Philippines, 21 Apr 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Kalilangan Festival in full blast


PhilBoxing.com





After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the 34th celebration of the week-long Kalilangan Festival reeled off in General Santos City last Monday and will end in closing ceremonies tomorrow. The annual Festival commemorates the founding of the city and features cultural shows, an agro-industrial fair, sports competitions and a beauty pageant. General Santos City traces its settlement roots to Feb. 27, 1939 when Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon dispatched Gen. Paulino Santos to head a group of 62 agricultural and trade graduates in establishing a new frontier. Kalilangan comes from the word "kalilang" which means celebration or commemoration in the Maguindanaon dialect. The Kalilangan Festival is to General Santos City what the Sinulog Festival is to Cebu, the Kadayawan Festival is to Davao and the Dinagyang Festival is to Iloilo.

Sen. Manny Pacquiao is at the forefront of the sports component of this year’s Kalilangan Festival. The MPBL, which is Pacquiao’s brainchild, launched its preseason competition with eight teams at the Lagao Gym in the city last Tuesday. A P3 million cash prize awaits the winner of the championship game tomorrow. The tournament is a teaser for MPBL’s fifth season which opens on March 10 with 30 teams. No team will go home without a prize. The second placer will receive P500,000 and the third placer, P300,000. The fourth placer will earn P200,000 and the four other teams, P100,000 each.

The MPBL will take a break today and make way for a 14-fight card in the third edition of Pacquiao’s Blow By Blow at the Lagao Gym. The action is shown on OneSports TV every Sunday from 8:30 to 10pm. Headlining the show is the main event between Presco Carcosia of SanMan and Arnel Baconaje of Elorde in a 10-rounder for the vacant Philippine Boxing Federation superfeatherweight title. The protagonists are known by their nom de guerre----Iceman for Carcosia and Silencer for Baconaje. Carcosia, 26, has a 10-2-1 record, with nine KOs and his two losses were to Australia’s Jai Alexander in Melbourne and Japan’s Musashi Mori in Ota City, both on points. Baconaje, 29, packs a 15-6 record, with 11 KOs. He has fought in two 12-rounders and four tenners so his experience is a big advantage. Baconaje’s resume includes outings in Russia, China, Japan and Vietnam.

Two other tenners are on tap. Jerven Mama of SanMan takes on Ruben Dadivas of MP Davao in a flyweight contest while Judy Flores of SanMan battles Jonathan Taconing of Elorde in a superflyweight tussle. Taconing, 36, is a grizzled warrior who lost in bids for the WBO and WBA lightflyweight crowns. The southpaw from Zamboanga del Norte has a record of 29-6-1, with 22 KOs. Flores, 24, is making his 10-round debut and enters the ring with a record of 11-1, including seven KOs. His only defeat was to world-ranked Antonio Nieves, who lost to Naoya Inoue in a WBO superflyweight title bout in 2017.

Pacquiao’s mission is to discover Filipino boxing prospects following in his footsteps and Blow By Blow is his platform to showcase young talents. In today’s card, there will be four four-rounders, five six-rounders and two eight-rounders to back up three 10-rounders so the stage is set to unveil future champions.

Photo: Presco Carcosia of SanMan Boxing Gym and Arnel Baconaje of Elorde Gym pose during Saturday's official weighin.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Verano to face Thai in Clash of Nations on April 24
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 21 Apr 2025
  • Masangkay to fight Ocampo in JAS on April 23
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Denver Holds Off LA Clippers in OT, 112-110
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Arca clinches 3rd and final IM norm; Guns for GM norm in last round
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • IN HER GOLDEN GIRL ERA: GABRIELA “SWEET POISON” FUNDORA SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDS UNDISPUTED TITLE AGAINST MARILYN BADILLO
    , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Fundora Retains Undisputed Flyweight Titles; Perez Shocks Conwell in Oceanside
    , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Dalton Smith Drops Mathieu German Three Times, Retains WBC Silver Title
    , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Filipino GM Antonio beats Serbia's IM for share of lead in Caberra Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Villanueva to fight Antaran on April 27 in Gensan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • MASOUD AND MCGRAIL CLASH IN ALL-BRITISH SHOWDOWN
    , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Semifinals Conclude at 2025 USA Boxing International Open
    , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • FM Arca is inching closer to his 3rd and final IM norm
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 20 Apr 2025
  • Weigh-In Results: Fundora and Conwell Ready for Golden Boy Fight Night in Oceanside
    , Sat, 19 Apr 2025
  • Undefeated, rising Canadian prospect Eric Basran wins in Opening round to advance to quarterfinals of inaugural Riyadh Season/WBC Boxing Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia
    , Sat, 19 Apr 2025
  • WEIGHTS FROM LONG BEACH
    , Sat, 19 Apr 2025
  • Weights From Washington, PA
    , Sat, 19 Apr 2025
  • Jerald Into Advances in WBC Boxing Grand Prix with Dominant Win Over Ahmad Jones
    , Sat, 19 Apr 2025
  • Press Conference Notes: Keyshawn Davis Set for Homecoming Title Defense against Edwin De Los Santos at Norfolk's Scope Arena
    , Sat, 19 Apr 2025
  • JAKE PAUL vs JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ JR / ZURDO RAMIREZ vs YUNIEL DORTICOS JUNE 28 in ANAHEIM
    , Sat, 19 Apr 2025
  • June 8: Junto Nakatani-Ryosuke Nishida Bantamweight Unification Showdown Headlines Tokyo Super Card Streaming LIVE on ESPN+
    , Sat, 19 Apr 2025
  • Thursday’s Action at the 2025 USA Boxing International Open Concludes
    , Sat, 19 Apr 2025
  • H2O Sylve Returns to the Ring April 26th At Gateway Center Arena in Atlanta Amado Vargas Is Co-Main Live On BLK PRIME
    , Sat, 19 Apr 2025
  • FM Arca bounces back, defeats IM Laohawirapap of Thailand in 6th round
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 19 Apr 2025
  • SMITH VS. GERMAIN WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER
    , Fri, 18 Apr 2025
  • WBO #2 WBA #2 Mikiah Kreps on Weight in Seneca Niagara
    , Fri, 18 Apr 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.