Barriga, Boholst take early exit in boxing

PALEMBANG – Olympic boxing qualifier Mark Anthony Barriga lost by hometown decision in the lightflyweight, while Delfin Boholst lost to a Thai in the welterweight class in an ominous start for the national team in the boxing competitions of the 26th Southeast Asian Games.

Barriga, the first Filipino to gain a slot in next year’s Olympics in London, was ahead, 7-3, in the first half but Indonesian Dennisius Augustinus Hitarihun came back with solid punches in the second round to gain the upper 11-10.

They fought to a 14-14 draw after the third round, with the Indonesian winning the tiebreak based on the judges’ decision which considers the number of punches and aggressiveness of the fighters.

“We can’t question the decision, they’re the host, it’s normal that they decide in favor of their boxer. The better approach for us to accumulate more points to avoid this situation,” said team manager Ed Picson.

Apichet Saensit, 24, showed the staying power of the Thais, who served out a one-year suspension of the International Boxing Federation, in a 14-7 demolition of Boholst in the other Filipino bout, giving the national team a rare two opening day losses in the biennial meet.