Friday, May 09, 2008 Tipon, Pabila post Abap national open victories By Henry C. Villalva
NATIONAL boxers Joan Tipon and Albert Pabila kicked off their campaign in the ongoing 2008 Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (Abap) PLDT-Smart National Open, Youth and Women's Amateur Boxing Championships on the right note this week, defeating their respective opponents while seeing action for Philippine Army and Philippine Air Force, respectively, at the Robinson's mall in Iloilo City.
Tipon of Barangay Banago, Bacolod City, the 15th Asian Games bantamweight champion, served notice of wanting to erase the bad memory of a heartbreaking stint last year by posting a second round stoppage (CCL) of Northern Samar's Allan Manaog.
Meanwhile, defending light flyweight champion Pabila of Barangay Handumanan, Bacolod City, the 24th Southeast Asian Games bronze medallist, tallied a convincing 28-7 decision win over Rinel Mandate of Cebu City.
"It was not an easy win but I like what I did to defeat my opponent," Pabila told Sun.Star Bacolod in a text message Thursday.
Both Pabila and Tipon are products of the Negros Amateur Boxing Association (Naba), headed by former Bacolod City Councilor and now Games and Amusements Board (GAB) commissioner Juan Ramon 'Monju' Guanzon.
Another Naba product, former RP team member and 2001 Acropolis Cup gold medallist Lhyven Salazar of Bacolod City, campaigning for defending seniors champion Philippine Navy, anchored his team's title retention bid with an RSC (outclassed) win over Dionisio Magarso of Iloilo.
On the other hand, four boxers from the Monico Golden Gloves stable of Bacolod City Representative Monico Puentevella advanced to the next stage Thursday after posting initial victories in the youth division - Gerson Nietes, Eljean Hermedalla, Genesis Servania and Labordo.
Monico Golden Gloves organizing committee chairman Monico 'Nicky' Puentevella Jr. on Thursday told Sun.Star Bacolod he will be at ringside Friday until Sunday to give moral support to Bacolod boxers who will advance to the final stages of this ABAP centerpiece event.
Both Pabila and Tipon had earlier intimated that they would have wanted to represent Bacolod City in the Abap national open event if given the opportunity.
