Six Filipinos gain crack at boxing gold

NAKHON RATCHASIMA – Asian Games bronze medallist Godfrey Castro and reigning SEAG champion Annie Albania stopped their respective rivals inside the distance to highlight the Philippines’ six-of-seven showing in Day One of the 24th Southeast Asian Games boxing semifinals here last night.

Castro, second runner-up in the flyweight category in the Doha Asiad, halted Malaysia’s Abdul Karim Mohammad in the first round while Albania sent Myanmar’s Ei Swe Hninn into submission in the second round.

Bantamweight Chilem Jouveliet, featherweight Orlando Tacuyan Jr., super lightweight Larry Semillano and middleweight Junie Tizon were the four other Filipinos who gained a crack at the gold in their respective divisions.

Eight other RP pugs climb the ring in the next two days for a shot at the finals.

Vicente Vicera missed the final in the pinweight class, becoming the second Filipino fighter beaten by a Thai rival.

“Our fighters have been showing great resolve to win. It so happens that we can’t hit our strides when up against the Thais,” said RP team coach Nolito “Boy” Velasco.

Vicera was stopped in the third round by Pongprayoon Kaeo, the pinweight gold medallist in Bacolod in 2005. Wilfredo Lopez earlier lost to Non Boomjumnong.

“We’ll see the Thais in the finals. We’ll see what happens there,” said Velasco.

Chilem outpointed Myanmar’s Mo Mo Naing, 12-0; Tacuyan outscored another Myanmar bet Naung Soe Yan, 15-10; Semillano blanked Indon Erico Amanupunyo, 12-0; and Tizon topped Vietnamese Hua Duc Trong, 14-8.

Albania, Chilem, Castro, Tacuyan, Semillano and Tizon, however, will all be up against Thai rivals in the finals.

Semillano will have the toughest rival in Athens Olympics gold medallist Manus Boonjumnong.

Standing on Castro’s way in the finale is Somjit Jongjohor, silver medal winner also in the Athens Games.

Albania is to face Kadeewong Hansa, Chilem is trading blows with Thongjan Tassamalee, Tacuyan has Adi Sailom as a final foe and Tizon is tangling with Prasathinphimai.

Mitchell Martinez, the reigning SEAG and Asian champion, debuts here against Laotian Phimsomphour Manivone today. – Nelson Beltran