Gabunilas to fight Espinas in non-title bout in San Fernando on Dec. 20
CEBU CITY, Philippines — ARQ Boxing Promotions will have one of its banner boxers, John Paul Gabunilas, fight in the main event of their stacked fight card on Dec. 20, 2022 at the Municipality of San Fernando gymnasium in southern Cebu. The 22-year-old Gabunilas of Barangay Pardo, Cebu City will be donning his new moniker […] The post Gabunilas to fight Espinas in non-title bout in San Fernando on Dec. 20 appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Gabunilas to fight Espinas in non-title bout in San Fernando on Dec. 20
CEBU CITY, Philippines — ARQ Boxing Promotions will have one of its banner boxers, John Paul Gabunilas, fight in the main event of their stacked fight card on Dec. 20, 2022 at the Municipality of San Fernando gymnasium in southern Cebu. The 22-year-old Gabunilas of Barangay Pardo, Cebu City will be donning his new moniker […] The post Gabunilas to fight Espinas in non-title bout in San Fernando on Dec. 20 appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Engkwentro 8 a go: Gabunilas, Espinas make weight, ready to rumble for non-title bout
CEBU CITY, Philippines — It’s all systems go for the “Engkwentro 8”slugfest tomorrow, Dec. 20, in San Fernando town, south Cebu as featured boxers passed the official weigh-in on Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. The official weigh-in happened at the Vienna Kaffehaus in Cebu City earlier today. The main event protragonists in John Paul “The Destroyer” […] The post Engkwentro 8 a go: Gabunilas, Espinas make weight, ready to rumble for non-title bout appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Piala, Alberca make weight, ready to fight in Engkwentro 10 mainer in San Fernando
CEBU CITY, Philippines — ARQ Boxing Stable’s Rodex “War Machine” Piala and Alan Alberca are ready to trade leathers in the main event of “Engkwentro 10” of the ARQ Sports after passing the official weigh-in on Friday. The non-title bout is scheduled for 10 rounds will be held at the San Fernando Municipal Sports Complex, […] The post Piala, Alberca make weight, ready to fight in Engkwentro 10 mainer in San Fernando appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Marcial ready to rumble
Tokyo Olympic middleweight boxing bronze medalist Eumir Marcial brushed off Steven Pichardo’s advantage in height and experience, declaring himself ready to steamroll his 6-1 opponent in their six-round bout at the Dignity Health Sports Park here this morning (Manila time). The fight will be in the undercard of the IBF superflyweight title match between champion Fernando Martinez and challenger Jerwin Ancajas......»»
How Hong Kong became a fencing powerhouse and cheered up a city
Hong Kong is one of the smaller Asian Games teams by population, but when it comes to fencing the city is a regional heavyweight with ambitious medal hopes. Edgar Cheung won gold at the Covid-delayed Tokyo Games two years ago -- Hong Kong's first Olympic fencing title and first Olympic gold in any sport in a quarter of a century. It turned Cheung into a celebrity overnight and prompted parents across the Chinese territory of 7.5 million people to rush and sign their children up for fencing classes. Cheung's historic win in the foil competition was a much-needed dose of good news for a city mired in social unrest and pandemic gloom at the time. With more funding and public attention as a result, Cheung and his team-mates now hope to stamp their mark on the Asian Games in Hangzhou when they open on Saturday. Despite a strong record at recent editions, including eight medals in the sport in 2018, Hong Kong is yet to win fencing gold at the Asian Games. "No matter for individual or team events, I hope we can (win gold at last)," the softly spoken Cheung, 26, said. The city will have 24 fencers, 12 women and 12 men, at the Games. Another gold-medal contender is 29-year-old Vivian Kong, who is ranked number two in the world in women's epee. There is also Ryan Choi, who along with Cheung was part of the Hong Kong team that won bronze in the men's team foil at the world championships in July. Cheung said the Hong Kong team have "improved greatly" since the 2018 Games in Jakarta. The left-hander, who has recovered from a recent wrist injury, told AFP he wanted to "prove to our competitors they need to beware of us". - Pathway to success - Fencing in the city stretches back decades, to when Hong Kong was a British colony, with its amateur fencing association founded in 1949. The city had occasional success in the early 2000s, but it was the 2010 Asian Games, where Hong Kong fencers won seven medals, that first established them as a regional powerhouse. Local organisers made efforts to popularise the sport, bringing classes to schools and community hubs in the past two decades -– that is where Cheung had his first taste of fencing. Fencers also benefited from a reform to Hong Kong's pipeline for discovering and training talent which allowed Cheung to devote himself to the sport full-time when he was 17 with his parents' blessing. Cheung's final bout at the Tokyo Olympics drew hundreds of fans who crowded into a Hong Kong mall to watch the live broadcast, popping champagne corks after he emerged victorious. Days later, then-city leader Carrie Lam announced more funding for