"Masyadong maganda ang ipinakita," said RP amateur boxing chief Manny Lopez after the gifted fighter from Cagayan de Oro slammed the door on Doniyorov Tulashbov, 31-26, in the lone RP fight at the Masan Gymnasium Saturday.
The victory sent Payla, a 23-year-old Armyman, into the quarterfinals of the boxing competition along with teammates Harry Tanamor, a hard-punching lightfly, and Romeo Brin, a lightwelter fighting in his third and last Asian Games.
The three RP fighters are just one win away from the bronze and, according to Lopez, are so determined to go all the way following earlier exits of bantam Ferdie Gamo and lightmiddle Chris Camat, a Fil-American.
"Pipilitin na naming bitbitin ang mga natitira nating boxers sa medal rounds," said Lopez, hoping that Payla will be there to show the way and help Team Caltex recover from its dismal stint in the Bangkok Asiad.
Payla is a first-timer in the Asian Games, but certainly not the kind of boxer who would crow in fear when ranged against a tougher opponent.
During the Cordova Cup in Havana, Cuba last year, he was pitted against 1996 Olympics gold medallist and 2000 world champion Maikro Romero. He fought a gallant fight, knocking down the cocky Cuban flyweight in the third round only to lose by a slim margin.
Despite the loss, Payla became an instant hit among the Cuban fans who swarmed all over him, exchanging high fives with the RP pug on his way out of the coliseum. That bout against Romero was eventually chosen the "Best Fight" of the tournament.
Against Tulashbov, Payla took the opening round, 8-5, then wavered in the second as he trailed, 10-18, after the bell. Then everything changed in the third round as the Filipino fighter really started to hit his target, scoring on 14 punches to take the driver’s seat.
"In the last round, nag-cruise na lang. Nilaro-laro na lang ni Payla. Impressive talaga. May balik at malakas pa," added Lopez.
Three more Filipino fighters have yet to climb the ring with featherweight Roel Laguna facing an acid test Sunday against Thailand’s Samaksaman Sutthisak.
Anthony Igusquiza, a lightweight and a bronze medallist in the 1994 Hiroshima Asiad, will see action Monday while Maraon Goles makes his Asian Games debut in the middleweight class on Wednesday.