WILFREDO LOPEZ STUNS IRAQ?S WAHEED TO ENTER ASIAN GAMES QUARTER FINALS
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 29 Sep 2014
Not many fight fans gave middleweight Wilfredo Lopez much of a chance of beating Iraq?s tough Waheed Waheed in the round of 16 at the Incheon Asian Games boxing competition at the Seonhak Gymnasium but the courageous Filipino stunned the fancied Iraqi with a methodical win to move into the quarter finals.
Lopez boxed intelligently using his jab and quick one-two combinations and darting out of range of Hamed?s power punches and frustrated the Iraqi throughout to score one of the biggest wins of his career coming as it did after a lackluster performance in his opening bout when he beat Turkmenistan?s Aziz Achilov by a split decision.
Except for his tendency to keep his left hand down opening himself to a big right hand which is a flaw executive director Ed Picson said the ABAP coaching staff is trying to correct, Lopez is fundamentally sound although not exceptional.
ABAP president Ricky Vargas was uncertain on how the judges would score the fight and kept jumping up and down when he heard the decision in favor of the 19 year old Lopez.
There was no such concern when lightweight Charly Suarez clashed with another rugged Iraqi Amar Hassan in the quarter finals as the veteran from the World Series of Boxing fought a near flawless fight to whip Hassan by a unanimous decision despite being penalized a point in the second round for what seemed like a minor infraction of not keeping his head up.
Suarez who put on a masterful performance in scoring a split decision win over India?s Commonwealth Games gold medalist and Olympic Games quarter finalist carried on against Hassan using his hand-speed and darting in and out with telling combinations to pile up the points.
Suarez boxed beautifully and showed his undoubted skills and is guaranteed at least a bronze medal although on the basis of his form so far, Suarez should be in contention for a gold medal.
The two-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist who represented Italia Thunder in the World Series of Boxing fought intelligently and refused to be drawn into a slugfest with
Hassan to come away with a well-applauded victory.
In a post fight comment Suarez said ?this win is for Boss Ricky? meaning ABAP president Ricky Vargas.
While Suarez is in the semi finals, three other boxers, Mark Anthony Barriga, Mario Fernandez and Wilfredo Lopez are in the quarter finals where a win would assure them of a medal.
Photo of RP Boxing Team with Lopez 2nd from left, back row.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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