MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato ? Five boxers from the Brave Heart Stable of Gov. Manny Pinol successfully made their pro debuts last Saturday night (Jan. 20) at the Notre Dame of Midsayap College gym here.
After Reginald Isungga of Matalam scored a unanimous decision win against Rey Morano of Camiguin Province in a four-rounder, five other rookies from the Brave Heart boxing stable all won by knockouts.
Eighteen-year old Romel Asenjo, a native of Pigcawayan and flyweight champion in the 2006 Manny Pacquiao Cup, stopped Camiguin?s Ronnie Dumaran in 2:15 of the first round.
Five-foot-five Lorenzo Villanueva, 19, kayoed Lloyd Malinao of Davao City in 1:23 also in the opening round.
After absorbing left-right combinations, Malinao was able to connect a left cross to down Villanueva at the end of the first round.
But Villanueva, a former national gold medalist, came back strong in the second round with a solid blow on the face of Malinao for a standing knockdown. In the third canto, Villanueva continued his attack and ended the fight with another left cross.
Reynaldo Belandres, 20, a former RP team member, pummeled to submission Camiguin?s Aleg Dagooc in 1:21 of the first round, while another former national team member Rolando Magbanua of Pigcawayan survived a first round knockdown to land powerful punches and force Joe Galamiton of Zamboanga de Sur to quit in 1:12 of the third round.
?These boys are the products of the North Cotabato boxing program handled by the Cuban coach. We are optimistic that we can be able to produce the next Manny Pacquiao from them,? said Gov. Manny Pinol.
The fights served as the undercard of the ?Tapatan? 10-rounder
fight between Brave Heart?s Jundy Maraon and Saensak Singmanasak of Thailand.
Maraon stopped his Thai rival in just 2:35 of the first round.
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