SIX BOXERS VYING FOR SLOTS IN LONDON OLYMPICS COMPETE IN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 16 Sep 2011
Rey Saludar.
Guangzhou Asian Games gold medalist Rey Saludar leads a six-man team of fighters to the AIBA World Boxing Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan Friday to vie for slots in the first major qualifying tournament for the 2012 London Summer Games.
The top eight boxers from the different weight divisions in the tournament set from Sept. 26 to Oct. 8 will advance to the London Olympiad.
An Asian Olympic qualifying tournament is scheduled in Kazakhstan early next year, but it is in the World Championship where the Filipino boxers have their best shot.
Saludar will compete in the 52-kilogram flyweight division. Joining him are light flyweight Anthony Barriga (46-49 kgs), bantamweight Joan Tipon (56kgs), lightweight Charly Suarez (60kgs), light welterweight Rolando Tacuyan (64kgs), and welterweight Delfin Boholst (69kg
The Filipinos are expected to have a hard time against crack boxers from Russia, the US where pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao?s trainer Freddie Roach was enlisted to help the Americans and the hometown fighters of Azerbaijan.
According to AIBA, the International Amateur Boxing Association, the reigning European Men's Elite Champion Salman Alizada is among the favorites. A light flyweight and 2010 AIBA Youth World Champion, Alizada was the youngest gold medalist in the history of the European Championships in Ankara this year.
Saludar will have to contend with European Championships silver medalist and European Youth Champion, 20-year-old Elvin Mamishzada, will take part. The young competitor moved up a weight class this year and will hope to reach the Top 10 in front of his home crowd.
Qatar 2006 Asian Games gold medalist Joan Tipon who competes in the bantamweight division as a last minute substitute for Junel Cantancio who was downed by the flu. Among the outstanding fighters in the division will be No. 1 ranked WSB Baku Fires boxer and Great Silk Road Tournament silver medalist, Rahim Najafov, is part of the Azeri elite team since 2005.
AIBA reported that despite his young age (23), he has enough experience at the international level to aim at his best performance ever during the event in Baku.
In the lightweight division multi-titled Charly Suarez will carry Philippine hopes while hosts Azerbaijan will pin its hopes on Youth Olympic Games silver medalist and AIBA Youth World Championships bronze medalist, 19-year-old Elvin Isayev.
Isayev moved up into the lightweight class last year and had enough time to get used to his new weight. Isayev defeated Panamerican Champion, Cuban Yasnier Toledo, at the Strandja Tournament and might be Azerbaijan's secret weapon.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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