Suarez, Saludar reach Tammer Cup final round

Tampere, Finland – Three Filipino boxers advanced to the finals in what could be the richest medal harvest ever for the Philippines in the Tammer Cup.

Victorio Saludar rallied from a 1-0 deficit to shock Russian Artem Ivaschenko, 4-1; Charly Suarez showed too much class against Finnish Petteri Frojdholm, 7-2, in their 56-kilogram encounter; and Delfin Boholst broke the hearts of the hometown crowd a second time by shutting down Jarkko Putkonen, 6-0, in the 64-kilogram class.

“A great effort by our boxers, truly inspiring and heartwarming,” said Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines executive director Ed Picson, who could have four Filipinos in the finals if Rey Saludar hurdled Declan Garraghty in their 52-kilogram semifinal bout at the Pyynikin Palloiluhallissa Sports Hall late in the evening.

“Our main goal here is to have a tough tune-up for the coming Asian Games. I think we’re getting that,” he said. “If we win a gold medal or four, that would be a welcome bonus.”

Saludar will face England’s Charlie Edwards in the finals, while Suarez will go up against Finland’s Matti Koota. Boholst’s opponent has yet to be determined.

The trip here is the last leg of the “Road to Asian Games” blueprint designed by ABAP president Ricky Vargas and given all-out support by multi-industry mogul Manny V. Pangilinan, chairman of ABAP and telecommunications giant PLDT.

The long road started with box-offs in Baguio and Manila, training camps and tournaments in China and the United States and an international tournament in Manila-the MVP Cup.