The accolades keep piling up for Carlo Bumina-ang.
The hardworking bantamweight of Team Lakay is not only making waves in mixed martial arts but also in kickboxing where he represented the Philippines in the recently concluded Asian Kickboxing Championship in Cambodia.
Bumina-ang did not settle for anything less, winning the gold medal against Ali Abutali of Kazakhstan on points, 3-0, in the men’s -67-kilogram division.
Prior to winning the gold medal, Bumina-ang scored a 3-0 win over Dostonbek Ilashev of Kazakhstan in the semifinal after getting a bye in the quarterfinals.
Bumina-ang’s heroics also helped the country win five golds, one silver, and 10 bronze medals, cementing the Philippines Kickboxing team’s appearance in the regional championships, and at the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China.
Senator Francis Tolentino earlier lauded the team’s performance, proving that given the much-needed support in training, facilities and equipment, Filipino athletes can rise to glory in international sports.
“Our kickboxers’ victory attests to the Filipino brand of sportsmanship, discipline, hard work, determination, and the many other values that create and shape world class champions,” Tolentino said.
Tolentino added while kickboxing may have a relatively recent history in the Philippines, it continues to gain popularity among young Filipino athletes alongside other martial arts and combat sports events.
The senator said the success of Filipino kickboxers in international sports competitions inspires rising athletes to likewise train, sharpen their skills, and establish a stronger footing for the Philippines in the international kickboxing scene.
“As kickboxing now enjoys broader following, we likewise call for broadened support from both the government and the private sector. As president of the Samahang Kickboxing ng Pilipinas, our vision for PH Kickboxing is grand because our athletes’ potential in the sports is much larger than we have seen,” Tolentino continued.
Bumina-ang has been donning the country’s color when he debuted in 2022, where he won a silver in vovinam during the 2022 Southeast Asian Games.
And in 2023 SEA Games, he once again done the country’s tri – color, but this time in kickboxing where he took home a bronze.
Resuming his MMA career where he was signed up in One Friday Fight Nights in 2023, Bumina-ang won five consecutive victories, including four finishes which eventually won him a US$100,000 contract with ONE Championship.
-TL PR
