Showcasing another sterling performance, Davao del Norte emerged overall champion anew in the PLDT-Smart National Youth, Women's and Senior Boxing Championships that ended Saturday at the Robinson's Mall in Iloilo City.
The boxers from Barangay captured a total of 11 golds, eight silvers and four bronze medals to improve their performance last year in Cagayan de Oro.
Davao del Norte won eight golds in the youth division alone to underscore its dominance in amateur boxing and show to all and sundry it is now the country's spawning ground of talented pugs.
Former Davao del Norte congressman Tony Boy Floirendo, who was the one who started the highly succesful boxing program of the province, was in Iloilo to give moral support to the boxers. The program is now being handled by Rep. Anton Lagdameo.
Aside from the youth title, Davao del Norte also claimed the junior division crown and the cadet division diadem in the annual slugfest.
Bago City placed second behind Davao del Norte overall, while Bacolod City finished third.
Mark Anthony Barriga, Van Jun Saludar and Jerwin Ancajas bagged gold medals for Davao del Norte in the youth division.
Barriga won over Leome John Ovalo in the boys' mosquitoweight finals and was named one of the meet's best boxers.
Saludar captured the gold in the cottonweight over Lemwil Javines of Bago City, while Ancajas took the gold in the cadet flyweight after beating Bacolod's Genesis Servania via an RSC verdict.
