Caraga boxer from family of farmers dreams of becoming world champion

AGUSAN DEL SUR, Philippines – When Lorenz Kit Pallares first chanced upon boxing four years ago, he already knew the sport would give him a shot at lifting his family out of poverty.

The student from Las Nieves National High School in Agusan del Norte said his parents work as farmers, but don’t have a regular job.

“Kasi mahirap lang kami. Gusto ko makatulong sa pamilya ko at sa mga kapatid ko,” Pallares said when asked what inspired him to take up boxing.

(Because we’re poor. I want to help my family and siblings.)

Pallares won the gold medal for Caraga in the secondary boys’ flyweight category of the boxing competition of the 2026 Palarong Pambansa in Agusan del Sur on Saturday, May 30. Via unanimous decision, he beat Calabarzon’s John Rovic Bolaños to rise to the top of the podium. It was a dream come true for the 17-year-old athlete.

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“Pangarap ko [maka-gold]. Hiningi ko talaga kay Lord kasi unang gold ko pa lang ‘to sa apat na taon,” he told Rappler.

(It’s my dream to get the gold medal. I really asked the Lord for this because this is my first gold in four years.)

Hailing from Barangay Bonifacio in Las Nieves, Agusan del Norte, Pallares said he underwent rigorous preparation in the days leading up to the Palaro — continuously pushing himself to train harder even if it meant waking up with intense body pains the next day.

Now with his first gold medal in his four years of boxing, Pallares is setting his sights on a bigger ambition: to one day become a world champion.

“Hindi ako nangangarap maging Manny Pacquiao. Gusto ko na makilala lang ako sa mundo ng boxing,” he said, adding that he’s looking to go into professional boxing in the future.

(I’m not hoping to be as big as Manny Pacquiao. I just want to be known in the world of boxing.) – Rappler.com