China next stop for 8 Pinoy pugs

Eight Filipino boxers, each one of them hoping to make it to the Vietnam SEA Games this December, will embark on an earlier journey on Monday to represent the Philippines in the 2003 Xinjiang China International Boxing Open.

Violito Payla, a gifted southpaw from Cagayan de Oro, will lead the charge of the RP Revicon team in the event which is also expected to draw entries from Asian heavyweights like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Thailand.

It will be the first time that the Philippines will see action in the event scheduled Sept. 17-21. All competitors, however, are being required by organizers to plane in two days before the start of competition.

"Our boys will be in for a tough fight in this tournament. Mapapalaban sila dito," said amateur boxing president Manny Lopez who recently received a personal invitation from AIBA chief Anwar Chowdry of Pakistan to send the RP pugs to the China meet.

The tournament, one of four foreign trips lined up for the nationals in the next couple of months, will also help determine the composition of the RP team for the Vietnam SEAG on Dec. 5 to 13.

Also providing support to the RP Revicon squad are Pacific Heights, Accell and the Philippine Sports Commission.

Aside from Payla (51 kg), who has won gold medals in Cuba, Greece and Finland in the last three years, joining the trip are Lhyven Salazar (48), Ferdie Gamu (54), Roel Laguna (57), Anthony Igusquiza (60), Florencio Ferrer (64), Francis Joven (69) and Maraon Goles (75).

Pat Gaspi will serve as head coach and will be assisted by Ronald Chavez. Rene Fortaleza, also a former member of the national team, is the team manager while Arturo Vidal Jr. will join the team as referee/judge.