FOUR FILIPINO BOXERS WIN GOLD IN ASIAN YOUTH BOXING CHAMPIONSHIPS
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 17 Mar 2013
Four talented and courageous young Filipinos won gold medals in the Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships at the Subic Freeport on Saturday providing a boost to the grassroots development program initiated by the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines headed by its president Ricky Vargas and the eminent businessman-sportsman Manny Pangilinan as chairman.
Light flyweight Jade Bornea, light welterweight Eumir Felix Marcial, flyweight Ian Clark Bautista and lightweight James Palicte fulfilled the expectations of the ABAP leaders and executive director Ed Picson with the finest showing of the country in years.
The support from hometown fans certainly lifted the spirits of the young fighters and gave them an advantage especially in close fights.
A bronze medalist in the World Youth Championship in Armenia last December light flyweight Bornea defeated Shatlykmyrat Myradov of Tukmenistan, 17-10, in their 49-kilogram semifinal bout but had a much tougher time against Japan?s Kosei Tanaka before taking the country?s first gold 15-13.
The score was tied at 8-8 going into the final round before Bornea with a solid left followed by a right which jolted Tanaka emerged winner 7-5 to edge the game Japanese.
Ian Clark Bautista won the flyweight gold with a 19-10 win over Uzbekistan?s tough Mirazizbek Murzahalilov after coasting to a 6-3 lead in the opening round marked by a cracking left hook and a right straight. A counter left by Bautista in the second round staggered the Uzbek fighter who was unable to penetrate the solid defense of the Filipino.
Lightweight James Palicte took the first round by a close 5-4 margin against Chinba?s Liu Xiaoshuaichn and held on to that lead 10-9 at the end of the second due mainly to a terrific uppercut that stunned the Chinese boxer who kept pressing the action. Another solid uppercut by Palicte sealed a 17-13 win although the final score was no indication of the closeness of the bout.
The fourth and final gold medal of the Philippines was won by Eumir Felix Marcial who put on the most impressive performance by the Filipinos beating Mongolia?s Batzorig Otgonjorgal by a runaway 29-12 margin.
The switch-hitting Marcial, the reigning World Junior Champion who is a power puncher battered his opponent from the opening bell to take a 11-5 lead at the end of round one nailing the Mongolian with a vicious left straight and a solid combination.
Marcial kept up the pressure in a second round slugfest with some big shots to move ahead 22-11 before coasting in the final round for the big win that won the hearts of fight fans.
Amateur Boxing Association president and former Philippine Boxing Association chairman Ricky Vargas was ecstatic over the performance of the youth squad as he said ?while we cheer for every boxer we reserved even louder cheers for the ABAP team that has been working hard for an efficient and properly run tournament.?
ABAP chairman Manny Pangilinan was overjoyed over the boxers showing and texted the Manila Standard saying ?Congrats to ABAP. Mabuhay ang Pinoy boxers. Go ABAP!?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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