Payla storms to Round of 16

CHICAGO, Illinois – Asian Games gold medalist Violito Payla beat Khalid Said of England, 29-15, to barge into the Round of 16 in the World Boxing Championships at the University of Illinois-Chicago Pavilion here Saturday.

The 28-year-old Payla leaned on his superb counterpunching to dominate Said and arrange a showdown with American Olympian Rau’shee Warren on Wednesday for a place in the quarterfinals.

A victory will give Payla a berth in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Warren mauled Braulio Juarez of Mexico via a Referee-Stopped-Contest-outscored win (23-3, second round). Warren was a bronze medalist during the 2005 World Championships.

‘‘I’m ready to face anyone in my class. Even today, I’m willing to fight Warren,’’ said Payla, who outclassed Welshman Andrew Selby in the preliminaries last Thursday.

Payla went ahead, 8-3, at the end of the first round and was never in trouble after that. He piled up the points with his counter-punching as the Englishman pressed his attack.

‘‘Payla did the right things after dominating the first round,’’ said coach Pat Gaspi. ‘‘He dictated the tempo of the match right from the start.’’

Gaspi said Payla, a member of the RP-PLDT-Smart boxing team, is the underdog against Warren.

‘‘Payla’s the underdog but he has the talent and the style to beat Warren. One thing is sure, though, it’s going to be a beautiful fight,’’ noted Gaspi.

Sydney-based Ricardo Fortaleza, winner of the bantamweight gold during the 1970 Thailand Asian Games, said Payla versus Warren is a bout between two intelligent boxers.

‘‘Counter the counter puncher. The best counter-puncher will win,’’ said Fortaleza.

Gaspi said Payla and the rest of the RP-PLDT-Smart boxing team will continue their daily practices at the UIC Physical Education building.

‘‘Payla needs to keep his deadly form. Our mission is not yet finished,’’ said Gaspi,

Meanwhile, defending champion Kim Ki Suk of South Korea became the day’s biggest casualty as he lost to the smooth-playing Susa Katsuaki of Japan, 15-4, in the round of 32.