Cebuano kickboxer beats veteran foe in Dipolog Muay Thai event

Figure 1TRIUMPHANT Cebuano Kickboxer Josh Ybañez (middle) celebrates after beating veteran opponent in Dipolog Muay Thai Invitational tournament.

Young Cebuano kickboxing prospect Josh Ybanez puts on a clinical show en route to scoring a lopsided unanimous decision victory over veteran Ider Dinopol in the Dipolog Invitational Muay Thai tournament over the weekend at the Dipolog Sports Complex.

The 17-year-old Ybanez of Strive CCA pleased the crowd as he unleashed all his arsenal against the seasoned Dinopol.

Ybanez wisely used his speed and power to keep Dinopol at bay in the first round.

The Cebuano scored a knockdown in the second-round courtesy of a vicious spinning back fist, but the Dipolog fighter was able to recover and continue the fight.

Dinopol tried to come back in the final round, but once again, Ybanez imposed his dominance using his kicks to spoil Dinopol’s chance of scoring a lucky shot.

“He was tough, but I just relied on my skills to overcome this challenge. I know that I am still young, but I want to keep on winning and hopefully make it big like joining the national team someday,” said Ybanez.

Unlike Ybanez, fellow Cebuano Matt David Tampos of Marchris Fighting Stable, did not have the same luck as he lost via unanimous decision over Donald Capa of Team Agila Dipolog.

In the undercards, Plaridel’s Rudjeven Lumacang knocked out Lester Rodriguez of Team Lacre in the third round, Edzel Poquita of Clavite Boxing Gym stopped Gabriel Usares of Strive Pagadian, while Grefer Paul Celicius scored a TKO victory over Jeremy James Cabaluna of Pagadian City. – Lemuel P. Maglinte