elite Hong Kong athletes, including an expansion to the fencing hall at the institute where Cheung trains. Fencing schools reported a spike in applications, although observers say interest has since tapered off somewhat. - Warning for star man - Gregory Koenig, who previously coached in his native France and also Taiwan, began working with Hong Kong's fencers five years ago and has developed a close relationship with Cheung. He had a warning for Hong Kong's star man, who has slipped to seventh in the men's foil world rankings. "When you're Olympic champion it's very hard because everybody has an eye on you and everybody's fighting hard against you," Koenig said. He said he told Cheung: "You have to understand that many people fight all their life to reach the goal you've already reached." "Okay, do you think you reached the maximum level and you want to stop here? Or are you still motivated for more?" Koenig says he told Cheung. "He told me, 'No, I really want to put my name in the history of fencing.'" hol/pst © Agence France-Presse The post How Hong Kong became a fencing powerhouse and cheered up a city appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Santiago earns decision win over Donaire for vacant WBC bantamweight title
Mexico's Alexandro Santiago earned a unanimous 12-round decision over former four-division champion Nonito Donaire on Saturday to claim the vacant World Boxing Council bantamweight world title. Santiago, 27, claimed the first world title of his career as he denied the 40-year-old "Filipino Flash," who was aiming to rebound from a brutal second-round knockout loss to Japan's Naoya Inoue 13 months ago. Donaire, who has held world titles at flyweight, bantamweight, super-bantamweight and featherweight, kept it close in the early going and rocked Santiago with a left hook in the third round. But he couldn't match Santiago's pace as the fight progressed, the Mexican landing a barrage of convincing blows in the ninth round and quickly halting Donaire's momentum in the when the Philippines fighter came out looking to land a big blow. One judge scored the bout 115-113 and the other two saw it 116-112 for Santiago, who improved to 28-3 with five drawn and 14 knockouts. "It's been an honor to fight such a legend like Nonito Donaire," said Santiago, who was brought to tears in the ring as Donaire offered a congratulatory hug in the ring. Donaire fell to 42-8 with 28 knockouts and said he thought he had more go do in the ring. "Disappointed," he admitted, but added: "I feel good still. I love the sport so much." He said he and his wife, Rachel, who trains and manages him, will have a conversation to "see where we go from there. "But I know I felt good," he said. "There were just some things that didn't trigger." Was that because he's 40 years old, Donaire was asked. "I say 'Hell no' to that," he said. The fight at T-Mobile Arena was on the undercard of the highly anticipated welterweight world title unification bout between unbeaten Americans Errol Spence and Terence Crawford. bb/sev © Agence France-Presse The post Santiago earns decision win over Donaire for vacant WBC bantamweight title appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
All systems go for Paradero vs Mama bout in South Cotabato
CEBU CITY, Philippines—The battle of ex-world title challengers is officially a go as Jayson “Smasher” Mama and Robert “Kapitan Inggo” Paradero both passed the mandatory weigh-in on Monday at the Sanman Boxing Gym in General Santos City. Mama and Paradero, both tipped the weighing scales exactly at 112 pounds. Both well known boxers will fight […] The post All systems go for Paradero vs Mama bout in South Cotabato appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Unbeaten Boholano boxer Nicolas invades Japan
CEBU CITY, Philippines— Daniel “Vaquero” Nicolas of PMI Bohol Boxing Stable will try to make a good impression on Japan’s boxing community when he takes on local boy Kenji Fujita in an eight-round, non-title bout at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan on Saturday, June 3, 2023. This will be Nicolas’ first fight abroad and […] The post Unbeaten Boholano boxer Nicolas invades Japan appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
‘Tank’ crushes Garcia
LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Unbeaten Gervonta “Tank” Davis handed Ryan Garcia the first defeat of his career on Saturday, stopping the Californian with a paralyzing body shot in the seventh round of their marquee fight in Las Vegas, Nevada. Davis, who has won five world titles in three weight classes, added another highlight reel knockout to his collection as he improved to 29-0 with 27 knockouts. Garcia was making the running in the second round when Davis drilled him with a left overhand counterpunch to send him to the canvas. The knockout blow was blindingly fast as Davis took advantage of an advancing Garcia, landing another heavy left to Garcia’s ribcage. After staggering back, Garcia steadied and attempted to square up before dropping to one knee — unable to rise before referee Thomas Taylor counted to 10. “It was a good shot,” Davis said. “I thought he was going to get up. I was looking at him, trying to tell him ‘get up.’” “And he just shook his head.” There was no title on the line, nor any battle for dominance in the 135- or 140-pound