2 Pinoy pugs reach title round

PUERTO PRINCESA, Palawan , Philippines  – The Philippines sent a pair of young and skillful boxers to the finals of the Asian Juniors Boxing Championships yesterday at the Puerto Princesa City Coliseum here.

Pinweight Kenneth dela Peña and flyweight John Vincent Pangga marched to the finals of the regional event for boxers aged from 15 to 16. They will vie for the gold this afternoon.

Dela Peña, who’s been boxing for only a year, overpowered Yu Chen-Cheng of Taipei (unanimous decision) while Pangga, almost unbeatable in nationwide tournaments the past few years, edged Syrymbetov Talgat of Kazakhstan (split decision).

In the finals, Dela Peña faces Mukhtarov Akilbek of Kazakhstan. Pangga earned a spot against Sukthet Sarawut of Thailand.

There’s no easy fight when the gold medal is at stake.

“We’re happy. In hosting this event, all we want is for us to win medals. Now, we have two boxers in the finals,” said Association of Boxing Alliances president Ricky Vargas, who missed the semis bouts of the ABAP boxers by an hour due to a delayed flight from Manila.

Vargas flew in with ABAP secretary-general Patrick Gregorio, and can only look forward to today’s final bouts of the 13 divisions on tap.

Ed Picson, the ABAP executive director, had pleaded to his counterparts from the Asian Boxing Confederation (ASBC) to have the semis bouts of the two Filipinos adjusted to the evening session so Vargas could get to watch them fight.

But because of the computerized system, Picson was told that the schedule could not be altered.

Dela Pena and Pangga fought as scheduled, in the second and third bouts of the afternoon session, and did not disappoint those who were around, including fans who cheered loudly from the stands.