Tañamor sparks Army’s six-gold surge

TUBOD, Lanao del Norte–Bantamweight Godfrey Castro became the lone casualty for Philippine Army as the Armymen went six out of seven in the finals of the National Amateur Boxing Olympic Festival which ended Monday night at the Mindanao Civic Center here.

Olympians Harry Tañamor (lightflyweight) and Violito Payla (flyweight), Southeast Asian Games titlist Genebert Basadre (lightweight), ageless Romeo Brin (welterweight), Francis Joven (light-heavyweight) and Maraon Golez (heavyweight) won their respective finals in convincing fashions to grab the overall honors in the slugfest presented by the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines and sponsored by Pacific Heights.

Elorde-Parañaque boxing team won three golds courtesy of Joan Tipon, who outslugged Castro, 11-7, in the bantamweight finals; Junel Cantancio, 39-19 winner over Rene Bucag in the featherweight class and light-welterweight Delfin Boholst, who won by RSC (Referee stopped contest, Ist round) over Cordio Jimenez of Ozamiz City.

The day’s biggest highlight, came during the main event between Olongapo City’s "Knockout" artist Martin Jr. and Victor Ang-Og of iligan City in the middleweight finals.

Martin lagged behind on points halfway through the second round when a thunderous right landed on the jaw of Ang-Og who fell flat on his back.

The same knockout punch also enabled the 17-year-old Martin to win his semifinal bout.

Davao del Norte Jr. won the overall title in the junior division with four golds, while University of Baguio-Shape Up ruled the women’ s division with two golds courtesy of Alice Kate Aparri (pinweight) and Jouvilet Chilem (featherweight).

Lanao del Norte officials headed by Gov. Imelda Quibranza Dimaporo graced the final day of competitions. Earlier, Rep. Bobby Dimaporo asked the competing teams and ABAP officials to spread the word that Lanao del Norte is a very peaceful place to visit.

"I request all of you to be the ambassadors of goodwill of our place,’‘ said Rep. Dimaporo, who also thanked ABAP president Manny Lopez for not thinking twice in bringing the Olympic boxing festival here.