Nietes earns outright bronze in China Open Boxfest
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 05 Apr 2010
Luck smiled on Filipino pinweight Jerson Nietes who assured himself of a bronze medal without lifting his gloves in the China Open Boxing Championships which opened yesterday in Guiyang, province of Guizhou, China.
The 17-year-old from Barangay Granda in Bacolod City drew a bye during yesterday?s drawing of lots to determine competition schedule to earn an outright semifinal round berth in this 30-nation tournament.
Nietes advanced into the Final Four of 45-kilogram division and will be facing Idyaz Sulay-Minov of Kazakhstan on Saturday hoping for a win that will earn for him the silver medal besides having a chance for the gold.
?Mukhang sinusuerte, Sir. Sana magtuloy-tuloy para naman sa bansa,? Nietes who is in his only second international tournament following his bronze medal in the King?s cup of Thailand last year, said in an overseas interview.
Over in Bangkok, Victorio Saludar dominated Sanwad Laxman of Nepal, 7-2, to seal at least a bronze medal in the 32nd King?s Cup of Thailand.
Six other Filipinos, representing the national youth training pool of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines, are vying for honors in the China Open, a tough, prestigious series sanctioned by both the International Amateur Boxing Association and the Asian Boxing Confederation.
Facing the toughest job though is flyweight Rey Saludar, whose first assignment is world and Olympic champion Zhou Shiming of the host country, the same fighter who twice spoiled now-retired Harry Tanamor?s bid in the 2007 World Championships and the 2008 Beijing Olympic games.
Lightweight Jameboy Vicera, a young scion of the Vicera fighting clan, was scheduled to fight Farhany Radoune of France in one of the matchups scheduled in the opening day yesterday that was also to see light-welterweight Rey Melligen strutting wares against Huricha Bilige of Turkey.
Other Filipino schedule in the opening round to be fought until Friday will see featherweight Charly Suarez , gold medalist in the recent Southeast Asian Games in Laos last year, facing Chaman Weesap of Syria; bantamweight Francis Palicte taking on Hong Kong?s Cho Cheng-yu; and welterweight Wilfredo Lopez tangling with Mutaz Don-Duk of Jordan.
The young team?s participation in the China Open is part of their preparation for the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in August and in the Asian Games in November in Guangzhou, China.
ABAP president Ricky Vargas and secretary general Pato Gregorio, according to executive director Ed Picson, will be flying to Guiyang Thursday to boost the morale of the team.
From Guiyang, the team will proceeding to Beijing for a three-week training where they will joined by the rest of the developmental pool ? Victor Saludar, Junel Cantancio and Orlando Tacuyan ? as well as members of the women?s team, Josie Gabuco, Annie Albania, Alice Kate Aparri, Renalyn Jacob and Nesthy Petecio.
The China Open is only one of the 12 international exposures ABAP has lined up for members of the youth and elite teams as part of an ambitious program in the hope of winning for the country its first Olympic gold medal in 2012.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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