Aparri two wins from gold

MANILA, Philippines - Lightflyweight Alice Kate Aparri is guaranteed a bronze medal at the sixth AIBA World Women’s Championships in Bridgetown, Barbados, but if she hurdles her semifinal assignment against India’s legendary Mary Kom this morning (Manila time), the Filipina fighter gets a chance to go for gold.

Aparri, 26, is the only surviving Filipina bet in the 75-nation event that brought in 273 hopefuls to battle for honors in 10 weight divisions at the 5,000-seat Garfield Sobers Gym in the South Caribbean island nation.

Kom, 27, is a four-time world titlist in the 46-kilogram pinweight class. Now, she’s campaigning in the 48-kilogram category and the top favorite nicknamed “Magnificent Mary” is adjusting smoothly. So far, she has beaten Sweden’s Natalie Lungo Vesenne, 10-1, stopped Australia’s Jenny Smith at 1:56 of the first round and outpointed Wales’ Lynsey Holdaway, 9-2.

If Aparri upsets Kom, she’ll take on the winner of the other semifinal bout between Kazakhstan’s Nazgul Boranbayeva and Romania’s Steluta Duta for the gold tomorrow morning (Manila time).

The Philippines sent three fighters to Barbados. The first casualty was highly touted flyweight Annie Albania who blew a 4-2 lead to lose a 7-4 decision to Turkey’s Sumeyra Yazici last Sept. 10. The second was bantamweight Nesthy Petecio who won twice then dropped a 13-2 decision to Russia’s Elena Savelyeva the other day.

Accompanying the fighters to Barbados are team manager Karina Picson, head coach Pat Gaspi and assistant coach Roel Velasco.

ABAP executive director Ed Picson, monitoring the team’s progress from Manila, said it was a bitter lesson for Albania who will likely be the country’s only female boxing contender at the Asian Games in Guangzhou this November.

“We’re hoping Annie will be more determined to win in the Asian Games after this loss,” said Picson. “It’s an attitude issue. Annie was up, 4-2, in the fight then started to showboat, taunting her opponent. I think she turned off the judges. She didn’t score a single point in the last two rounds while her opponent scored five in a row. She paid a hefty price for being cocky. I spoke with her on the phone after the fight and she told me that’s all God wanted her to do. But I reminded her that God helps those who help themselves.”

Velasco said Albania could’ve beaten Yazici. “She let down her defense and allowed herself to get hit after taking the lead,” said Velasco. “Annie was overconfident. Let’s hope she remembers this lesson in Guangzhou and doesn’t make the same mistake.”

In the Asian Games, only three weight classes will be allocated for women – flyweight (48 to 51 kilograms), lightweight (56-60) and middleweight (69-75). Petecio was included in the early roster for Guangzhou as a lightweight but Picson said he will recommend not to send her.

“Nesthy used to fight in the 57-kilogram division and has gone down to 54,” said Picson. “We can’t work her like a yo-yo. I think 60 kilograms would be too heavy for her. We listed her for the Asian Games on a ‘just in case’ basis. In Barbados, she made it to the quarterfinals in the 54-kilogram class which is perfect for her size, height and build.”

Before bowing to Savelyeva, Petecio whipped El Salvador’s Yamileth Solorzano, 10-1, and trounced China’s two-time World Championships bronze medalist Zhang Qin, 8-3. 

“Savelyeva was really strong and quick but Nesthy gave it her all,” said Picson. “Our coaches acknowledged that the Russian was the better boxer in that fight. Alice is positive and has been studying Kom’s videos. Karina has been taping the fights of our opponents. Coach Pat thinks Alice has what it takes (to win).”

To reach the semifinals, Aparri disposed of Lithuania’s Deimante Sipaviciute, 13-1, European champion Svetlana Gnevanova of Russia, 8-3, and Sri Lanka’s Anusha Kudituwakku, 8-2.

Aparri, a two-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist who squeezed out Josie Gabuco for a ticket to Barbados, beat Kudituwakku, 9-5, at the recent MVP Cup in Manila so they weren’t strangers to each other. The Sri Lankan arranged the appointment with Aparri after ousting USA’s Jessica Ponce, 8-1, and China’s Jiaoling Luo, 7-5.

“When we recently brought the national team to San Francisco and Los Angeles for training, the US coaches marveled at our quickness, saying we move like the Cubans but we’re more disciplined,” said Picson. “But we reminded our fighters that when overseas, they’ve got to dominate and win convincingly because we can’t risk losing in a close decision.”

AIBA president Dr. Ching Kuo Wu of Taiwan congratulated the Philippines for an outstanding showing in Barbados. “Dr. Wu complimented the team,” said Picson. “I think it’s evident that the Philippines is back as a world contender in amateur boxing with the support of ABAP chairman Manny Pangilinan, ABAP president Ricky Vargas and ABAP secretary-general Patrick Gregorio.”