RP best boxers slug it out in National Open

PUERTO PRINCESA, Palawan — After a pair of postponements, the country’s best and brightest amateur boxers finally got it going Sunday as the 2003 National Open Men’s and Women’s Amateur Boxing Championship came off the wraps at the newly-built Puerto Princesa Coliseum here.

A total of 14 bouts in three weight categories — flyweight, bantamweight and featherweight — were being contested at presstime with bouts featuring Puerto Princesa’s Jimmy Ambray, Arjie Laput and Joas Guardian and Palawan’s Christopher Fernandez and Benho Estepano expected to keep the crowd up on its feet.

The team to watch in this meet, which drew 25 men’s teams and five women’s squads, is the Philippine Navy, bannered by national team mainstays Roel Laguna (lightweight) and Gegen Ladon (featherweight).

"Matagal nang gigil ‘yung mga bata dahil matagal-tagal na rin kaming nag-e-ensayo," said Navy coach Roel Velasco, the 1992 Barcelona Olympics bronze medalist.

"Gigil na kasi silang magpakita dito," added Velasco, who is also a member of the RP team coaching staff.

Other entries will come from La Union, Camarines Norte, Zamboanga del Norte, Philippine Air Force, Philippine Army, South Cotabato, Cotabato Province, Baguio, Cebu, Manila, Sorsogon, Dagupan, Dipolog, Cavite and Mandaluyong.

Palawan Gov. Joel Reyes graced the opening of the seven-day event, which is part of the eliminations being staged by the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP), for the national team that will see action in the Vietnam SEA Games this December.

Joining Reyes in the opener were top local officials, including Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn.

"Ito po’y isang panaginip na maganap dito sa Palawan sa unang pagkakataon ang importante at prestihiyosong paligsahan na ito," said Reyes before the 120 participants and a big Sunday crowd.

"Ang hiniling ko lang ay makadiskubre sana tayo ng kahit isang boksingerong taga-Palawan na magrerepresenta sa bansa sa internasyonal na kumpetisyon balang araw," he added.

Former Manila Mayor and ABAP president emeritus Mel Lopez and secretary-general Rene Fortaleza also attended the colorful rites.