TWO OLYMPIC BOXERS READY TO FACE ANYBODY
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 02 Aug 2016
The Philippines two Olympic hopefuls, light flyweight Rogen Ladon and veteran lightweight Charly Suarez are ?ready to face anybody? when the Rio boxing tournament gets underway on August 6.
Chief of Mission Joey Romasanta who had breakfast on Monday with trainer Nolito ?Boy? Velasco and the two boxers said that according to Velasco ?with the kind of exposure they have got they are ready to face boxers with different styles and are willing to face anybody regardless of the draw? which will take place on August 5.
Romasanta said that the boxers who have been working out in Rio ?are in condition, jolly, lively and looking forward to the games.?
The Chief of Mission told The Standard that ?everybody is in good spirits and highly motivated as they all go through their respective training routines.?
Since the Philippines was allowed only on coach, Boy Velasco, two Australian coaches who made friends when the Aussies trained at the ABAP camp in Baguio City have offered to help.
The head coach of the Aussie boxing team Kevin Smith who hails from Liverpool will help in the Philippine corner when the fights get underway at the Riocenter Convention Center on August 6. Smith will assist ?Boy? Velasco when Ladon and Suarez see action on opening day at the Maracana Stadium and will stay with Velasco as long as the Filipinos remain in contention.
The efforts of the Association of Boxing Alliances headed by its president Ricky Vargas and executive director Ed Picson lobbied hard for an additional coach to assist Velasco but it was denied.
Smith had actually served as a consultant a few years ago with Velasco for his part serve as cutman and assist the Australians in their corner.
Smith said he is ?very familiar with the boxers and know them well.? He said Ladon and Suarez are ?great boxers with great chances? who are both first-time Olympians.
Romasanta told us Philippine IOC representative Mikee Jaworski was scheduled to arrive Monday afternoon and will be in time for the flag-raising ceremony on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m.
He said the weather was comfortable but chilly in the evening.
Romasanta told us there was a ?festive atmosphere and everybody was looking forward to the opening of the games.? He added, ?if we look at the small Philippine delegation ?they are smiling, exuding confidence? even as millions of Filipinos look forward to the extensive coverage over TV 5.
Photo: Rogen Ladon (L) and Charly Suarez (R) with Philboxing's Ed de la Vega in Los Angeles.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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