classes. But the fight at a 136-pound catchweight, which headlined a pay-per-view card and drew an enthusiastic, celebrity-studded crowd to the T-Mobile Arena, lived up to the hype generated by the clash of unbeatens. “I am the face of boxing,” said Davis, who had never headlined a pay-per-view card despite earning world titles at super-featherweight, lightweight and super-lightweight. “I just saw Rihanna perform at the Super Bowl and I was like that was going to be me one day, and here we are,” he said. “It definitely matches the dream. But the job’s never done til I retire. So I’m going to keep my head down, stay humble and continue to work.” Garcia, meanwhile, will have to go back to the drawing board after falling to 23-1 with 19 knockouts. The 24-year-old’s hand speed and punching power make him a formidable opponent, and his massive social media presence has made him a mainstream celebrity, but he has yet to earn a top-flight world title. After a testy build-up to the bout, Garcia was gracious in defeat, calling it “an honor” to be in the ring with Davis. “He just caught me with a good shot,” Garcia said. “I just couldn’t recover. Snuck under me and caught me good.” He said he didn’t want to elaborate, but when asked agreed he couldn’t breathe. “I was going to get back up, but I just couldn’t get up,” he said. The post ‘Tank’ crushes Garcia appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Davis stops Garcia to remain unbeaten in marquee bout
Unbeaten Gervonta Davis handed Ryan Garcia the first defeat of his career on Saturday, stopping the Californian with a paralyzing body shot in the seventh round of their marquee fight in Las Vegas, Nevada. Davis, who has won five world titles in three weight classes, added another highlight reel knockout to his collection as he improved to 29-0 with 27 knockouts. Garcia was making the running in the second round when Davis drilled him with a left overhand counterpunch to send him to the canvas. The knockout blow was blindingly fast as Davis took advantage of an advancing Garcia, landing another heavy left to Garcia's ribcage. After staggering back, Garcia steadied and attempted to square up before dropping to one knee -- unable to rise before referee Thomas Taylor counted to 10. "It was a good shot," Davis said. "I thought he was going to get up. I was looking at him, trying to tell him 'get up.' "And he just shook his head." There was no title on the line, nor any battle for dominance in the 135- or 140-pound classes. But the fight at a 136-pound catchweight, which headlined a pay-per-view card and drew an enthusiastic, celebrity-studded crowd to the T-Mobile Arena, lived up to the hype generated by the clash of unbeaten. "I am the face of boxing," said Davis, who had never headlined a pay-per-view card despite earning world titles at super-featherweight, lightweight and super-lightweight. "I just saw Rihanna perform at the Super Bowl and I was like that was going to be me one day, and here we are," he said. "It definitely matches the dream. But the job's never done til I retire. So I'm going to keep my head down, stay humble and continue to work." Garcia, meanwhile, will have to go back to the drawing board after falling to 23-1 with 19 knockouts. The 24-year-old's hand speed and punching power make him a formidable opponent, and his massive social media presence has made him a mainstream celebrity, but he has yet to earn a top-flight world title. After a testy build-up to the bout, Garcia was gracious in defeat, calling it "an honor" to be in the ring with Davis. "He just caught me with a good shot," Garcia said. "I just couldn't recover. Snuck under me and caught me good." He said he didn't want to elaborate, but when asked agreed he couldn't breathe. "I was going to get back up, but I just couldn't get up," he said. The post Davis stops Garcia to remain unbeaten in marquee bout appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Engkwentro 9: Confident Gabunilas promises entertaining fight against Indonesia foe
CEBU CITY, Philippines —ARQ Boxing Stable’s John Paul “Angas ng Cebu” Gabunilas promises a highly-entertaining fight against Indonesian Wandi Priman Hulu in the main event of “Engkwentro 9” fight card tomorrow, March 24, at the Talisay City sports complex, south Cebu. Gabunilas, one of ARQ’s banner boxers, expressed his confidence in winning the bout in […] The post Engkwentro 9: Confident Gabunilas promises entertaining fight against Indonesia foe appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Wenceslao pulls out of Engkwentro 9, to fight for WBF title in South Africa
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Rodel “The Hulk” Wenceslao the hard-hitting welterweight prospect of the ARQ Boxing Stable is pulling out from his scheduled bout in the “Engkwentro 9” fight card on March 24, 2023, in Talisay City. This was after he accepted a bigger offer to fight in South Africa. The 29-year-old Wenceslao will fight […] The post Wenceslao pulls out of Engkwentro 9, to fight for WBF title in South Africa appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Kingad hopes latest win propels him back to ONE world title conversation
In an impressive outing after a lengthy layoff, Kingad showed his wares against the Indonesian fighter who entered their fight on a seven-bout win streak......»»
