KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews/Nov. 29)?North Cotabato will showcase its top amateur boxers during a boxing promotion at the M?lang Municipal gym on Dec. 9 in celebration the birthday of Gov. Emmanuel Manny Pinol. The amateur boxers are products of a yearlong training program of Cuban coach Honorato Espinosa supported by Gov. Pi?ol.
Lightweight Willie Lopez, 20 an Asian Games hopeful junked by the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) heads the list of the elite amateur boxers seeing action in the boxing promotion.
“This will be the first of his (Lopez) two last appearance as an amateur boxer. Lopez will also see action in the Manny Pacquiao boxing festival in General Santos City from December 17-21 before turning professional boxer next year,” Pi?ol said.
Also seeing action on December 9 are former national amateur boxers Reynaldo Belandres, 20, featherweight and Rolando Magbanua, 21, bantamweight. Like Lopez, Cuban coach Espinosa also handled Belandres and Magbanua before he went home to Cuba last month.
Belandres and Magbanua, both power puncher will also turn professional next year.
Seven professional bouts compete the card featuring undefeated bantamweight Jundy Maraon, 21, rated No. 8 who will fight Markyl Taroja of Butuan City while Glenn Porras, 21, No. 3 Jr. Bantamweight will face Jun Pader also of Butuan City.
Glenn Gonzales who underwent a bone-graft in his fracture left hand and did not fight for one year, will make a comeback in 6 rounds against Jun Demecillo of Davao City.
Other bouts include Edrin Dapudong against JR Jacinto, 4 rounds. 108 lbs.; and Reginald Isungga versus Darylwin Asuncion, 4 rounds, 105 lbs.
