THREE BOXERS GO FOR GLORY
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 31 Oct 2007
Three Filipino boxers go for the glory of earning a coveted berth in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing when they battle tough opponents in the round of sixteen at the World Amateur Boxing Championships at the University of Illinois-Chicago Pavlion in the early morning hours on Thursday, Manila Time.
The first to step into the ring will be light flyweight Harry Tanamor who is coming off a smashing 24-5 victory over Mohammed Nasir of Wales. The 30 year old Filipino will seek to reassert his superiority over rugged Sherali Dostiev of Tajikistan who he defeated in the 2004 Athens Olympics in the round of 32. Tanamor lost in the round of 16 to South Korea?s Hong Moo Won. A two-time bronze medal winner at the World Championships in 2001 and 2003 the stylish, and skilful Tanamor is hoping to get the Smart-Philippine team?s first qualifying slot in boxing in Beijing.
Tanamor who was a gold medal winner at the Southeast Asian Games in 2003 and 2005 and won the silver medal at the Busan Asian Games in 2002, impressed the prestigious Sports Illustrated magazine writers so much that they named him a medal prospect in their Athens pre-Olympic edition in 2004.
However, Dostiev is a fighter who cannot be taken for granted since he won a bronze medal at the fiercely competitive 2005 World Championships and in his last bout scored an impressive third round RSC ( Referee Stopped Contest) over Anton Bekish of Bulgaria. Tanamor?s bout is the second on the fight card which begins at 2:00 p.m. (Chicago Time) which is 2:00 a.m in Manila on November 1. He will be fighting out of the red corner.
Flyweight Violeto Payla?s fight against fancied 20 year old American Rau?shee Warren, one of eight young US boxers who have advanced from an original squad of eleven is coming off a stunning RSC at 1:49 of the third round against Mexico?s Braulio Avila Juarez. Warren who was the youngest athlete at the Athens Olympics is a two-time national champion and won a bronze medal at the 2005 World Championships where he lost to Lee Ok Sung of South Korea 31-21. Warren?s asset according to the US coaching staff is his ?speed and power.?
Payla who also fights out of the red corner in the seventh bout of Session 20 B which also starts at 2:00 p.m. in Chicago. Payla is capable of matching the quickness of Warren while his overall skill and experience could well be the deciding factor. Payla hammered Britain?s Khalid Said in his last bout winning 29-15 and proving that he had the credentials to overcome the touted American.
Payla who won a gold medal in the last Asian Games in Doha beating cocky Thai fighter Somjit Jongojor is determined to prove his worth before a cheering crowd of Filipinos who will include former MBS 4 TV director for sports Bong Serra and reporter and newscaster Romy Sajer who said they are thrilled at the prospect of seeing the Filipino boxers in action.
The third contender for an Olympic berth in the Chicago championships is lightweight Genebert Basadre who, despite a couple of warnings by the referee for infractions in his bout against Jordan?s Faraj Al Matboli hammered out a handsome 29-7 victory.
Basadre who will fight out of the blue corner in the tenth fight of the afternoon session will battle Armenia?s Hrachik Javakhyan who upset Brooklyn lightweight Sadam Ali 25-17 in a fight where he used his speed to advantage and although Ali tried to narrow the gap with some power shots the Armenian?s ability to stay out of trouble earned him a 20-16 win.
A bronze medal winner in the Doha Asian Games where he lost to China?s Hu Qing, Basadre completely out-boxed Faraj in the opening round which he took 6-0 and eventually coasted to victory with a 5-0 windup in the final round..
Top photo: Harry Tanamor poses near a World Boxing Championship banner in Chicago. Photo by JV Tuazon.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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