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Philippines, 01 Jul 2025 |
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FILIPINO FIGHTERS: ARE THEY THE NEW BABY FACED ASSASINS? PhilBoxing.com Fri, 11 Sep 2009 When American Boxing Academy fight manager Ken Smith came to the Philippines, his interest was in youth boxing. "Me and my brother in-law Glen, we really started over there in 2006 with a small group of local amateur kids. Then after a year of competeing in barangay events and other competitions around Mindanao, we took our boys to the Philippine National Amateur boxing championships in Ilioilo city where together we finished 3rd place overall out of around 500 boxers" [2 gold 1 silver and 4 bronze]. Smith said, "I knew right then that I wanted to develop some of those boys into pro fighters." After painfully finding out that the Philippine amateur boxing progam was not a good fit for him to pursue his goal of boxing success, Smith and his Filipino fighters all quilckly moved over to the professional ranks. After almost 2O years out of professional boxing the American Smith found himself in the middle of the Philippines' explosion back to the top of the world of boxing. With the incredible success of boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao, he could easily see the incredible opportunity available for his Filipino fighters. So American Boxing Academy, already with a big training facility in Digos became a professional fight management and promotional company almost overnight. Smith saw the run coming on Filipino fighters and he wanted to be ready. He and his brother in-law Salazar began by recruiting a couple of unattached pro fighters[Laput and Lumacad] and they also selected a few from their own successful amateur team. That was the start of their new American Boxing Academy of the Philippines. ABA now has a stable of over 10 pro fighters. The young upstart program from Digos City had already promoted 15 shows all around the country in its first year. From Digos City to Cebu and back to Zamboanga, the ABA made its way across the Philippines fighting in mostly small rural towns in front of boxing crazy Filipino fans[the ABA sponsored show last month in Polomolok drew an estimated 6,000 Filipino fans]. ABA grew quickly and held shows all over the Islands while mostly headlining their future champion Ramie Laput. Laput also during this time won two WBO regional titles. Ramie Laput, the quiet husband and father of 3 from Davao city who has a lofty 38 wins 3 losses record and is currently the WBO InterContinental champ and rated #4 in the world rankings, is undisputedly American Boxing Academy's main man. Laput saw his career literaly skyrocket after coming out of a 3 yr retirement to fight on an early ABA promoted card. Since then and under ABA management and SGG Promotions, the smooth boxing Laput has shot to the top of the world ratings and appears to be in line for a world title fight soon. Behind Laput is Fernando Lumacad a 20-2-2 flyweight. Lumacad just last month lost a fight in the US to the legendary Mexican fighter and former 3 time world champion Jorge Arce. Even in the face of Lumacad's perfomance, a 3rd round KO loss, Smith still believes that the Filipino flyweight has not yet seen his potential. Lumacad has already returned to the ring with a 3rd round KO victory in his most recent bout. Ramie Laput at 30yrs old, and Lumacad, 23, along with unbeaten Superfly Bert Udtuhan [12-0 11KOs] who also is only 23 yrs old are the "seniors" on the closeknit ABA team. Smith said "the younger fighters admire and respect Laput a lot. They all see where hard work and commitment has gotten him, Ramie really is the standard in our gym, he is standing at the door of the world title." The entry into the pro ranks of young boxers like 19 yr old Froylan Salodar of Polomolok and 17 year old Erwin Romasassa of General Santos and Jerwin Ancahas of Cotobato, also just 17 years old, may have something to do with the recent rise of 19 year old and newly crowned world champion Marvelous Marvin Sonsona. The three young ABA fighters after all having had very accomplished amateur careers, have joined Laput at the American Boxing Academy stable and recently all three won their second fights as professionals. Another local teenager 19 year old Joebert Delos Reyes who after limited amateur experience has become an exciting and popular local preliminary attraction and is just another example of the youth movement going on in the Island's pro ranks. De los Reyes who is 6-1, 4Kos didnt even start boxing until last year after being inspired by his country's renewed dominance in the sport. Marlon Alta still another 19 yr old lightweight has been in the American Boxing Academys training camp for the last years awaiting the outcome of a contract dispute with his former management. ABA trainers are no exception to this the youth movement. The management, after trying a few different trainers including an American trainer, seems to have settled in with a couple Filipinos who are in their late 20s. "Yoki" as he is known to his team and Edwin Frial his assistant appear to have landed the job. The two trainers appear to be doing a good job working together with Laput and some of the other future prospects. Smith said "At ABA we have very young men to be pro boxers, and my trainers are also young. We have alot of time and a long way to go. Even they all have got talent or they would not be here, in boxing that alone does not guarantee success. It will take unbelievabley hard work and a committment from them to make it." The American Boxing Academy recently had announced its intention to move to Cebu to join forces with world renowned international promoter Sammy Gello-anni. Smith said that the move to Cebu is intended to give the ABA's Filipino fighters the opportunities not offered anywhere else in the Philippines, "Sammy G is the best promoter in the Philippines, the fighters he promote are all getting the big fights," said Smith. Gello-ani, the Philippines world traveling promoter who just returned from Canada the recently where he watched his 19 year old fighter 'Marvelous' Marvin Sonsona became the 2nd youngest Filipino world boxing champion ever. SGG Promotions has already begun to promote several ABA fighters including Laput. Smith said, "Sammy G either promotes or advises everyone of our fighters." The fighters in the Philippines are facing unprecedented opportunities as is Sammy Gello-ani and others in Philippine boxing. It appears Smith intends for his ABA boys to get a chance to be the next Pinoy boxing superkid and along with it a piece of the boxing riches that accompany the spot. FOOTNOTE: This September 24th WBO Intercontinetal champ Ramie Laput is scheduled to headline a Sammy G promoted non-title card in Naga, Cebu.  |
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