Pacquiao win inspires Baguio City’s young boxers

Manny Pacquiao opening up his eight-week long training camp in Baguio City proved to be an inspiration for boxers in the country’s Summer Capital with several of them flocking at the Shape Up Gym inside the Cooyesan Hotel just to get a glimpse of the Filipino ring icon. Now Javier Malulan, brothers Jon-Jon and Siayas Bolcio, and Leonel Mark Duran are honing their skills daily under the watchful eye of coach Jovan Presbiterio hoping that someday their careers would end up just like the newly-crowned seven-division champion. Pacquiao collected his seventh world title after scoring a 12th round technical knockout win over Miguel Cotto to snatch the Puerto Rican's World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight crown. He also wrested the diamond-studded World Boxing Council (WBC) Diamond Belt, an honorary championship given for elite boxers. The General Santos City native Pacquiao – who started fighting as a 106-lb in the strawweight division – also holds the International Boxing Organization (IBO) light welterweight crown. He previously ruled the WBC light weight, WBC super featherweight, International Boxing Federation (IBF) super bantamweight, WBC flyweight and RING Magazine’s featherweight divisions. Malulan is a 22-year-old super flyweight who holds a 12-win, five-loss record with seven of his victories coming by way of knockout while the Bolcio brothers both have six wins under their belts. Duran is an undefeated junior flyweight with two KO wins. Siayas and Bolcio are only 16 and 18 years old. The four aspiring boxers are under the Everlasting Boxing Promotions stable of former Baguio City Councilor Raffy Panagan.

Presbiterio said he sees a bright future in boxing for his wards. “Lalo na si Malulan maganda na ang mga laban nyan sa WBO youth championship at si Duran naman undefeated junior flyweight na at may dalawang knockout (Malulan fought good matches in the WBO youth championship while Duran is an undefeated junior flyweight with two KOs)." “Maganda kung naka foucus sila mas malayo ang mararating nila sa larangan ng boksing (If they are really focused their future looks bright in boxing)," he added. Panagan, who is a known sports and youth advocate, said he would always support their boxing careers. The four boxers are all praises in Pacquiao's achievements inside the boxing ring. – (Text and photos by Dave Leprozo)