SPORTS

Bantilan Shoots IBO Asia-Pacific
Crown vs Butar-Butar in Jakarta

By ALEX P. VIDAL

Ilonggo Van “Holy-field” Bantilan impressed his handlers in the last phase of his sparring session at the Jaro Boxing Gym in Binangonan, Rizal last week of October engaging RP No. 4 bantamweight contender Edgar Gabjean in a fierce no-holds barred 6-round exchange of fire to the delight of the audience.
“He really is determined to slug it out with (Simson) Butar-Butar with the way he allowed Gabjean to hit him hard in the face and body,” commented Bantilan’s manager Chad Colocado who watched the action together with gym owner Aljoe Jaro who is also boxing manager and promoter.
The 28-year-old townmate of Asia’s first world boxing champion Pancho Villa in Ilog, Negros Occidental, finished the sparring session unmarked, his 10th since he started revving up for the Nov. 5 battle for the vacant IBO Asia-Pacific 130-lb title vs Butar-Butar in Jakarta, Indonesia. The fight however, is reset from November 5 to December 2.
Bantilan (11-0-1, 5 KOs), who stopped Romeo Buhawi in the fourth round in his last fight in February this year in Cebu, is a mainstay of the Wakee Salud Boxing International where he acts as one of the caretakers especially during the recent training in Cebu of Manny Pacquiao.
“Indi ko mag promisa pero tinguhaon ko nga makuha ang korona. Away gina pangita ta mo (I won’t promise anything but I will try my best to get the crown as I am always hankering for a fight),” said Bantilan, bronze medalist in the 1997 1st LGUlympics where he represented Iloilo City.
Colocado admits that Bantilan’s fight with Butar-Butar (16-7, 12 KOs) is not a walk in the park considering that the Indon phenom has scored back-to-back wins over Bohol’s famed boxer Czar Amonsot, the last of which was a brutal one-punch first round knockout in Tagbilaran City, Bohol on September 23, 2006.
Butar-Butar’s last fight was a knockout win over Primus Phyton in Jakarta on July 7, 2007.

FIGHT POSTPONED

Evander Holyfield-look alike Van “Holyfield” Bantilan said the postponement of his IBO Asia-Pacific superfeatherweight championship engagement with Indon superstar Simson Butar-Butar from Nov. 5 to December 2 this year is a “blessing in disguise.”
“Maayo gani para maka jogging pa gid ako kag maka spar (It’s good so that I can continue with my jogging and sparring sessions),” said the 28-year-old Bantilan.
The postponement, the second in a week, was relayed by the promoter to matchmaker Aljoe Jaro who immediately informed Bantilan’s manager Chad Colocado last October 29.
No reason was given but the promoter reportedly apologized to Jaro and offered some cash to compensate Bantilan’s camp for the delay. The fight was originally scheduled last Oct. 26 and was moved to Nov. 5.
“Hopefully, there will be no more third postponement as it will put everything in shambles,” commented Colocado referring to the time frame of the Rex “Wakee” Salud protégé’s physical and psychological preparations.
Bantilan (11-0-1, 5 KO), assigned as gate-keeper during the training of Manny Pacquiao in Cebu City in September, has spent his last three weeks honing his skills in the Jaro Boxing Gym in Bina-ngonan, Rizal under the tutelage of Jaro, himself a former boxer and now manager and promoter.

Boxing Tips To Gym Owners

“Sa hirap ng buhay ngayon, maraming kabataan ang nag papanggap na maging boxer para lang maka libre sa pagkain at tulugan (Because of poverty, many youngsters would pretend nowadays to join boxing in order to avail foods and shelter).”
Thus was the observation made by Felipe “Jun” Llano, Jr. or popularly known as Jun Llano, crownholder of Philippine superbantamweight belt from 1992-94. Llano will soon officially join with the ranks of the country’s professional boxing trainers.
A father of two daughters (a 20-year-old nursing student and a 19-year-old fast food crew in Cabuyao, Laguna), the 44-year-old Llano warned boxing gym owners and managers from just easily taking in pseudo boxers who don’t even understand what jab and hook mean.
“When these so-called boxers apply to train in the gym, gym owners or instructors should ask them to pose and throw a punch so they can unmask the charlatans from the authentic boxers,” Llano, who rose into prominence in 1986 when he knocked out in the 5th round the world No. 1 rated in the 119-lb Jong Kwan Chung in Seoul, warned in Tagalog dialect.
Llano is the latest addition in the training staff of Aljoe Jaro Boxing Stable in Binangonan, Rizal. “I started only two weeks ago and I will have my GAB license (as trainer) next year,” he said.
“Si Aljoe kasabay ko noon na nagboboksing pa kami. Mabait na tao yun noon pa kaya swerte talaga ang mga boksingero ngayon dahil nararamdaman ni Aljoe ang kanilang sitwasyon.” The Surigao-born Llano who was managed by former barangay captain Alex “Bomber” Pamiloza and promoted by the late Grego Garcia narrated.
An auto mechanic graduate, Llano, who blew his chance to pocket the OPBF jewels with a 10th round KO loss to Yuichi Kasai in Tokyo in 1995, considers national light-flyweight boss Sonny Boy Jaro as the hottest Filipino prospect for a world crown.
Sonny Boy Jaro retained his crown last Oct. 28 by hammering out a devastating one-round TKO win over Alfred Nagal in one of the double RP title fights assembled by the Aljoe Jaro International Promotion in Thunderbird Resort and Casino, Rizal.
“Nandoon ako tumu-tulong magbigay ng instruction pero hindi ako maka akyat sa ring dahil wala pa akong lisensia,” said Llano, who began his caterpillar-like career in 1984 with a four-round decision win over Roberto Granciosa at the Elorde Sports Complex in Paranaque./MP