Impressive win boosts Pinoy pugs confidence

DOHA — Joan Tipon has all the motivation, momentum and confidence heading into his gold medal bout with Korean Han Soon Chul in the Asian Games here Wednesday. But the Filipino fighter with long reach and quick hands doesn’t want to take any chances.

"I will prepare my very best for the final and try to get the gold," said Tipon, after putting away the most dreaded fighter in the bantamweight division in the most thrilling semifinal encounter Monday.

Bouncing back from a shaky start, Tipon fought aggressively against Athens Olympics silver medalist Worapoj Petchkoom in the second to make it 5-all in front of a raucous crowd at the Aspire Hall 5. He kept pounding the Thai in the third to seize control, 9-8, but Petchkoom refused to crack and came through with counterpunches to force a 13-all count at the end of the fight.

But Tipon was declared winner on a final point calculation, sending the Filipino bet into the final against Han, who, unlike his gold medal rival, essayed an emphatic 29-19 victory over Mongolia’s Badar Enkhbat in the other semis clash.

"We are right on track in our target of surpassing and ending the country’s gold medal drought. Tipon’s victory was a shot of adrenalin to the boxing team as he outwitted an Olympic silver medalist," said Amateur Boxing Association of the Phils. president Manny Lopez after Tipon’s thrilling win and before cue artist Antonio Gabica handed the Philippines its first gold with a victory over Jeffrey de Luna in an all-Filipino final in the 9-ball singles at the Al-Sadd Multi Purpose Hall late Monday.

Having beaten the Thai champion for his third straight win in an explosive Asian Games debut, Tipon now tries to cap his incredible run with a victory over Han, whom he beat in a previous encounter.

"I have beaten him before," said the 24-year-old Tipon, the reigning Asian champion. But Han could prove to be a tough nut to crack this time.

"I thought I could win but I couldn’t because the Korean was very strong," said Enkhbat of Han.

The 22-year-old Korean is a power puncher who loves to fight in close range. He demolished Kazakh Kanat Abutalipov in the second round, 40-27, scored an RSC-O win over Pakistani Abid Ali in the quarterfinal then dominated Enkhbat in the semis.

"We have studied the Korean moves and style," said Lopez. "I think Tipon is ready." — Dante Navarro