ILOILO CITY—Junie Tizon ruled the light heavyweight division by beating Mary Joy Tagbe Saturday night as the Philippine Navy retained its seniors’ division crown in the 2008 PLDT-Smart National Open, Youth and Women’s Amateur Boxing Championships here.
The 32-year-old Tizon—who became the country’s lone men’s boxing gold medalist in the 2007 Southeast Asian Games via a technicality—danced away from trouble each time he piled up the points in the first three rounds en route to a 17-4 win.
Tizon actually settled for a silver medal in the SEA Games courtesy of a near-walkout by the Philippines. He now waits for the gold medal stripped from Thai fighter Suriya Prasathinpimai, who tested positive for an illegal substance.
Welterweight Larry Semillano, middleweight Florencio Ferrer and heavyweight Reynaldo Galido overwhelmed their rivals from the Philippine Army, while Lhyven Salazar topped the bantamweight class to cap the Navy campaign that netted five gold medals.
Semillano, a veteran of the 2000 Sydney Olympics, proved superior against the younger Wilfredo Lopez; Ferrer hammered out a 23-16 triumph over Ricky Moreno, 23-16; while Galido, a former Asian Games gold medalist, defeated Maximo Tabangcora, 30-16. Salazar clinched the gold with a 27-22 win over Larry Abarra from Olongapo City.
Army men second
Finishing second was the Philippine Army, which grabbed three golds through pinweight Bill Vicera, light welter Delfin Boholst and featherweight Joan Tipon.
Tipon nipped national teammate Joegin Ladon, 16-14, in a duel that went down to the final 20 seconds. The Doha Asiad gold medalist scored on two quick blows to the head that decided the bout.
Adam Fiel of Dexter Santos Gym scored the quickest win, retiring Iloilo’s Victorio Gallarda in 40 seconds due to body blows in the lightweight division.
Aklan’s Jose Rob Montero overcame Regie Berador of Davao del Norte, 22-21, for the flyweight title.
Air Force’s Albert Pabila bucked a standing eight count and grabbed his fourth gold in the tournament by edging Davao del Norte’s Froilan Saludar, 14-12, in the light flyweight finals.
Puerto Princesa won the women’s crown as pinweight Josie Gabuco registered RSC-OS decision in the second round against Palawan’s Maricris Igam while light fly Ma. Prayjie Baja overcame Iloilo’s Debbie Joy Cabizan, 22-11.
