Tipon captures lone RP gold

Joan Tipon, a cinch to make the Doha Asian Games, earned the country’s lone gold medal in the recently-concluded Greenhill Cup boxing competitions in Karachi, Pakistan.

Three Filipino boxers actually made it to the finals of the week-long competitions, but only Tipon managed to win the gold.

Using excellent footwork and stinging jabs, Tipon pummeled Pakistan’s Abid Ali, 28-20, in the bantamweight finals.

Earlier, light-flyweight Harry Tañamor and flyweight Violito Payla settled for silver medals after succumbing to their South Korean foes.

Tañamor, who like Tipon is the reigning Southeast Asian Games titleholder, bowed to the classy Hong Moo Won, 18-33, while Payla suffered a 17-37 beating from world champion Lee Ok Song.

The 1-2-1 (gold-silver-bronze) performance by the RP pugs gave the Philippines a third place finish overall in the 22-team cast that included leading Asian and European boxers.

Lightweight Genebert Basadre lost in the semifinals and settled for bronze.

Manny Lopez, president of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines and second vice president of the Philippine Olympic Committee, lauded the Pacific Heights-sponsored boxers for their gallant stand.

"Our boxers hold their own against some of the world’s best boxers," Lopez said, who also thanked the Philippine Sports Commission for its support. Patricio Gaspi coached the team with Ronald Chavez as assistant coach.