Palileo to join RP boxing pool

BACOLOD – ABAP secretary-general Patrick Gregorio said yesterday 16-year-old discovery Robin Laraza Palileo, who migrated to Australia when he was two, will be offered a contract to join the national boxing pool with the goal of qualifying for the 2012 London Olympics.

Palileo was the standout in the six-day National Open, which ended Friday night at the Negros Occidental Multi-Purpose Activity Center. He blanked hometowner Rolando Dimorog, 20-0, in the semifinals and trounced North Cotabato’s Arnel Gepollano, 16-2, in the finals to capture the gold medal in the featherweight (57 kilogram limit) youth boys division.

Gregorio said Cuban coaches Enrique Steyners and Dagoberto Rojas, who witnessed the action at ringside, were both impressed with Palileo. “He has the perfect Olympic style,” said Gregorio. “According to coach Dagoberto, he is skilful, intelligent and trainable. Tony (Aldeguer) of Cebu was just as impressed. Robin has the tools to make it all the way to London.”

Palileo’s coach Ricardo Fortaleza, a 1970 Asian Games gold medalist and 1972 Olympian, said he will await ABAP’s offer and discuss the teenager’s future with his mother Imelda, a nurse in Sydney. Palileo’s parents are estranged.

The youngest of three boys, Palileo is in Grade 11 and will graduate from high school in Sydney this year. Gregorio suggested enrolling Palileo in UP.

Fortaleza, 58, started training Palileo in Blacktown, a Sydney suburb, three years ago. Palileo was introduced to boxing by his oldest brother Paolo. Another brother Ramon, 18, is also trying his luck as an amateur fighter. Fortaleza’s team is called the Blacktown Hit Squad, which is made up of 18 simonpures, including three Fil-Aussies.

Fortaleza, a full-time boxing coach, said he will resettle in Manila if Palileo joins the national pool. He left for Sydney in 2000 with his wife Elisa, who now works in a daycare center, and their three children.

Palileo’s style is suited for the amateurs. He relies more on quickness, footwork, defense, strategy, combinations and boxing ability than power and pure offense. “It’s all about hit and not be hit,” said Fortaleza. “Our dream is to go to London.”

ABAP chairman Manny V. Pangilinan’s recent announcement of a P12 million cash incentive for the Filipino fighter who wins an Olympic gold medal in London is a huge motivation but Fortaleza said what drives Palileo is his sense of national pride.

This was Palileo’s first visit to the country since 1994. Palileo has relatives in Alabang and Batangas. He stays with his mother and two brothers in Blacktown. Although his parents are separated, Palileo said he keeps in touch with his father Eduardo who also lives in Australia.

“My parents are excited for me although my mother gets scared whenever I fight,” he said. “I’ll do whatever my coach (Fortaleza) advises. If he wants to move back to Manila, that’s what I’ll do. I’m finishing up high school. My priority is education. I’d like to enrol in college and earn a degree. But I’m not closing the door on later turning pro either.”

Other youth fighters who shone in the National Open included Dodie Boy Peñalosa’s 17-year-old son Dave, WBO minimumweight champion Donnie Nietes’ nephew Gerson and Ricaredo Delgado of Silay City. In the elite level (19-34 years old), the champions were pinweight Michael Paragoso, lightflyweight Bill Vicera, flyweight Rey Saludar, bantamweight Godfrey Castro, featherweight Joan Tipon, lightweight Charly Suarez, lightwelterweight Genebert Basadre, welterweight Larry Semillano, middleweight Junie Tizon and lightheavyweight Jose Antioso.

The elite women’s gold medalists were pinweight Josie Gabuco, flyweight Alice Kate Aparri, bantamweight Annalisa Cruz, featherweight Annie Albania and lightwelterweight Michel Martinez who was the oldest champion at 32 years, nine months.