Payla’s loss bitter pill to swallow

XINJIANG, China–Disaster struck RP Team Revicon here Friday when flyweight Violito Payla and featherweight Roel Laguna absorbed stinging losses in the 2003 Xinjiang International Boxing Championships here.

Payla came through with smashing jabs and punches against China’s Guo Xianshuan but failed to impress the judges from Pakistan, Korea and Kazakhstan and absorbed a 24-27 loss. Laguna, clearly dictating the tempo of his bout against Xie Gang, also of China, followed him to the showers with an 11-15 loss.

The twin losses were bitterly disputed by coaches Pat Gaspi and Ronald Chavez, who pleaded with the panel of juries which include the Philippines’ Rene Fortaleza, but to no avail.

"Masyado namang garapal ang pagkatalo nina Payla at Laguna. Okay lang sana kung talagang talo gaya nang nangyari sa unang araw nang matalo sina (lightweight Anthony) Igusquiza, (light welterweight Florencio) Ferrer at (welterweight Francis) Joven. Pero ngayon, kita ng lahat na panalo pero pinatalo pa rin," lamented Gaspi as the RP protest fell on deaf ears.