Cebu fighters power way to medal bouts

PUERTO PRINCESA, Palawan — Cebu City, a spawning ground of boxing talents outside Bago City in Bacolod, finally hogged the spotlight after being relegated to the background in the first four days as it sent three fighters into the next round in Day 5 of the 2003 National Open Men and Women Amateur Boxing Championships at the Puerto Princesa Coliseum here.

Lightweight Caesar Amonsot, a Bohol native who tried his luck in Cebu, led the rampage of the Queen City of the South bets by bundling out South Cotabato’s Reomer dela China in the second round via a RSC-O verdict.

The abbreviated victory assured the 17-year-old Amonsot, eighth of nine siblings, of a silver medal and a crack at prominence against perhaps the best boxer in his class.

Ang totoo, nanggaling pa ako sa Bohol para makipagsapalaran sa Cebu dahil gusto ko tulungan ang Nanay at mga kapatid kong makabangon sa kahirapan," said Amonsot in broken Filipino. "Sa boxing lang ako nakakita ng pagkakataon para ma-abot ko ang mga pangarap ko."

But he will have to beat veteran internationalist Roel Laguna to achieve his dream.

The 22-year-old Laguna, member of many a national team in various international competitions, gave a stern warning to Amonsot by whipping Zamboanga City’s Rasul Alcid in just 1.10 minutes of power boxing.

Gusto ko talaga tapusin agad ang laban para hindi ako masyadong mapagod," said Laguna. "Kaya nung nakita ko na mahina ang kaha niya, doon ko na siya binanatan."

A worried Ambrocio Maquilan, Alcid’s coach, quickly went up to their corner after the match to check on his ward’s condition.

"Okey lang yun, matagal nang lumalaban sa international yun (Laguna) e pero tinamaan ko rin naman siya ng ilang beses. Mahirap lang talaga talunin, malakas sumuntok, kaya pwede na sa akin yung bronze," said Alcid, saying it was an honor to exchange blows with an RP team member.

Amonsot’s teammates, Nicolas Banal and Ruel Macario also hurdled their respective rivals to barge into the semifinals. Banal overwhelmed Dagupan City’s Billy Quinto, 75-41, while Macario edged La Union’s Von Refuezo in a pair of victories that assured them of at least a bronze medal.

Laguna’s teammate, Franklin Albia also pulled off a big win, beating fellow RP team member Roberto Lerio, the younger brother of Arlan and Danilo, of Cotabato Province, 55-47, to advance into the semis of the light flyweight division.

Also winning their bouts were the Philippine Army and Puerto Princesa, which sent two pugs each into the next round. Godfrey Castro (light fly) and Francis Joven (welter) delivered the wins for the Army while the Romeo Brin-mentored Puerto Princesa squad drew victories from Jimmy Ambray (light fly) and David Dalope (welter).