This article is published by FMA Circle of Negros Island with permission from the author of this piece, James U. Sy Jr., the premier martial arts historian and writer in the Negros Islands.The year 2004 was host to several amateur boxing tournaments held independently by the various Local Government Units, barangays, and puroks in the different cities in Negros Occidental.
The “Tinapungulay sa Punta Taytay III” Invitational Novice Amateur Boxing Tournament was held on March 11-12, 2004 at the Pta. Taytay Multi-Purpose Gym, Brgy. Pta. Taytay, Bacolod City as part of the village’s 43rd Charter Day Anniversary. 8 amateur boxing teams competed in the event. Barangay Granada-A was overall champion. Brgy. Pahanocoy, Brgy. Pta. Taytay, and Handumanan were 2nd to 4th places respectively.
The 4th and 5th Prk. Bulak Boxing Showdowns were held by Purok Sports Coordinator Joery C. Amante of the Black Falcon Martial Arts Association-Main (BFMAA-Main), Purok Assistant Sports Coordinator Rene Valdevieso, and the Prk. Bulak Council on May 23, 2004 and September 26, 2004 respectively at the Purok Bulak Basketball Court, Brgy. Mandalagan, Bacolod City.
10 amateur bouts were fought between boxers representing 8 groups from Bacolod City, Hinoba-an, Murcia, and Talisay City in the May event. BFMAA-Main was overall champion. Atleta Boxing Team of Coach Guillermo “Guimo” Retiban Jr. and Hinoba-an Boxing Team of Coach Anthony Nuñesco tied at 2nd place. Prk. Yanson was at 3rd place.
A total of 5 bouts were fought by amateur boxers from 3 teams in the September tournament. Prk. Bulak was land slide champion.
In Bago City, the Inter-Barangay Boxing Tournament was held by the Sanguniang Kabataan Federation of Bago City in cooperation with the Bago City Mayor’s Office as part of the city’s 38th Charter Day Anniversary on February 16, 2004. 24 boxers saw action in 11 weight divisions.
In San Carlos City, the 44th San Carlos Charter Day Invitational Amateur Boxing Tournament was held by the San Carlos City Boxing Team in June 2004. Boxing teams from 4 cities in Negros Occidental saw action. Host San Carlos was overall champion. Atleta Boxing Team, Escalante City Boxing Team, and Bacolod City Boxing Team were 2nd to 4th places respectively.
Boxing was also one of the sports competed in the San Carlos City Inter Barangay Summer Sportsfest 2004 which was held by the Local Government Unit headed by Mayor Eugenio Lacson in May 2004 at the San Carlos City Gym, San Carlos City. 16 out of 18 barangays of the city participated in the various sports events held. Brgy. 1 was overall champion of the 4-day boxing event. Brgy. Prosperidad and Codcod were 2nd and 3rd places respectively. Erick Caruskay of Brgy. 1 was adjudged best boxer with a KO in 1:15 in the 2nd round.
In Escalante City, the Inter-City Boxing Competition, Manlambus Festival Sports Tournament 2004 was held on May 30, 2004 as part of the city’s annual fiesta. Escalante City Boxing Team was overall champion. Cadiz City and San Carlos City were 2nd and 3rd places respectively.
The 2004 Panaad Amateur Boxing Tournament was the largest provincial level boxing tournament to be held in 2004, having been contested on March 29 to April 1, 2004 at the Panaad Park and Stadium, Brgy. Mansilingan, Bacolod City in line with the 2004 Panaad sa Negros Festival celebration. Bacolod City and La Castellana tied as overall champions. Bago City and Cadiz City were 2nd and 3rd place respectively.
On an interregional level, Cadiz City and the Atleta Boxing Team brought home a 0-2-2 and 0-0-2 medal haul respectively during the 17th Visayas Inter-City Development (Age Group) Boxing Championships “Mayor Thadeo Ouano Cup” organized by the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) on May 1-5, 2004 at the Mandaue City Plaza Square, Mandaue City, Cebu.
