Philippines, 01 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


JETHER OLIVA: NEW KID ON THE BLOCK


PhilBoxing.com




PROMISING Jether Oliva defies the typical Filipino professional boxer.

He was born to a lower middle class family and is one of the few professional boxers who chose to at least finish a two-year college course before turning professional.

His father runs a canteen inside a public elementary school in Calumpang, General Santos City while his mother is an insurance sales agent.

In fact, he has been hopping from one work to another upon finishing his computer course.

But his 5'4" frame never lost the ache of wearing the leather mitts and the sweaty smell of the gym.

One day, he realized that it is not his destiny to become an employee in a company.

"Kapuy magtrabaho. Pangitaon man gyud sa akong lawas ang boxing," he narrated (It is tiresome to work. My body is aching to go back to boxing).

So despite his father's warning, he turned pro in January 2007.

In the days leading to his first professional fight, Jether trained hard. But his father noticed something out of the ordinary.

"Son, when will your next fight be held? You've been training for several weeks already," he recalled his father asking him.

Then he broke the news.

"I am turning professional over the weekend," he calmly told his father Javis.

It was a hard news he had to tell his father who vowed to disown him if he turns professional.

"There was nothing he could do," he said.

Reluctant at first, Javis has accepted the boxing arena is where his son is happy and could be successful.

Now 22 years old and with 10 professional fights behind him, Jether started his boxing career at the tender age of 12 as an amateur.

"We would go to remote barangays challenging amateur boxers in their own backyards because we were already known here in the city," Oliva recalls of his amateur days. He won several local tournaments but his memorable was the silver medal he won in the 2003 Lanao Palaro.

He was drafted to represent the city on a day's notice.

No practice. No road work. No sparring. He got to wear the gloves and shadow box only on the day before his first fight. But he still won the silver medal despite no preparations at all and fighting in a much heavier 47-kilo limit, a good four kilos above his then fighting weight.

Despite their hectic amateur boxing schedules (both he and his brother are product of ABAP's weekly Boxing at the park program), they still find time to go to school even during peak of training for tournaments outside the city.

He worked his way through high school on a boxing scholarship at the Ireneo Santiago High School. He was offered scholarship at the Holy Trinity College for his good grades.

"But I chose I-Tech College because the school was giving me P2,500 monthly stipend," he said in the Visayan dialect.

In deciding to turn professional, Jether approached brothers JR and JC Boy Mananquil who gladly took him under their wing.

Their partnership is one of more beautiful stories in local boxing.

The Manangquil brothers are barely out of their teens. JC Boy is in fact only 15 years old but is already very knowledgeable in the professional sports including all the nuances and intricacies of the boxing world. JC Boy takes good care of Jether as if the latter is his own brother. His mother Sol Mananquil built him a boxing gym at the back of their spunky and elegant new restaurant (Jam's) along Nu?ez St. The Mananquils are housing Jether and several other aspiring professionals in a modest cottage inside the gym compound.

Jether hails from a family of boxers. His uncles and cousins were at one time or another amateurs or professional boxers. His mother is older sister to Charlit Rodrigo, a one time Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation flyweight champion. His brother Jimboy has recently won his pro debut while another brother is already an amateur boxer.

Jether hopes to make 2009 his breakthrough year.

"I am ready for the big fights," he said.

For a boxer who has an immaculate record of 10 wins, eight of them via coming via knockouts, Jether appeared ripe for the big time.

His most recent knockout victim was Jerome Buntog of Mandaue City whom he stopped with vicious body shots in the 5th round of their eight-round scheduled fight.

He has sparred with the likes of Bert Batawang, former IBF minimumweight champion Florante Condes, Along Denoy, Milan Milendo reigning WBO minimumweight king Donnie 'Ahas' Nietes and Beijing Olympian Harry Ta?amor while he was still training at the ALA Gym in Cebu city.

His next bout will be on November 30 in Cebu against a still to be named opponent.

Jether hopes to again make a good account of himself and finally hit the jackpot next year.

For a young man who shares his purse with his parents and tithes for the church (he is a devout member of the Seventh Day Adventist), his devotion to professional boxing could someday make him the next Manny Pacquiao to come from the city.



Click here to view a list of other articles written by Edwin G. Espejo.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • MARIO BARRIOS LAS VEGAS MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
    , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • CATTERALL AND EUBANK LAY THEIR 'CARDS ON THE TABLE' AHEAD OF MANCHESTER SHOWDOWN
    , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • Dumadag holds chess tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • Manny Pacquiao's Case for the Greatest of All Time
    By Ace Freeman, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • DavNor Adventure Race 2025 set July 2
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Gumila rules Antipolo rapid chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • FULL CIRCLE AT WILD CARD: Jhay Otamias’ Tribute to a Fighter and a Fanbase
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Vince Paras Wins by 4th Round KO Over Sarawut Thawornkham to Capture the IBF Pan Pacific Super Flyweight Title
    , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Team USA's Quest for Gold Set in Stone at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • SBA SEASON 2 DRAFT UNVEILS RISING STARS AND STRATEGIC MOVES AS TEAMS COMPLETE THEIR ROSTERS
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Filipino Elwin Retanal wins Saudi rapid chess meet
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Jake Paul Earns Boxing Legitimacy with Dominant Decision Over Julio Cesar Chávez Jr.
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Zurdo Ramirez Defends Cruiserweight Crowns with Unanimous Decision Over Dorticos
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Vince Paras Faces Sarawut Thawornkham Today at Venue 88 in Gensan
    , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • USA Elite High Performance Team Sets Sights on Gold at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Alekhine Nouri bags silver in blitz
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Paul vs. Chavez Jr: Can Julio Derail Jake Paul?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Dr. KO: Christian Mbilli Stops Maciej Sulecki in 1
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • GOLDEN BOY SIGNS UNDEFEATED MIDDLEWEIGHT BLUE-CHIP PROSPECT AMARI JONES
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Paul vs. Chávez Jr. is a Go: All Fighters Make Weight in Anaheim Ahead of High-Stakes Bout
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • IIEE Chessmasters Overall Champion in the International Bundesliga with GM Joey Antonio
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Kittipong of Thailand Battles Bhavesh of India in Brico Santig's Exciting Show in Bangkok
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Weights from Philadelphia
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Alekhine Nouri and John Jerish Velarde struck gold and bronze
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Would OKC Still Win the West If Dallas Had Not Traded Doncic?
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 27 Jun 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.