Harry Tañamor squares off with Lukasz Masczczyk of Poland today, eyeing no less than a victory for a spot in light flyweight finals of the AIBA World Cup at the Ice Palace Megasport in Moscow, Russia.
Tañamor came away with an 8-4 decision over Murodjon Rasulov of Tajikistan in the quarterfinals Wednesday to assure himself of a bronze and a cash purse of $2,500.
The 31-year-old RP fighter is ranked second in his weight class owing to his silver medal finish in last year’s World Championship but will climb the ring the clear underdog against Masczczyk.
The Polish fighter advanced to the semis by outpointing Beijing Olympics quarterfinalist Paulinho Carvalho of Brazil, 9-7.
Contesting the other finals berth are Birzhan Zhakypov of Kazakhstan and Beijing Olympics bronze medalist Yampier Hernandez Gonzales of Cuba.
Zhakypov pulled off a stunning 13-5 rout of top seed and Beijing Olympics silver medalist Serdamba Purevdori of Mongolia while Gonzales booted out Russian Belik Galanov, 11-9.
The semifinals in the 10 other weight categories of the tournament, an invitational event for the top 88 boxers in the world as determined by the AIBA, will also be held today starting at 2 p.m. (8 p.m. in Manila).
The gold medalists will be awarded $10,000 while the silver medalists and the bronze medalists get $5,000 and $2,500, respectively.
Tañamor’s stint is sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission and Pacific Heights.