Gaballo to fight Thai boxer in title eliminator bout for WBC world bantamweight title
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Former world title challenger Reymart “Assassin” Gaballo will likely get a chance for another world title shot after the World Boxing Council (WBC) officially ordered a world title eliminator bout against another contender this year. The 26-year-old Gaballo of the vaunted Sanman Boxing Team in General Santos City will face Nawaphon […] The post Gaballo to fight Thai boxer in title eliminator bout for WBC world bantamweight title appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Gabunilas eyes WBO Youth title fight this year
CEBU CITY, Philippines — John “Angas ng Cebu” Gabunilas, the prizefighter of ARQ Boxing Stable is hoping to capture the WBO Youth light flyweight title this year. The 22-year-old hard-hitting Cebuano boxer who is the reigning Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) Youth light flyweight champion is considered one of the top prospects in the […] The post Gabunilas eyes WBO Youth title fight this year appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Suarez delivers as promised
It didn’t take long for Rio Olympian Charly Suarez to make good on his promise to show no mercy in halting Indonesian Defry Palulu in their scheduled 12-round bout for the vacant IBF Asia superfeatherweight title in Vietnam Saturday night. Suarez blasted Palulu from pillar to post and left him unable to continue at the end of the second round, prompting Thai referee Surat Soikrachang to end the fight......»»
Anomalies in Pacman’s fight quashed
WBA referee/judge Silvestre Abainza and WBC judge Rey Danseco said yesterday there is no basis to claims by referee Carlos Padilla that anomalies marred the fight between Manny Pacquiao and Australian Nedal Hussein in Antipolo 22 years ago. Padilla, who was the third man in the ring when Pacquiao scored a 10th-round TKO over Hussein, recently revealed he committed indiscretions during the WBC International superbantamweight title bout......»»
Santisima eyes another KO win in Japan vs fearsome foe
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Former world title challenger Jeo “Santino” Santisima eyes to duplicate his impressive knockout win in Japan last August against another hometown prospect on December 11, 2022, at the EDION Arena in Osaka, Japan. Santisima will face Toshiki Shimomachi in a 10-rounder non-title bout in the fight card put up by Green […] The post Santisima eyes another KO win in Japan vs fearsome foe appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
‘Angas ng Cebu’ Gabunilas has opponent for Oct. 15 fight
CEBU CITY, Philippines—World Boxing Council (WBC) Asian Boxing Council No. 2 ranked minimumweight John Paul “Angas ng Cebu” Gabunilas found a suitable opponent for his bout in the undercard of “Engkwentro VII” on October 15, 2022 at the Consolacion Sports Complex in Consolacion town, northern Cebu. The 22-year-old hard-hitting Gabunilas of Barangay Pardo, Cebu City […] The post ‘Angas ng Cebu’ Gabunilas has opponent for Oct. 15 fight appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
PMI Bohol’s Amparo gears up for first fight abroad
CEBU CITY, Philippines—PMI Bohol Boxing Stable’s Jake “El Bambino” Amparo will fight in hostile territory as he faces unbeaten African Mthokozisi Ngxaka in a non-title bout on October 23, 2022, (October 24, Manila Time) at the Premier Hotel EL ICC in East London, South Africa. This will be the first time the 25-year-old Amparo of […] The post PMI Bohol’s Amparo gears up for first fight abroad appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»