Suarez wins in Uzbekistan boxfest

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan – The PLDT-ABAP National Boxing Team plunged into action in the Sydney Jackson Memorial Tournament less than a day after arriving in this historic Central Asian capital.

It took the nine-man Philippine team 23 hours to get here via Incheon, Korea and the travel-weary, jet-lagged team barely had enough rest and sleep before they were thrust into battle.

Charly Suarez drew the very first bout of the tournament, seeing action right after the opening ceremony at the Universal Uzbekistan Stadium in downtown Tashkent. He, however, proved much classier than Ismoil Haitbaev, his Uzbek opponent, who thought he could intimidate Suarez by tangling with the 23-year old Davaoeño in the first round.

The Filipino, however, displayed blinding speed and accuracy to take the first canto 4-2, then stepped on it in the second, 14-5, before coasting along in the third to win it, 18-6. He sees action again today against Fazliddin Gaibnazarov of UZB1 and, if he keeps winning, will fight every single day until the finals on Friday.

Not as lucky was lightwelterweight Dennis Galvan who was in bout number 16, and had to wait four hours before getting into the ring. He fought another Uzbek, Ergashali Tursunov, whom he hit with some explosive left hooks in the first round, giving the 2011 SEA Games native the upperhand, 4-2.

Galvan started to fade in the second round, practically getting beaten to the punch, giving up the lead, 8-9. The 20- year-old Bago City native gamely tried to get it back in the third but was visibly spent and missed badly, resulting in the 17-11 final tally for the Uzbek.

"This might be considered a small tournament (total of 130 boxers in the 5-day competition), but the field is strong. Among the invitees, we're the only one that is not a former USSR state. Aside from host Uzbekistan (5 teams), Russia (2teams), Kazakhstan (3 teams) and Turkmenistan are represented here. But we chose to come because we knew our mettle would be tested here. Even those who will not get too many fights here will have many opportunities to spar with good boxers, including some Olympic qualifiers", said ABAp executive director Ed Picson, delegation head here.— ABAP Media Bureau

Coaches for the team are former Olympians Ronald Chavez and Roel Velasco. International referee-judge Victorio Policarpio is also with the group.---(FREEMAN)