ABAP regroups after Liverpool bust
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 25 Sep 2025
The Philippines notched four straight wins then dropped six in a row to bow out without a podium finish at the recent World Boxing Championships in Liverpool. No fighter made it beyond the Round of 16, sending alarm signals that ABAP needs to regroup if it hopes to make waves at the coming SEA Games in Bangkok and Asian Games in Nagoya next year. The long-term goal is to qualify medal hopefuls for the 2028 LA Olympics where ABAP chairman Ricky Vargas is the Philippines’ chef de mission.
ABAP secretary-general Marcus Manalo said despite failing to bag a medal in Liverpool, there is hope for the future. “This was a young team with four first-timers at the World Championships,” he said. “We had high hopes for Carlo Paalam (55kg) and Jay Bryan Baricuatro (50kg) who suffered tough losses. Carlo was hampered by a bad cut and Baricuatro lost a tight 3-2 decision. Carlo expressed it was great to be back in the ring and Baricuatro learned important lessons for sure, along with the other boxers.”
Paalam, a 2020 Tokyo Olympic silver medalist, won his first outing over Chinese-Taipei’s Hsu Chiao Chun via a unanimous decision but lost his next assignment to Dominican Republic’s Junior Alcantara on a 4-1 technical split verdict. Paalam sustained a nasty gash on his right eyebrow from an accidental headbutt at the start of the third round and the bout was stopped, prompting the referee to go to the scorecards. Baricuatro dropped a 3-2 scoreline to Spain’s Martin Molina Salvador. “Baricuatro took the first round, 5-0 but stayed on the ropes too much in the second and ran out of gas in the third although he landed the clearer punches,” recounted Manalo. “It could’ve gone either way.”
Ronald Chavez (70kg) booked a 3-2 win over Ireland’s Matthew McCole then was beaten by France’s Makan Traore on a 5-0 verdict. Riza Pasuit (Women’s 60kg) stopped Saudi Arabia’s Ragad Alnaimi in the second frame but lost to Brazil’s Rebecca Santos on a 5-0 decision in her next outing. Junmilardo Ogayre (60kg) outpointed Chinese-Taipei’s Lai Chu En then capitulated on a 5-0 decision to Kazakhstan’s Biibars Zhexen. Mark Ashley Fajardo (65kg) was blanked by Ukraine’s Elvin Alliev, 5-0, visibly bothered by a left hand injury he sustained at the Asian U22 Championships in Thailand the previous month.
“We had a long reflection session as a team and we were able to come up with action plans when we return to training,” said Manalo. “Among these are about the connection between boxers and coaches, some tweaks in training to attain strong finishes in the last round, timing and quantity of competition sparring necessary, improvement of defensive stance and tactical adjustments within the bout.”
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Signed, Sealed… but Still Unsettled: Unanswered Questions Hang Over Fury-Joshua Ahead of Expected Ink
By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , Wed, 29 Jul 2026VETERAN SAVVY VS UNDEFEATED POWER: MUGICHA NAKAGAWA VS LEMUEL DE BARBO AUGUST 1 IN LA TRINIDAD
By Carlos Costa, Wed, 29 Jul 2026SKYE NICOLSON TO DEFEND WORLD TITLE AGAINST MIYO YOSHIDA ON AUG 29 IN BIRMINGHAM AS MATCHROOM AND MVP ANNOUNCE ALLIANCE
Wed, 29 Jul 2026Tickets for Martinez vs. Plantic in Los Angles, Saturday, August 29
Wed, 29 Jul 2026Grandy Twins Celebrate Milestone 18th Birthday, Set to Shine at BiYu Promotions' "Fights Under the Lights" on August 14
Tue, 28 Jul 2026Sergeev and Lubkovich set for key bouts at WINLINE. IBA.PRO 20 in Naberezhnye Chelny
Tue, 28 Jul 2026Hard-hitting SEA Games bronze medalist Mark Ashley Fajardo signs with Sanman Boxing
Tue, 28 Jul 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 27 JULY 2026: Tszyu vs Spence, Return of Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury Highlight Busy Week
By Eric Armit, Tue, 28 Jul 2026The Legacy Continues: Team Durán Prepares for Historic Panama-Mexico Showdown
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Tue, 28 Jul 2026NM Ric Portugalera Tops Hongkong Blitz Chess
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 28 Jul 2026Nurghali gets second shot at Japparbergenov’s bantamweight title at International Boxing Day in Astana
Tue, 28 Jul 2026Champion's Mindset: Gustavo Trujillo Ready to Defend BKB Heavyweight Title Against Mark O'Neil at BKB 58
Tue, 28 Jul 2026Spanish boxer Eddine has been Hospitalized in Spain
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Tue, 28 Jul 2026PH football in group C, G
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 28 Jul 2026PHILBOXING.COM MONDAY ROUNDUP: Tszyu Outclasses Spence in Sydney as "The Truth" Retires; Heavyweight Drama in Pattaya and Jeddah
By NewsHub @ PhilBoxing , Mon, 27 Jul 2026