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This photo taken on June 5, 2024 shows young boxers taking part in cool-down exercises at a boxing gym in Bago City, Negros Occidental province. Jam Sta. Rosa, AFP

This photo taken on June 5, 2024 shows young boxers taking part in cool-down exercises at a boxing gym in Bago City, Negros Occidental province. - At a bare-bones gym in the central Philippines, children from poor families in torn shoes put on frayed headguards and get to work in pursuit of their Olympic boxing dream -- and a way out of poverty. (Photo by JAM STA ROSA / AFP) / TO GO WITH OLY-2024-BOX-PHI

Article (news)

Olympics -- boxing

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1720598686516AFP__20240710__34WJ2L8__v1__Preview__Oly2024BoxingPhi.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="This photo taken on June 5, 2024 shows young boxers taking part in cool-down exercises at a boxing gym in Bago City, Negros Occidental province. Jam Sta. Rosa, AFP"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">This photo taken on June 5, 2024 shows young boxers taking part in cool-down exercises at a boxing gym in Bago City, Negros Occidental province. <em>Jam Sta. Rosa, AFP</em></span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">BAGO CITY -- At a bare-bones gym in the central Philippines, children from poor families in torn shoes put on frayed head guards and get to work in pursuit of their Olympic boxing dream -- and a way out of poverty.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Aged 10-18, the young boxers spar in the Bago city gymnasium after school before sleeping under the ring&#x27;s canvas at night.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Located on the island of Negros, in the sugar-growing region which has some of the country&#x27;s starkest rich-poor divides, the city of 200,000 calls itself the Philippines &quot;boxing capital&quot;.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Eight of the 70 Filipino boxers to have made it to the Olympics got their start at the Bago City gym.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Boxers there work out on peeling punching bags under the buzz of giant old electric fans straining to give some relief from the oppressive tropical heat.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/7/9/paris-2024-petecio-hungry-to-clinch-boxing-gold-in-her-possible-last-olympic-stint-1811"></a><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/7/9/paris-2024-petecio-hungry-to-clinch-boxing-gold-in-her-possible-last-olympic-stint-1811">READ: Petecio hungry to clinch boxing gold in her possible last Olympic stint</a></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/6/20/from-barangay-brawls-to-olympic-glory-nesthy-petecio-s-inspiring-journey-2043"></a><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/6/20/from-barangay-brawls-to-olympic-glory-nesthy-petecio-s-inspiring-journey-2043">READ: From barangay brawls to Olympic glory: Nesthy Petecio&#x27;s inspiring journey</a></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><strong>- &#x27;Life is hard here&#x27; -</strong></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The most recent Bago Olympian, Rio 2016 light-flyweight Rogen Ladon, failed to qualify for Paris leaving the city pining for a new poster boy.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;Life is hard here. Job opportunities are limited,&quot; said coach Larry Semillano, a Bago native who fought at lightweight in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">His 17 wards are mostly children of farmers, construction workers and tricycle drivers.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;To them, if they excel in it they believe they will have a better life,&quot; said Ignacio Denila, the city government&#x27;s executive assistant for sports.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;All of them idolize (Manny) Pacquiao,&quot; Denila told AFP, referring to the eight-weight world champion, who was also born in poverty, on the southern island of Mindanao.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;I hope to be recruited into the national team in order to join competitions and win medals abroad,&quot; AJ Vicente, 17, one of Semillano&#x27;s current hopefuls, told AFP.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Bago lightweight Leopoldo Cantancio blazed the Olympic trail when he made it to the 1984 Los Angeles Games, reaching the round of 16. He also fought at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Bago fighters have since won one Olympic silver medal and one bronze.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Though Filipino boxers have yet to win gold, eight of the country&#x27;s 14 Olympic medals so far came from boxing -- three silvers and five bronze.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Semillano believes Vicente, a right-handed flyweight who won a bronze at the Philippine national games last year, has a &quot;70 percent&quot; chance of eventually making it to the national team.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">But &quot;he needs to consume a lot more rice&quot; before he can be considered for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics or Brisbane in 2032, the coach added.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;The skill is there. What we&#x27;re trying to develop now is his power,&quot; Semillano told AFP.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/6/17/petecio-paalam-named-ph-flag-bearers-for-paris-games-1345"></a><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/2024/6/17/petecio-paalam-named-ph-flag-bearers-for-paris-games-1345">READ: Petecio, Paalam named PH flag-bearers for Paris Games</a></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><strong>- &#x27;Farm work is backbreaking&#x27; -</strong></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Trb1tzTIxf4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">AJ&#x27;s father Jose Vicente, 50, brawled for meager prize money at village-level Bago tournaments in his youth when he was not cutting and hauling sugar cane for 10 pesos a day (17 US cents).</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;Farm work is backbreaking. I do not want my son to go through the same thing,&quot; Jose, now a handyman at a provincial hospital, told AFP at the family&#x27;s small wood and bamboo home among sugar cane fields on the city&#x27;s outskirts.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;Dad wanted to become a boxer himself. I have decided to fulfill that dream for him,&quot; said his son, whose more than a dozen boxing medals hang proudly on the living room wall.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">From the age of seven children are welcome to join the training programme, said coach Semillano, who cooks for them while minding his two-year-old daughter Sydney as the young boxers do their laundry in the yard.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Last year, three Bago minors trained by Semillano qualified for the national government&#x27;s amateur boxing pool, an important next step for their Olympic ambitions.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Bago city government-funded programme was launched in the mid-1960s by a sports-oriented mayor, Ramon Torres,  and bore fruit in 1992 when light-flyweight Roel Velasco won a bronze medal at the Barcelona Olympics.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">His younger brother Mansueto Velasco went one better with a light-flyweight silver in Atlanta in 1996.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><strong>- &#x27;No other girls to fight&#x27; -</strong></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hT6R6_f57X8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Schoolgirl Prystine Niche Cantancio is 11 years old, nicknamed Junela and a distant relative of Bago&#x27;s first Olympic boxer. She also trains at the gym, sparring against 10-year-old boys.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;I want to make my papa proud by following in his boxing footsteps,&quot; she told AFP, referring to Junel Cantancio, a Philippines team boxer who did not make it to the Olympics.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Junela was seven when she put her collection of teddy bears in a cabinet and first pulled on boxing gloves, said her mother Lovely Christine Cantancio, who takes her daughter to practice sessions.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;She looks happy, except there are no other girls to fight,&quot; Lovely said.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Her father retired from boxing and became a full-time soldier following a fight-related injury.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;Not all of them will be Olympians or make the national team,&quot; said city sports official Denila.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;For me, what is important is they develop discipline, even if they do not achieve success in life.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">&quot;That&#x27;s really the purpose of sports -- to develop you morally and spiritually.&quot;</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:justify;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"><span style="color:#000000;background-color:transparent;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></span></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>At a bare-bones gym in the central Philippines, children from poor families in torn shoes put on frayed head guards and get to work in pursuit of their Olympic boxing dream -- and a way out of poverty.</p>

At a bare-bones gym in the central Philippines, children from poor families in torn shoes put on frayed head guards and get to work in pursuit of their Olympic boxing dream -- and a way out of poverty.

Bare-bones gym breeds Olympians in PH boxing capital Bago

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Bare-bones gym breeds Olympians in PH boxing capital Bago

Agence France-Presse,

Cecil Morella

Published July 10, 2024 04:09 PM PHT

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