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A young student
from the Manga district high school, this city and four other aspiring Filipino
amateur boxers will leave for Havana, Cuba anytime this week for a three-week
training before seeing action in the 1st Aiba Youth World Boxing Championships
in Guadalajara, Mexico on Oct. 25 to Nov. 1
This
was confirmed by ABAP-7 prexy Nemesio Monton in a talk with dyRD/ZD Sports Monitoring
Center. The 17-year-old Welbeth H. Loberanis, who hails from Mandaue City and
being supported of his studies here by Bohol's sports patron and city Mayor Dan
Neri Lim, has been described by Monton as a good prospect. He is fighting in the
51-kg. category.
Bannered
by Conrado Tanamor Jr. and Rolando Tacuyan, younger brothers of natonal team mainstays,
the boxers from the national juniors pool will be accompanied by coach Elmer Pamisa
and Cuban mentor Dagoberto Rojas Scott.
Commissioner
Eric Loretizo of the Philippine Sports Commission said the boxer's Havana buildup
is part of the five-year RP-Cuba bilateral agreement signed by PSC chair.
William
Ramirez and his Cuban counterpart Christian Jimenez Molina early this year.
| | | Tañamor
is the brother of Olympian Harry Tañamor while Tacuyan s the younger sibling
of national pool member Orlando Tacuyan.
Sending
our young boxers to Cuba is part of our buildup for the 2012 Olympics," said
Loretizo. "We expect them to gain more experience and skills for tournaments
ahead."
National
head coach Pat Gaspi said the Cuban training and the stint of the boxers in the
world boxing championships is part of the national amateur boxing body's search
for potential entries to the 2010 World Youth Olympics and the 2012 London Olympics.
Also
joining the team are Aston Francis Palicte and Glicerio Catolico III. |
CITY
MAYOR'S SUPPORT
During
the widely-listened Mayor's Report over dyRD's top rated weekend radio program,
the city chief executive, concededly Bohol's top supporter of both professional
and amateur boxing and other sports events here, frequently mentioned the name
of Loberanis as member of the RP training pool.
However,
one of Bohol's promising amateur pugs - Rocky Amonsot reportedly "bolted
camp" while undergoing training in Baguio City. The mayor said the young
Amonsot "abandoned his training" for no apparent reasons to the dismay
of his supporters and fans from this city.
For
his part, Monton also confirmed the report. In the same interview, the former
professional boxing promoter-turned-regional amateur boxing president, said the
Bool district native could become a good boxer like his brother Czar. The youthful
Amonsot decided to follow the footsteps of his older brod Czar who once ruled
the WBO Asia Pacific lightweight division before the latter's "semi-retirement"
from the ring more than a year ago. Czar was also a national amateur boxing champ,
fighting out of the famed ALA Boxing Gym. He failed in his first world title bid
against Michael Katsidis on points July last year.
Monton,
likewise, reported that another Boholano prospect - Geno Cabugngan was named as
a late replacement but his inclusion in the training pool could not year be confirmed.
Some observers here commented that Amonsot lacks decipline and determination to
pursue his dream as an outstanding amateur boxer.
Meantime,
the ABAP prexy announced the staging of the National Youth Amateur Boxing Championships
slated in Bacolod City on Dec. 13-19. The coming slugfest is for our aspiring
pugs aged 12 to 19 years old. Interested parties may visit the ABAP-7 office at
the old City Hall bldg., for further instruction and screening of applicants.
(-mpb) 
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