It only took 1 minute and 17 seconds in the first round for 2006 Doha Asian Games gold medalist Joan Tipon to knock down Benedict Vergara of Lucena and register his first win in the featherweight division of the 2009 National Amateur Boxing Championships yesterday at the Negros Occidental Multipurpose Activity Center.

Vergara tried to delay the inevitable by trying to get away from Tipon’s range but the Bacoleño champion attacked like the veteran ring predator that he is to deliver the power punch that brought the Lucena boxer down.

The easy victory of Tipon, however, was upstaged by the intense bout between Himamaylan City’s Fernando Tacuyan and Alvin Sibugan of Bacolod City in the junior light mosquito weight (37 – 38.5 kgs) as both fighters threw a barrage of punches at each other as soon as the bell rang in the first round.

Tacuyan, the youngest among the boxing Tacuyan siblings, failed to contain Sibugan who kept throwing punches without letup, prompting the referee to stop the contest after 1 minute and six seconds in the second round.

The 13-year-old Grade Six student at N.G. Medalla Integrated School, in Pahanocoy, Bacolod City, said he kept in mind what his coach, Gerardo Melligen, told him before the fight – to throw his punches faster to win the fight.

Sibugan said he knew that Tacuyan is among the “big names” in amateur boxing and that his only chance to win is to score more punches against him.

Happy to see his ward obediently following his instructions, coach Melligen said Sibugan has a lot of potential.

“The boy is very brave and he has a unique way of throwing his punches,” Melligen said.

Joining Sibugan in the list of yesterday’s winners were Gerald Pangarutan (27 kgs), who beat Silay City’s Jason Geronela, and Remcar Macuna who prevailed over Iligan City’s Mike Angelo Cortes.

Rafael Suinio of Bacolod-B, however, was outpointed in pin weight (46 kgs) category by Gen. Santos City’s Roldan Boncales to give the host team another setback as the tournament nears the semifinal round.

Ronil Poblador of Bacolod-A Team suffered the same fate as he yielded 46-43 in the 45 kgs elite men category against Anthony Cameros of Pacman Sarangani Team.

Meanwhile, Tagbilaran firmed up its bid for overall honors as Joseph Jay Orevillo (27 kgs), Jessel Magsayo (37-38.5 kgs), Jenno Cabungan (50 kgs), and Jefferson Rodique (45 kgs) scored victories yesterday to advance to the next round.

Bago City Team is equally determined to see its boxers slugging it out for the gold in the final round with Ryan James Flores (27 kgs), Rogen Ladon (46 kgs) and  51 kgs entries Reyman Cordova, Melchor Palacios, and Joemarie Galido, beating their opponents in separate bouts.*NAB

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