Dela Peña, Pangga win gold medals in Asian juniors boxing championships
PUERTO PRINCESA — Two finalists, two gold medalists for the Philippines.
Kenneth dela Peña and John Vincent Pangga subdued their respective opponents Monday as the host country exceeded expectations in the 2017 ASBC Asian Juniors Boxing Championships at Puerto Princesa City Coliseum here.
A prized find from General Santos City, Dela Pena beat Kazakhstan’s Akilbek Mukhtarov, 4-1, in the pinweight (44-46kg) category while Pangga, pride of Cagayan de Oro City, bested Thailand’s Sarawut Sukthet by the same score in the light flyweight (50kg) class.
Endowed with fast hands and agile on his feet, the 16-year-old dela Peña landed a left-right-left combination midway of the second round that rocked the Kazakh for a standing eight count.
Sensing that he was way behind, Mykhtarov launched an all-out assault in the third, pinning Dela Pena on the ropes. Dela Peña, who’s only on his first year as a boxer, however, weathered the attack with a left to the body followed by a right to the face to earn the wide decision.
At the dugout, dela Peña admitted he got tired in the third round, but said he was determined to win for his family, which includes his twin brother and an older brother who have also taken up the sport, and bring glory to his country.
“Even during clinches, I was talking, saying that this gold is mine and I won’t let it slip away,” dela Peña, last year’s Batang Pinoy silver medalist, said in Filipino.
Author: Roy Luarca
Full Article: http://sports.inquirer.net/259606/dela-pena-pangga-win-gold-medals-in-asian-juniors-boxing-championships
Kenneth dela Peña and John Vincent Pangga subdued their respective opponents Monday as the host country exceeded expectations in the 2017 ASBC Asian Juniors Boxing Championships at Puerto Princesa City Coliseum here.
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| John Vincent Pangga. INQUIRER / Roy Luarca |
Endowed with fast hands and agile on his feet, the 16-year-old dela Peña landed a left-right-left combination midway of the second round that rocked the Kazakh for a standing eight count.
Sensing that he was way behind, Mykhtarov launched an all-out assault in the third, pinning Dela Pena on the ropes. Dela Peña, who’s only on his first year as a boxer, however, weathered the attack with a left to the body followed by a right to the face to earn the wide decision.
At the dugout, dela Peña admitted he got tired in the third round, but said he was determined to win for his family, which includes his twin brother and an older brother who have also taken up the sport, and bring glory to his country.
“Even during clinches, I was talking, saying that this gold is mine and I won’t let it slip away,” dela Peña, last year’s Batang Pinoy silver medalist, said in Filipino.
Author: Roy Luarca
Full Article: http://sports.inquirer.net/259606/dela-pena-pangga-win-gold-medals-in-asian-juniors-boxing-championships
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