CEBU City?s Amateur Boxing program is back on track.
For the first time since Cebu?s noted boxing patron Antonio L. Aldeguer decided to concentrate in the pro ranks, an amateur team from Cebu City has won an overall championship.
TCC Boxing won the overall title in the 1st Smart-ABAP Area Boxing Tournament for the Visayas held at the Ormoc City Superdome Thursday evening, five years after Aldeguer renounced his seat as director for boxing at the Cebu City Sports Commission.
Cebu City took home nine gold medals, six silvers and three bronzes in the tournament that was participated by 13 teams including powerhouses Bago and Bacolod cities.
Margarito Moya (31 kgs.), Jack Tepora (40), Danlou Codilla (42), Junlem Payao (48), Edu Serrano (50), Andriano Pescante (45), Anthony Sabalde (48), Marjun Baliguat (51) and Joelito Tuastumban (54) each won a gold medal to put Cebu City?s amateur boxing on top.
The silver medals were delivered by Melmark Dignos (28), Junrel Jimenez (35) and Velmark Dignos (38), Allan Repula (50), Timoteo Altuba (54) and Ranni Calumba (60).
In the clash for the gold medal, Moya defeated Charles Banes of Bacolod City, 9-8; Tepora won, 14-11, over Alvin Sibugan of Bacolod City; Codilla was too much for Sonny Boy Abella of San Carlos City, 11-3; Payao beat Junrel Maombro of Danao-Bohol, 16-7.
Unexpected
On the other hand, Serrano defeated teammate Allan Repuela, 11-10; Pescante survived a 17-16 win over Martin Cordova of Bago City; Sabalde won, 23-16, over Gideon Cordova also of Bago City, Baliguat dealt Jeson Concepcion of Northern Samar a 9-6 decision; and Tuastumba scored a Referee Stopped Contest (RSC) in 1:22 of the second round over teammate Timoteo Altubar.
Melmark, the younger of the Dignos siblings, lost to Jed Lescao of Bago City, 11-6, while Jimenez bowed to Remart Alera also of Bago 17-15.
Velmark Dignos lost to Jolrem Labordo and Calumba lost to Dennis Calvan of Bago City via RSC in 2:22 of the third round. TCC Boxing head coach Efren Tabanas told Sun.Star Cebu that he did not expect to win that many medals.
?Honestly, I did not expect that we will come out as the champion and with this number of gold medals because the other teams were very prepared and were also very tough,? Tabanas said.
