How a coach broke Irish Magno's stereotype about boxing

Flyweight Irish Magno carved out her unusual path to glory, as it turns out she was a late bloomer when she first laced her gloves, that eventually made her become the first-ever Filipina boxing Olympian.

The 29-year old Ilongga bared to Carlo Pamintuan that her stereotype about boxing was broken in the pilot showing of Tulong Sa Ginto, a webisode series featuring Filipino Olympic hopefuls from the MVP Sports Foundation.

As a senior in high school back then, Magno was spotted by a boxing coach while with her cousin in the plaza, but was taken aback when she was asked about the sport, as she only knew that it was not fit for her despite the coach noticed her potential by her size.

"Sabi ko, boxing? Sabi ko pang-lalaki naman na sport yan. Saka di ako marunong," she said.

After being taught the basics, the words of the said coach even broke her stereotype about the sport, as Magno made up her mind and took boxing as a way to help her family.

However, it was not smooth sailing to start her career, as she remembered her tough beginning as she had to fight just a month since she started boxing.

"Sa unang laban ko sir, hindi ko talaga alam. Halos tuma-tumbling tumbling ako sa taas ng ring, kasi di ko alam kung ano ang gagawin ko pag nasuntok yung kalaban ko," she then said about her debut fights, adding that the experience even sharpened her in the process.

Despite the rawness of her talent, the Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines took her in as part of the training pool, as they saw the huge potential of being one of the greats.

"Hindi ako nagpakita, na ganito ako palagi. Pero parang motivation sa sarili ko na kahit ganun po, gusto ko na ipagpatuloy ito."

Coach Boy Velasco was even at awe with her tremendous work ethic and perseverance ever since he took the Janiuay native in, attributes that made her become one of ABAP's standout fighters in the national pool. 

He said, "Nakita ko yung hard work na talagang masipag. Wala siyang reklamo, wala siyang angal. Basta siya, kung anong ibibigay mo sa kanya parang dinodoble niya pa."

"Sabi ko, malayo itong marating ng bata na ito."

With that, she embraced the sport even more, and a dozen years on since she first stepped into the ring, Magno made her way up in a grinding process that saw her made history in Amman last March where she won the ticket to Tokyo owing to her box-off win.

For Coach Boy, it was a proud moment for the Filipina pugilists since Olympic boxing opened it's doors to women.

"Natuwa din kami na may nagqualify na babae dahil first time din. Nag-gawa naman tayo ng history na meron naman tayong babae na papasok sa Olympics, kaya natuwa din ako na nagiging isa sa mga hakbang na magpursigi na dadami na yung babae sa national team."

In more than a decade fighting in the ring, Magno was proud of what she had right now, as it enabled her to make their family dream come true, most notably having their own home and helping her sibling finish their studies.

"Sobrang happy at blessed na nakatungtong ako sa national team sa boxing," she then surmised, adding that it was not possible without the help of the MVPSF.

Apart from helping her family, it became an inspiring moment for others to break the wall and embrace the sweet science without any prejudice at all.

"Sa sport, hindi kinukwestyon yung kasarian eh. Ang importante, kung may pangarap ka, maabot mo yan. Basta kelangan mo lang ng disiplina, sipag, tyaga, determinasyon, at higit sa lahat magtiwala ka lang sa Maykapal. Matutupad lahat yun, wala yan sa kasarian. Kung ano mang kaya ng mga lalaki, kaya din naming mga babae."