Suarez trims Syrian boxer

MANILA, Philippines - Featherweight Charly Suarez dominated Chaman Weesap of Syria in the early going and went on to fashion out a 9-5 victory to advance to the quarterfinal round of the China Open in Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China Monday.

The 22-year-old Suarez seized control early with crisp combinations then scored a standing-eight count towards the end of the first round for a 4-1 lead.

Weesap then changed tactics in the third and closed the gap as the Syrian became more aggressive to end the round trailing by just two points, 5-7.

But Suarez, last year’s Laos SEA Games gold winner and a veteran of back-to-back world championship tournaments in Chicago and Milan, regained his form and held off his rival with solid counterpunches to pound out the win.

“He’s strong but I thought he would fall down in the first when I hit him with my combinations,” said Suarez in Filipino.

Light flyweight Gerson Nietes, meanwhile, took a bye and assured the country of at least a bronze medal. Nietes will take on Idyaz Sulay-Minov of Kazakhstan in their semifinal encounter Friday.

Suarez’ victory somewhat made up for the twin losses suffered by lightweight Jameboy Vicera and lightwelterweight Mark John Melligen, the other members of the seven-man RP boxing team backed by PLDT and Smart Communications.

Vicera bowed to Farkany Radouane of France, 10-2, while Melligen absorbed an 11-1 beating at the hands of Huricha Bilige of China.

Bantamweight Francis Palicte faces Hongkong’s Cho Cheng Yu while flyweight Rey Saludar will take on one of the top fighters of this tournament in 2008 Olympic gold medalist Zou Shimming of China Thursday.

Wilfredo Lopez will slug it out with Mutaz Don Duk of Jordan, also tomorrow.