Tagbilaran paces Inter-City boxing

The show went on after minor kinks were ironed out even as defending champion Tagbilaran City proved that its supremacy last year was not just by luck after sending all seven bets to the semifinal round of the 20th Visayas Inter-City Developmental Amateur Boxing Championship in Tacloban City.

After earning a bye in the elimination round, three more Tagbilaran bets joined their teammates in the penultimate round after defeating their respective opponents.

Francis Lee Cutanda, the 38 kilogram bet, only needed a minute and 28 seconds in the second round to earn a referee-stop-contest outclass (RSC-O) decision against Palo, Leyte's Harold Dazo.

Cutanda's teammate, Noel Adelmita also outclassed his opponent, Jericho Pantas of Palo,Leyte, 1:05 in the third round of the 42kgs class.

Marlon Arresga made sure he goes to the next round after pulling a 4-1 win against Mandaue's Earwin Felocia in the 48kgs division.

The first day of competition also saw Cebu City Niños and Mandaue with two boxers out of contension.

Mandaue is left with five boxers to the next round and Cebu City with four after sending only a total of six in Tacloban.

Mandaue's Gerald Suico silenced Gilbert Tila-on of Burawin, 5-0 in the 34kgs class and the win was duplicated by Jeferson Barriga in the 36kgs against Barios Buenaventura also of Burawin, 5-0, while Darios Luga grabbed a 3-2 win against Vic Percival Octa in the 42kgs division.

Cebu City's Jomari Yuson handed Mandaue's second loss when he dumped Gendieboy Mahusay, 5-0, in the 40kgs category.

First-timer in this ABAP-Visayas-sanctioned event, Donald Tubod joined Yuson and two other teammates to the next round after earning a 4-1 victory opposite Raymond Saludo of Palo in the 38kgs division.

Two other Niños were not as lucky, however with 42kgs Bryan Pantilgan losing by a point against Tacloban's Romnick Villegas, 2-3, while 48kgs Gimmel Macaron was overpowered by another host bet, Damaso, Oledan, 4-1.

Villegas' two other teammates, 38kgs Junrey Gayola made sure not to be defeated too after taking a 3-2 win against Burawin's Gerben Ferraren and 45kgs Junrel Casimiro taking a 4-1 win against Palo's Vincent Mirasol.