Brin overwhelms Spaniard, gains bronze

SANTANDER, Spain -- Romeo Brin put the country back on track with a resounding 11-2 victory over the hapless Isidro Goya of Spain Tuesday night in the 2000 Boxam International boxing championships at the La Alberica Pavilion here.

With the masterful win, the 27-year-old Brin not only assured himself of the bronze medal in the 67 kg class but also boosted the nationals' morale which dipped following Larry Semillano's highly-questionable setback Monday.

"I just warmed up," said the Armyman, who tagged the obviously nervous Spaniard with a 1-2 combination in the body right after the opening bell." But there are more fights to come and it's very hard to predict what will happen."

Brothers Danilo (48 kgs) and Arlan (51 kgs) Lerio battle Uganda's Kizito Mohamed and Spain's Ruben Amaya, respectively, Wednesday night. Due to lack of entries, the Lerio brothers and Roel Laguna (54 kgs), who meets another Ugandan Tabalza Abdu, are already assured of bronzes.

A victory by the jovial Danny will send him a step closer to a bout with Spanish hero Rafael Lozano, a two-time Olympian (Barcelona '92, Atlanta '96). Arlan will also be tested since world champion Bulat Jumadilov of Kazakhstan is in his group.

Laguna, a native of Cagayan de Oro, is so far impressive in workout, although he is going up against an opponent whose style borders on flamboyance.

"This is going to be interesting," said Cuban coach Raul Fernandez Liranza. "Let's just wait and see."

Second day winners were Nigeria's Alusegun Jose (63.5 kgs), Tunisia's Moez Fhima (63.5), Kazakhstan's Daniyar Munaitbassov (67 kgs), Tunisia's Brahim Ayari (67 kgs) and Ghana's Adama Asumanu (71 kgs).