Suarez, Galvan gain fourth boxing golds

PALEMBANG – Charly Suarez and Dennis Galvan overwhelmed Indonesia’s surprise finalists in a savage battle from close range and hacked out victories that landed two more golds for the boxing at the Basket Hall in the city proper here late last night.

Suarez, who ousted Thai Saylom Ardee on his way to the final, overpowered Indonesian Matius Madiangan, 26-7, – highlighted by two standing 8-counts – to win the third gold for the boxing team following the gold medal finish of Josie Gabuco and Alice Kate Aparri in the women’s side a day earlier.

Right after, Galvan, competing in his second international competition after a regular tournament in Uzbekistan last March, was ahead in all rounds in a 14-12 victory over Afdan Bachtila in the light welterweight division.

“I’m happy with the performance of the boys. We could have won three more from Rey Saludar (flyweight) and Mark Anthony Barriga (lightflyweight) and Nesthy Petecio (bantamweight), but the breaks were not with us,” said team manager Ed Picson.

ABAP is happy to contribute four golds to Team Philippines,” said ABAP president Ricky Vargas. “We sent a young team and we are on track as far as boxing development is concerned.”

Even before entering the ring, Indonesia’s Madiangan already conceded to Suarez.

“We met at the hotel last Saturday and he told me he was not going to win over me after what I did to the Thai boxer in the semifinals,” recalled Suarez. “He told me I am his idol.”

Still, Suarez never took his word for it, and showed the game Indonesian the fury of his jab and straight as he dominated the first round for a 6-4 lead.

Suarez was as aggressive in the second round where he made disguised shots to confuse his opponent and came through with a strong blow to the body, resulting in a standing 8-count in the last six seconds of the round.

“Nag-fake ako ng tira ko. I knew he was weak in the abdomen and I hit him hard there,” said Suarez.

The Bago City pug led the second round, 14-5, and could have dropped his guard against his friendly foe from the hotel.

But he would not relent.

He went on the offensive even as the Indonesian, realizing he was behind in points, fought aggressively to reverse the outcome. He had some clear shots to the head, but Suarez continued to move in, connecting with a crispy uppercut that prompted another standing 8-count, with 1:07 gone in the round.

That slowed down the Indonesian and Suarez went on to finish him off with a storm of blows to the head towards the end of the bout.

Galvan, now on his third year with the national team although still on the reserve list until two weeks before the SEA Games when he replaced the injured Orlando Tacuyan, got off to a big start with a 5-3 lead in the first round. A jab-straight jarred the Indonesian who took a standing 8-count 1:16 in the round.

Galvan, coached by Nolito “Boy” Velasco and supported by Bago City Mayor Ramonito Tsorres, took a 10-6 lead to the third round where the Indonesian made a rally, but Galvan ably parried the blows and came out the winner, 14-12.