Kauai’s Oki Boxing Club sent John Lumabao and Austin Cunlara for rematches in a smoker at the Kaneohe Marine Base Enlisted Men’s Club. The matches included adult division USA amateur boxing matches. The price of admission was 15 dollars and
Kauai’s Oki Boxing Club sent John Lumabao and Austin Cunlara for rematches in a smoker at the Kaneohe Marine Base Enlisted Men’s Club. The matches included adult division USA amateur boxing matches. The price of admission was 15 dollars and proved to be well worth it for the enthusiastic crowd.
Sporting brand new 50 dollar head-gears and new groin protectors, Cunlara and Lumabao have the people of Kaua‘i to thank. Many in Kaua‘i supported the team’s recent fund raising efforts.
Austin Cunlara again faced Rocky Balala of Central Maui Boxing Club. Cunlara is now called Li’l Conquistador in honor of his valorous Spanish ancestry which he received from both his parents. According to Balala’s father, other boxers have been avoiding his boy ever since he upset what supposed to be the best 95-pounder in the state from Waipahu. Austin barely lost by one point to Rocky last time at the Kaneohe Bay Fest.
This time Cunlara won the first two rounds on one card, Balala however opened up with a flurry of punches at the third and last round just like last time to win by total points again. Cunlara had great preparation for this fight sparring with Kalai Vincente of Omao and Lumabao, but just couldn’t overcome Balala’s special way of going all out in the last round to win the fight. It was like knowing a tsunami was coming and all the sandbags in the world can’t stop it. Unfortunately Rocky’s father was struck by a strange malady whereby he couldn’t stop smiling for two days after the bout.
Lumabao was unable to train hard enough since he badly bruised his right biceps while sparring with Davan Nobriga’s junior fighter a week and a half before the rematch with reigning state champ, Gabriel Villanueva.
Willy Pep, who appears in boxing classics is the only fighter known to have won a round with only great defense, no punches.
Lumabao’s reflexes are so keen that nearly every one including the judges were cast under a spell by his defensive moves. He hardly gets hit and needs to connect with just a few punches to win a fight. Villanueva cut his hair bald in dedication and trained hard but couldn’t solve the Lil’ Executioner’s wizardry.
Cunlara reported that Villanueva was actually wailing in the locker room after the fight and had to be consoled by his father. It reflects how very hard he was training to win this fight.
Junior Castillo, a 17-year-old 132-pounder who is the hardest worker in the gym, was with the team on the trip to O‘ahu to observe his future opponents. One of them,, Isaac Arasato of Palolo B.C., produced the most spectacular knockout of the night.
According Oki B.C. assistant coach George Lumabao, Arasato threw a left,right, left uppercut and right cross combination to drop Corey Dennison of Pearl Side B.C.
As Dennison, all cross eyed, was struggling mightily to get up the nearest ring side observer was coach Ken Oki who had just then got up from a short nap. Oki missed the spectacular knockout punch sequence but with the crowd’s roar woke up for the referee’s count.
Junior Castillo was heard to say, “Get me a match with Dennison!”
On August 20, at the Kapa‘a High Gym, Oki B.C.’s Isaac Josiah is looking for redemption and to end a long losing streak since he won three bouts in a single night to win the Fite Nite championship.
Isaac’s losses were nearly all close and he was probably a couple of punches from winning most of them, but a lack a conditioning was his major hang up.
Kaimi Bermoy is back on Kaua‘i bigger, stronger and healthier than he was a few years back, and is back to prove it his Mixed Martial Arts debut. Kaimi along with Isaac Libre and Skye Riposte, have provided meaningful sparring for John Lumabao the past weeks.
Adam Britto is slated to go head on with Albert Bactad. This bout promises to be action packed, short and sweet. Don’t go to the bathroom, don’t go to the refreshment stand, don’t even blink an eye.
Both guys are extremely strong and while Bactad is more controlled, Britto is the original wild thing.
