GUADALAJARA, Mexico – The Philippines started its campaign on a successful note as flyweight Welbeth Loberamis mauled Brazilian Santos Adauton, 27-3, at the start of the first International Boxing Association Youth World Championships Saturday at the Mateos Lopez Gymnasium here.
Loberamis, a prized-find from Mandaue City, used his accurate left hooks and straights to beat the hapless Brazilian in the 51-kg division. Loberamis posted a 4-1 lead at the end of the first round and was ahead, 11-2 halfway through the four-round bout.
“I was nervous at the start but after the first round, I felt confident that I could beat my opponent, said the 5- 6 Loberamis. I know, I have the tools to beat him.”
“No problema,” said Cuban Dagoberto Rojas Scott, head coach of the compact five-man Smart-PLDT team.
Scott said the month-long training of the nationals in Havana, Cuba clearly helped Loberamis.
Assistant head coach Elmer Pamisa said Loberamis boxed wonderfully against the Brazilian.
“He (Loberamis) is in perfect shape. The Cuban training made his technique sharp,” said Pamisa, a former national player during his heydays.
Boxing chief Manny Lopez said the victory is just a small step by the Philippines in bringing home medals in the tournament which replaced the World Junior Championships last held 2006 in Agadir, Morocco.
Loberamis’ assignment Sunday is peppery Puerto Rican Jonathan Gonzales, who debuted impressively against Australia’s Kyle Freiberg, A possible meeting with England’s Martin Ward, the 2007 Cadet World Championships and Cadet European Championships bronze medallist, awaits Loberamis in the quarterfinals.
Loberamis was the lone Filipino bet to debut in the opener. Gerson Nietes starts his medal-quest in the light-flyweight class against Puerto Rican Carlos Narvaez, lightweight Rolando Tacuyan also battles Hungarian Erik Sos in the preliminaries Sunday..
Featherweight Glicerio Catolico III, son of national women’s head coach Glicerio, drew a bye and a win on Oct. 27, over Arias Romero Wellington of Dominican Republic will give him a quarterfinals slot.
Bantamweight Anton Francis Palicte launches his medal bid also Monday against Bajrang of India.