By Lynde Salgados
Correspondent
SELDOM one could witness a single boxing event, featuring three brothers fighting and winning in all of their respective ring matches.
This happened during the ARQ Boxing’s “Engkwentro Dos” promotion at the Ibabao-Estancia Gym in Mandaue City on October 30, or a day before the Zamboanga pride Jonas Sultan handed the Puerto Rican Carlos Caraballo of his first career defeat in a Madison Square Garden ring in New York City.
Taking the Queen City of the South by storm are the pride of Manticao, Misamis Oriental in the unbeaten April Jay Abne and his younger brothers, Ian Paul and Augusto.
Fans had likened the Abne siblings’ aura ― especially their facial looks, hairstyle, body build, size, and height ― to Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao in his youth.
Such traits easily get much attention from the venue’s crowd and live online viewers, courtesy of Powcast.
And theirs were not ordinary ring exploits.
The 22-year-old April Jay ‘Astroboy’ Abne edged the more experienced, bigger, and taller Bienvenido ‘Sniper Ben Fairtex’ Ligas from Manila via split decision in the 10-round main event fight to capture the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) Silver flyweight belt.
In the undercard, Ian Paul Abne (3-0, 2 KOs) lost steam at the outset of his 6-round bout with fellow undefeated Cristopher Caburog (now 2-1). But he was the busy fighter early, throwing more telling blows to walk away with a unanimous decision victory.
Obviously, a neophyte in professional boxing’s preliminary bouts, their youngest brother Augusto Abne appeared like still lacking fundamentals.
At the go, Augusto immediately brawled like a raging bull and got lucky to be the first to land a solid right to the jaw that dropped Marvin Campo to the canvas, ending quickly their four-round duel at the 1:46 mark of the first round.
“It’s rare to watch three brothers winning slugfests altogether in one night replete with much excitement and ring drama,” said the Abnes’ 32-year-old townmate Gerwin Suico in Manticao, Misamis Oriental.
“Patiently searching for a video link of the fights or getting it through live streaming was at least handsomely paid off. We Manticaonons were so elated by their initial success. Who knows one of them will be able to follow in the footsteps of the now-retired Manny Pacquiao,” added Gerwin, nephew of 1991 SEAG amateur boxing gold medalist Raymundo Suico.
The OPBF title showdown was closely fought as the ARQ Boxing Gym’s prized warrior ‘Astroboy’ Abne was the aggressor in the early rounds, displaying impressive hand-speed of 1-2 combo and quick uppercut.
But Ligas, the 23-year-old tactician from the Elorde Stable, stole the show beginning in the 6th frame where he scored the clearer shots and combination to the face and body.
His confidence even grew when an accidental headbutt opened an ugly cut on Abne’s left eyebrow.
Refusing to give in with blood dripping that bothered him in the remainder of the fight, Abne kept on counter punching as he persevered until the final bell rang when Ligas’ cornerman had jumped off the ring and enthusiastically lifted his ward upon his shoulders believing he did just enough to win.
But two of the three-ring judges saw it otherwise for a split verdict, thereby raising Abne’s unblemished record to 7-0.
It was Ligas’ second ring defeat as he now has a 13-2-2 win-loss-draw ledger with nine knockouts.
“April Abne is a good fighter,” said former two-weight division world champion Gerry Peñalosa.
Peñalosa said that Abne had shown up in the Gerry Peñalosa’s Ultimate Boxing Series flyweight tournament in Cebu with still no credible resume to show.
But conquers he did against respectable opponents that he punctuated by claiming a majority decision over Ronel Sumalpong in the finals.
During the main event of the “Engkwentro Uno” on June 29, Abne sent Royder Lloyd Borbon to dreamland in just the third round, thus making him one of the brightest flyweight prospects in the Philippines.
“It’s a triple win for the Manticaonon brothers! Congratulations to our out-fighters Augusto Abne, Ian Paul Abne, and April Jay Abne for rolling with the punches and getting that winning streak. April Jay Abne is the new OPBF Silver Flyweight Champion. We are so proud of you, Manticaonons,” posted the Sangguniang Kabataan Council of Barangay Poblacion headed by Sk Chairman Bernard C. Nagba Jr. in the SK Poblacion-Manticao Facebook Page.