Silver medalists for Cadiz were DJ Dolorosa 945 kg.) and Julius Espeleta (48 kg.); bronze medalists, Fernando Alpar (34 kg.) and Aimeer Brillantes (42 kg.). Bronze medalists for Talisay City were Jeemay Bonza (36 kg.) and John Pasculado (42 kg.). Atleta Talisay City boxing trainor and director Guillermo “Guimoy” H. Retiban Jr. was adjudged “Best Referee” of the tournament.
A few days later, the 2004 National Youth Amateur/Open and Female Boxing Championships were held by Cong. Tonyboy Florendo and Panabo City Mayor Rey Gavina on May 23-29, 2004 at the Panabo City Multi-Purpose Gym, Panabo City, Davao Del Norte. 470 boxers and officials from 38 teams nationwide participated.
Gold medalists for Bago City were Mark Gil Millegen (Cadet Light Pinweight 44 KG) and Mark Jason Millegen (Senior-Open Light Welterweight 64 kg.); silver medalist, Francisco Palicta (Midget, Light Kiddie Weight 30 kg.); and bronze medalists, Nelson Arellano (Juniors Light Pinweight) and Bill Vicera (Seniors 45 kg.). Salvador Tizon of Philippine Navy-Trust B, formerly of Bago City took a silver in the senior-open light welterweight division.
Gold medalist for Cadiz City was Arman Alpar (Kids, No Weight 26 kg.); and bronze medalist, Lhyven Salazar (Senior-Open Flyweight 51 kg.). Warlito Parreñas of Philippine Navy-Trust A, formerly of Cadiz City, took a gold in the senior-open flyweight 51 kg. division.
Salem Namayan of Dumaguete City took a bronze in the cadet light pinweight 44 kg.
On an international level, two boxers from Cadiz City come to mind - Rexon Flores and Sukarno "Master Showman" Banjao.
Flores disposed Jerry Pahayahay via split decision in 10 rounds on May 21, 2004 at the Forts NBC Tent, Manila, Philippines before snatching the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia Pacific flyweight title on July 21, 2004 by beating Arel Phasuwungym of Thailand via unanimous decision in 10 rounds in Manila. Flores floored Phosuwangym in round 2 with a right straight punch. Flores became the first boxer from Cadiz City to fight for and win an international title.
Meanwhile, Sukarno Banhao of Cadiz City defeated Yongki Afrizal of Indonesia to win the vacant World Boxing Federation (WBF) flyweight title on September 25, 2004 at the Elorde Sports Complex, Cebu City.
Flores next TKOed Saming Twingym of Thailand in 1:30 of the 3rd round in a non-title bout during the 9-bout card “War at the Zone” organized by Promoter Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde, Jr. in cooperation with Family Rubbing Alcohol and Globe on November 27, 2004 at the Casino Filipino, Paranaque, Philippines.
In the same event, Banjao TKOed former Thailand flyweight champion Wisanu Pornobnom at 2:50 of the 9th round to make the first successful defense of his title.
In the main event, former WBC champion Gerry Penalosa (a.k.a. Gerónimo Peñalosa), 32, formerly of San Carlos City, KOed undefeated Bangsaen Sithpraprom of Thailand, 20, at 1:45 of the 7th round to win the vacant World Boxing Foundation (WBF) super flyweight title and become a 2-time world champion. Peñalosa improved to 48-5-2 33 KO; Sithpraprom fell to 14-1-0 7 KO.
Prior to that. Penalosa also TKOed Samingkao Chutipol in the 2nd round on September 19, 2004 at the Sports Complex, Mandaue City, Cebu
And finally, Roel Velasco of Bago City was one of the coaches for the Philippine Boxing Team who placed 2nd overall with a 2-2-1 medal haul during the 2004 Taiwan Women’s Boxing International Championships held in November 2004 at the Hualien City Cultural Center Mini Dome, Hualien County, Taiwan. 15 teams from 14 countries competed in the world ranking tournament. Mitchel Martinez of Pulupandan took home a silver medal in the lightweight class.
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