boxer seeing action already in the grassroots development program sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) in coordination with the Office of Sen. Manny Pacquiao.
Davao used to have national and international amateur boxing champions during the time of the late city councilor Cornelio “Bing” Reta III, then-president of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Phils. (ABAP) Davao Chapter.
Young boxers of Davao including the 9-year old Jerwin Ancajas were training at the Davao City boxing gym located at the back of the Davao City Recreational Center, which was formerly Almendras gym.
However, after the untimely death of Reta, the Davao team was slowly dissolved while some went to Panabo City to join the Barangay Una boxing team of Rep. Tonyboy Floirendo including Ancajas, who is now the reigning IBF World super flyweight champion.
The boxing gym was later closed and later used by another department of the city as a warehouse.
However, the Davao City Sports Development Division now under OIC Mikey Aportadera has finally re-opened the boxing gym last month.
“We will revive boxing in Davao,” said Aportadera during the courtesy call of Ancajas to Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
Duterte-Carpio, however, reiterated her concern of the young boxers.
“Dili dyud ko gusto ug boxing sa mga gagmay na bata, (I really do not like boxing for small children),” said Duterte, a mother of three children. (PNA)
