Negrense boxers receive cash incentives following SEA Games victories

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose V. Lacson recently gave cash incentives to four Negrense boxers who bagged gold and bronze medals at the 2021 Southeast Asian Games on May 12-23, 2022 in Hanoi, Vietnam. They were Rogen Ladon, Ian Clark Bautista, James Palicte, and Riza Pasuit.

Truly the Negreses’ pride! Four boxers from the province of Negros Occidental contributed to the medal haul of the Philippine team at the 2021 Southeast Asian Games. Ladon, a 2016 Rio Olympics veteran and the reigning SEA Games flyweight champ, earned a gold medal during the boxing competition and received P25,000.00 cash incentives from Gov. Lacson.

The 28-year-old native of Bago City defeated Tran Van Thao of Vietnam for a 3-2 split decision in the final of the minus-51 kg flyweight division. Apart from Ladon, 27-year-old Bautista of Binalbagan also snagged a gold medal after beating Myanmar’s Naing Latt in a 5-0 unanimous decision in the bantamweight division.

Due to this recognition, Gov. Lacson and Provincial Sports Office (PSO) Head Mr. Anthony Carlo Agustin awarded Bautista with P25,000.00 cash incentives. As for bronze medalists Palicte and Pasuit, they both received P15,000.00 cash incentives from the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental.

Palicte, 25 years old and also a native of Bago City, won the bronze in the men’s light welterweight division. And 26-year-old Pasuit, who hails from La Carota City, got her medal in the women’s featherweight division.

For the cash incentives they received from the provincial government, PSO Boxing Sports Coordinator Aden Nietes said that all the players are truly grateful to Gov. Lacson and Mr. Agustin for their unwavering support to the local athletes who are representing the province and the country in national and international bouts.

Meanwhile, more Negrense boxers are bringing pride to the country as they compete in various international bouts. Sugary Montales, a 22-year-old Bago City native, is set to fight in the upcoming bout in Tokyo, Japan on Oct. 1, Saturday. He will fight against Japanese opponent Kota Kaneko.

Ronnie Campos, a 25-year-old Bacolodnon, is also set to fight against Kenji Fujita of Japan on Oct. 1. Montales and Campus are both products of Pana-ad sa Negros and Governor’s Cup Boxing tournaments.

For another good news in the sport of boxing, 27-year-old Bacolod-native John Michael Zulueta surely did not disappoint many boxing enthusiasts after winning via second-round TKO against Thai rival Sittichai Namnual on Sept. 28 at Spaceplus Bangkok, Thailand. He was hailed as Asian Boxing Federation (ABF) Light Flyweight champion.*