Expectations, along with weight and style adjustments, proved overwhelming for Weljon Mindoro in his national team debut at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand last December.

Holding a superb 15-0-1 professional record, with all his victories coming by knockout, the 25-year-old Mindoro answered the SEAG call-up and poured his all into making a swift transition to the amateur ranks.

Unfortunately, he suffered a shocking loss to Vietnam's Phuoc Tung Bui in the men’s 75kg (middleweight) division and settled for a bronze medal.

The Zamboanga native acknowledged the outcome, viewing it as a positive and focusing on the lessons he gained from the biennial meet.

“Marami akong natutunan do’n, pati na rin ‘yong sa mga pag-adjust, medyo biglaan din kasi ‘yong preparasyon do’n kasi ‘yon nga akala ko hindi na lalaban si Eumir [Marcia],” said Mindoro, who reduced his weight from 95 kgs to 75 kgs.

Mindoro was actually poised to compete in the 80kg division, but Olympian Eumir Marcial opted to join the regional showpiece where the latter went on to win his fifth gold which was the long victory for the Philippine squad.

“Kailangan pag ando’n ulit ako, kailangan ko pa mas baguhin ‘yong style ko, hindi lang aggressive, dapat matuto rin ako sa puntusan, kaya marami talaga akong natutunan do’n,” he added.

While professional fights can stretch to four, six, eight, 10, or 12 rounds, an amateur contest is limited to just three rounds of three minutes each.

“Yan talaga ang dream ko, gaya ni kuya Eumir, makalaban sa Olympics, kaya ready lang ako pag natawag ulit sa national team, pagbubutihan ko pa para makuha ‘yon,” Mindoro continued.

Mindoro dives into action anew on Feb. 21 in his hometown Zamboanga City where he headlines the El Puño Zamboangueño, a slugfest serving as Marcial’s maiden promotional job.

Aside from their individual assignments this coming months, the two Zamboangueño pugs, who worked as sparring partners before, are also raring to earn a trip for the 20th Asian Games in Japan this September.

“Sana nga magkasama kami ulit sa Asian Games, kasi gusto ko rin mapakita sa kanya ‘yong mga kaya ko pang gawin,” he concluded.