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Philippines, 30 May 2026 |
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Lieutenant Delfin Boholst: Soldier, Boxing Coach, Mentor By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT PhilBoxing.com Sat, 30 May 2026  Boxing fans know Delfin Boholst today as the chief trainer of Filipino title contender Charly Suarez. On July 11, 2026, he’ll work Suarez’s corner at San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza — part of one of the most ambitious fight cards the Bay Area, or the world for that matter, has ever seen. For Filipino boxing, it’s a significant night. For Boholst, it’s another chapter in a life built on discipline, service, and purpose. The road started in Polomolok, South Cotabato, where he was born. He grew up in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental, raised by his parents. Today he’s based at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig — where he married, started a family, and continues his Army Reserve service. Ask him about his role models and he doesn’t hesitate. “My role models are my parents. They taught me to become a decent person in society.” That answer sets the tone for everything else. He wanted to be a soldier from the time he was a boy. Not a passing wish — a fixed point he steered toward his whole life. He entered active duty in 2009, served through 2017, and reached the rank of First Lieutenant. He remains an Army Reserve Officer today. Boxing ran alongside all of it. He joined the Philippine National Boxing Team in 2005. Over the next seven years he competed at the 2006 Asian Games in Qatar, the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, the 2011 Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia, and two Olympic qualifying tournaments. He didn’t medal at those marquee events, but he collected hardware elsewhere — a Gold at the Tammer Cup in Finland in 2006, a Bronze and Silver in 2010, a Gold at an international tournament in the Philippines that same year, and a Gold at the Blue & Gold tournament in Los Angeles in 2010. He stepped away from competition in 2012. The 2011 Olympic qualifier was the turning point. “I realized that fighting was not for me,” he said. “I also continued my Army service as an officer — that’s why I stopped in 2012.”  (L-R) Delfin Boholst, Jimmy Lennon, Jr., Charly Suarez (May 2026) He understood boxing on his own terms, though. When asked what drew him to the sport, he reached for the phrase fighters and writers have used for generations. “Boxing is called ‘The Sweet Science’ because it is not all about power punches,” he said. “You need intelligence, discipline, defense, timing, and strategy. It’s like playing chess in the ring — you think about how to touch and manipulate the opponent, and think about how to avoid his punches. It blends ability, skill, and cleverness in fighting.” The move into coaching came naturally. In 2018 he lent a hand to (Team) Jerwin Ancajas and Joven Jimenez. Work with Team Mark Barriga followed. Somewhere in that stretch he recognized his real calling. “I realized I had a talent for teaching boxing,” he said. That recognition eventually led him back to someone he’d known since 2005 — Charly Suarez, his teammate on the national squad.  “Charly and I played boxing together in national and international tournaments …we are like brothers,” he said. That brotherhood carried over into the professional ranks. Suarez — former Olympian, decorated amateur — has built a sterling professional record. Boholst has been in his corner for all of it. His approach to coaching mirrors the values his parents instilled and his military service reinforced. “My role models in life are my parents, coaches, and people who worked hard to achieve their dreams with discipline and respect for others,” he said. “One of the lessons I want to pass on to the new generation is the importance of discipline and proper behavior. Talent alone is not enough — it also requires hard work, perseverance, respect, and self-belief. True success is not just about winning, but how you approach life and how you become a good person to others.” He is also a Freemason, a member of Teodoro M. Kalaw Lodge 136, GLP — another thread in a life woven through with brotherhood and obligation.  As July 11 approaches, Boholst has his eyes on Manuel “Tino” Avila, Suarez’s opponent — a tough fighter on home turf. “I know that Tino Avila is a tough opponent and he is still in his hometown, so I expect strong support for him,” Boholst said. “But we are ready for any situation. We trained well, we prepared well, we are focused. The stakes are high — everything we have worked hard for will be lost if Charly loses.” He knows what the night means beyond the result. “It is a great honor to be on Charly’s corner in this event and represent our country,” he said. “I know the importance of this card, especially with the many Filipinos in California and the Bay Area who will support and pray for us.” To the young athletes watching, he had a final word — one that covered sport, life, and faith in the same breath. “Always put discipline, hard work, and respect first,” he said.  Delfin Boholst, Boxer, Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (Photo by Emmanuel Rivera, 2010) “In sports, talent is not enough. You need perseverance, proper training, and readiness for challenges — that is how a true athlete is shaped. In life, do not rush success. There is a process for everything. Learn to rise from every mistake and use it as a lesson. And in spirituality — keep your faith and stay humble. No matter what you achieve, never forget where you started and who helped you get there. When you have faith and a good heart, you become stronger not just inside the ring, but in real life.” For a man who has spent his life in service — in uniform, on the national team, and now in the corner — those aren’t borrowed words. They’re the ones he lives by. ——  Ed Pereira and iV Boxing Presents: History in the Making • Saturday, July 11, 2026 • Civic Center Plaza • San Francisco, California Promoters: • Sampson Lewkowicz (Sampson Boxing) • Paco Damian (Paco Presents) • Akihiko Honda (Teiken Promotions) • Felix “Tuto” Zabala Jr. (All Star Boxing Inc.) Matchmakers: • Paco Damian & Christy Martin Featured Bouts: • Anthony Olascuaga vs. Andy Dominguez Velasquez • Yan Marcos vs. Guido Emmanuel Schramm • Charly Suarez vs. Manuel Avila • Gurgen Hovhannisyan vs. Uila Mau’u • Oscar Bonifacino vs. Raul Escudero • Blake Binskin vs. Elijah Smith California State Athletic Commission sanctioned. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Emmanuel Rivera, RRT.  |
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