OLIVA TO HANG UP GLOVES AFTER LOSING IN WBC SILVER TITLE FIGHT

Jether Oliva (left) and Muhammad Waseem

By LITO DELOS REYES

FILIPINO boxer Jether “The General” Oliva will now be retiring after losing in his World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver flyweight championship fight to still unbeaten Pakistani Muhammad Waseem by a unanimous decision held July 17 at the Millenium Hilton Hotel in Seoul, South Korea.

“My duty is done. This is where life begins,” said the 30-year old Oliva, who will end his 10-year career as a professional boxer with a record of 24 wins, 11 by knockouts, 6 losses and 2 draws.

Oliva joined the Sanman Boxing Stable and Promotions in 2006 and turned pro the following year. His decision to retire was a suggestion made by his young manager Jim Claude “JC” Manangquil, chief executive officer of Sanman Promotions.

“I gladly accepted it because he knows better than me,” said Oliva in his text message from Seoul, South Korea.

As of press time, Oliva and Manangquil were flying to Manila aboard Philippine Airlines together with trainer Romeo “Dodong” Desabille and Sanman’s secretary Ramon Falgui.

“I have talked to Jether Oliva about retiring from the sport he love. I think he had a good career,” said Manangquil.

Oliva has won four separate titles in his 10 years of professional boxing. In his 11^th pro fight, Oliva already won his first title – the Mindanao Professional Boxing Federation (MinProBA) light flyweight crown via a knockout win against Rodel Tejares on December 16, 2008 at the Oval Plaza in Gensan.

He successfully defended it twice both against Rogen Flores. Oliva later captured the vacant WBO Oriental minimumweight title with a unanimous decision win over then-undefeated Fernando Ocon on May 13, 2011 in Leyte.

Oliva then got his first world title-shot against IBF World light flyweight champion Ulises Solis (33-2-3) in Mexico on August 27, 2011 but suffered his first setback via a unanimous decision.

After almost a year of layoff, Oliva bounced back with a TKO win over Ronnie Sunido on May 23, 2013 in Iligan City. In his next fight, Oliva fought for the vacant Philippine Boxing Federation light flyweight title but only settled to a majority draw with Lyster Jun Pronco on July 1, 2013 in Digos City.

Oliva went on to win again in his next two fights before going to South Africa to face Moruti Mthalane for the vacant International Boxing Organization World flyweight title on March 15, 2014 at the Durban International Convention Centre in KwaZulu-Natal. But Oliva suffered a controversial split decision.

Oliva, however, came back to pocket the World Boxing Federation (WBF) International light flyweight title by a majority decision win against Wilber Andogan on May 24, 2014 at the Lagao Gym in Gensan.

Oliva continued his winning ways by bagging the vacant WBF Asia Pacific flyweight crown via a UD over Jemmy Gobel on October 5, 2014 at the Glan Municipal Gym in Glan, Sarangani Province.

But Oliva again suffered another setback in Mexico by retirement in the fourth round from the hands of then unbeaten Luis Nery on February 28, 2015. Oliva bounced back with a 3^rd round TKO win over Ryan Ralozo on August 23 in Lanao del Norte.

Oliva, however, lost twice in a row both outside the country. He dropped a UD against another South African Zolani Tete in their battle for the vacant WBO Africa super flyweight crown held December 18 in Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Oliva then bowed to a world-class fighter Pedro Guevara (26-2-1) by a UD last February 20 in Sinaloa, Mexico. He later won by a UD over Jong Sabellina last May 22 in Zamboanga Sibugay – a tune-up match for his WBC Silver flyweight title-fight.

But Waseem dominated Oliva in their title-fight, which was transferred from Singapore to Seoul.

“I tried everything I had but my body was not responding. My manager Jim Claude Manangquil and I will have to talk about my future. This will be my last fight,” said Oliva.

“Waseem showed he is a world class boxer,” said Manangquil, who congratulated Waseem (4-0) and his team Andy Kim of AK Promotions.

Manangquil said that “it’s the best time for Oliva to out from this tough sport while he is still in good health.”

Oliva recently married an elementary school teacher in Pagadian City, who plans to transfer now in Gensan.

“He (Oliva) should enjoy life now. You can’t fight forever,” said Manangquil. – LITO DELOS REYES