FORMER Olympian Rogen Ladon, who made the country proud by winning several boxing medals in world and Asian competitons, announced his retirement on Tuesday. He will still be involved in boxing, this time as a coach.
Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) secretary-general Marcus Jarwin Manalo disclosed the the 30-year-old Bago City native's decision to retire which came after a failed bid to qualify for the Paris Olympics.
Manalo said he sat down with Ladon and talked about his next career path and both agreed the boxer will join the association as a rookie coach.
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“He will join the (ABAP) coaching staff. Pero mag-apprentice lang muna,” he said.
Ladon represented the country in the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics in the men’s flyweight class, but lost in the round of 16 against eventual silver medalist Yuberien Martinez of Colombia.
He tried to qualify for the Paris Games early this year only to lose to Rafael Lozano Serrano, 4-1, in the 2nd World Qualification Tournament held in Bangkok, Thailand.
“We gave him another shot, kumbaga last hurrah niya,” said Manalo of Ladon’s attempt at an Olympic bid. “Ako kasi tingin ko kaya niya pa.”
In a career that spanned more than a decade, Ladon won two gold medals and a silver in the Southeast Asian Games, a silver in both in the Asian Games and Asian Championships, and a bronze in the AIBA World Championships.
He once served as the sparring partner of fellow national team member Mark Barriga who was then preparing for the 2012 London Olympics.
Rogen’s older brother Joegin Ladon was likewise once a member of the men’s national team.
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