Two RP boxers overpower foes

SEREMBAN, Malaysia – Team Caltex of the Philippines drove hard into the win column Thursday as light flyweight Lhyven Salazar dominated his Indian foe before bantamweight Ferdie Gamo retired a pesky Sri Lankan in Day 3 of the 21st Asian Amateur Boxing Championships here.

The 26-year-old Gamo, a Navyman from Bago City, was raining hefty combinations on Wannia Rachi midway in the second round when the whistle signaled that the Filipino had already amassed a 15-point margin over the Sri Lankan who innocently protested the stoppage.

Although officials again failed to provide the exact scores, Gamo was declared winner by RSC, CO (referee stopped contest, count outclassed) in the day’s final bout.

Earlier, Salazar, 23, gold medalist in the Acropolis and Bosnia tournaments, scored a trouble-free points victory over tall and stylish Kumar Akhir. After winning only one of three bouts on opening day, the twin wins were a big comeback for the RP team that’s being bankrolled by Caltex Philippines with support from the Philippine Sports Commission, Pacific Heights and Revicon.

Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines president Manny Lopez, however, said their fighters will have to surpass themselves to pass succeeding tests as their tournament is as tough as the Asian Games itself.

Two of three RP bouts scheduled yesterday were against Thai fighters. Featherweight Roel Laguna was paired against Khursed Sutithisak, welterweight Anthony Igusquiza, who was suffering from a burn stomach, would clash with Japan’s Hirama Takehiro.

Meanwhile, Salazar and Gamo will seek berths in the quarterfinals today where a win would assure them of at least a bronze medal.

Gamo faces Akhbar Shadi, a big burly Iranian, while Salazar boxes North Korea’s Kin Un Chol, who conquered a Kazakh foe Thursday.

The tournament, participated in by 29 countries, ends June 25.