Bauang hosts muay thai tiff

MANILA, Philippines – The grudge match between Jonathan Polosan, last year’s world championship bronze medalist, and Zaidi Laruan, silver and bronze medalist the past two Southeast Asian Games, topbills the Muaythai Battle of the Best in Bauang, La Union April 27.

Laruan of Baguio City pulled the rug from under Cagayan de Oro’s Polosan, 2008 Prince Cup champion, for the win that also     earned him the best fighter in the 2009 Battle of the Best’s initial leg at the Makati Sports Club last February.

Most improved athlete Jason Sawangin (Baguio), the 2007 Philippine Olympic Festival gold medalist, faces his toughest assignment yet in Romnick Pabalate (Negros Oriental), 2007 Asian champion who knocked out two-time world champion Roland Claro last February.

The event, a feature of the town’s weeklong fiesta celebration, is hosted by Mayor Bobby de Guzman and organized by the Muay Association of the Philippines under Red Dumuk. PTT Philippines Corp. is the event partner.

“The Bauang town folks who love exciting action are happy to see our top muaythai boxers in action before they compete in the first Asian Martial Arts Games where we expect them to win honors for the country anew,” said De Guzman.

2007 bronze medal winners Antipolo City’s Ronnie Catampatan (in world championship) and Cebu City’s Eugene Toquero (in Asian championship) test the mettle of POF champions Alvin Velasco and Tyrone Naticho, both of Baguio City, respectively.

Baguio City’s Jay Olod, 2007 SEA Games bronze medal winner, clashes with tough greenhorn Johnson Kayachen of Bontoc, Mt. Province.

The tiffs between Baguio City’s Clint Annawe (POF gold) and Fernando Venus (POF silver); San Carlos City’s Armando Daligdig (POF gold) and Cagayan de Oro’s Jay Malubay (POF gold); and Baguio City’s Benedicto Alumno and Antipolo City’s Orlando Esmin (POF silver) round out the semi-professional bouts (no body armor and head gear).

In the amateur bouts, La Union fighters Santos Calalanoy (POF silver), Jose Lao-eng and Junjie Balawan, both runners-up in Baguio championship, collide with Zamboanga City’s Ryan Jakiri (POF gold), Benguet’s Satur Asiong (nationals finalist) and Benguet’s Ricky Halili (Pangbenga champ) in that order; while Baguio City’s Edmundo Velasco Jr. (CAR champ) is ranged versus Mt. Province’s Danilo Dacuyan (kickboxing champion).