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Philippines, 22 Feb 2026 |
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FILIPINO OLYMPIC HOPEFULS IMPRESSIVE IN SPARRING IN THE U.S By Ronnie Nathanielsz PhilBoxing.com Wed, 09 Mar 2016  Marcial. The Amateur Boxing Alliance of the Philippines (ABAP) Olympic hopefuls who are in the midst of training in the United States have looked impressive in sparring in Las Vegas according to the trainer/father of WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire. ?Dodong? Donaire told The Standard in an overseas telephone conversation that the amateur boxers, both men and females, sparred on Monday in Las Vegas and ?did very well.? He noted that the opponents who were either Mexicans or Americans were ?very tough and gave the Filipinos a lot of good sparring.? ?Dodong? Donaire said ?all of the Filipinos are really good but we need to continue to work with them.? He said welterweight Eumir Felix Marcial, the hard-hitting welterweight and female boxers Josie Gabuco and Nesthy Petecio ?impressed the most. Donaire said Marcial ?is very strong? even as he told us they will continue sparring today. ABAP executive director Ed Picson said the boxers had had six sparring sessions in the gym of ?Dodong? Donaire in Oakland, California, the University of San Francisco and the TG Gym in Los Angeles operated by Rudy Garcia and Karen Soto. In an email to ABAP president Ricky Vargas, Picson said the sparring sessions were ?lively and competitive and while our boxers impressed, there were some close skirmishes which can only serve them well as facing different opponents every time builds their confidence and resilience.? Before the boxers and coaches left for Las Vegas, Filipino trainer Marvin Somodio who is an assistant of Freddie Roach and Bobby Jalnaiz invited the boxers after training for a walk in Hollywood and then treated them to dinner. Picson said ?I really feel this is a productive camp. The boxers are in high spirits and they are showing a lot of bravado, enthusiasm and willingness to learn.? However, Picson said ?of course we need to perform well in the qualifying tournaments to prove that this indeed was a good decision? to train in the US. He pointed out that the Australians, Malaysians and boxers from Papua New Guinea are training at the ABAP camp in Baguio City and will go straight to the Asia/Oceania qualifying tournament in China which proves ?there is no truth to apprehensions about being burned out. Our coaches and sports science team drew up a periodization program that should see them peak at the right time.? However, Picson emphasized ?we realize that performance in China will be the best justification. I think we?ll do well? even as he said the boxers are ?very appreciative of the opportunity to be here, to ex experience the United States, the culture, the people, the technology and top-rate boxing.? Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.  |
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