Tough bid for London slot awaits Suarez

MANILA, Philippines - Even as Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gold medalist Charly Suarez beat Olympic qualifier Saylom Ardee of Thailand via an 11-9 decision in the semifinals in Palembang last Sunday, it’ll be a longshot for the 23-year-old Davao City lightweight to make it to London next year. 

That’s because Asia has already five lightweight qualifiers, including China’s Wang Zhimin who booked a ticket through the AIBA’s pro tournament called the World Series of Boxing. Only one slot is left for Asia in the 60-kilogram division and it will be given to the lightweight champion in the continental eliminations in Astana, Kazakhstan, in March next year. If Suarez hopes to join Filipino lightflyweight qualifier Mark Anthony Barriga in London, he must capture the gold no less in Astana.

Suarez, now a two-time SEA Games gold medalist, had to move up to the lightweight division after AIBA abolished the featherweight class in trimming the men’s categories to 10 for the Olympics in order to accommodate three women’s categories.

In Palembang, Suarez was untouchable in brushing off Cambodia’s Phal Sophat, Ardee and Indonesia’s Matius Madiangan, 26-7, in the finals. Ardee qualified for London through the recent World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, where Suarez was bundled out in his first fight.

The other Filipino boxing gold medalist in Palembang has a fighting chance to make it to London. The are four slots left for Asia in the 64-kilogram lightwelterweight class where Dennis Galvan of Bago City campaigns. Galvan, who turns 20 on Nov. 27, beat Indonesia’s Afdan Bachtila for the gold medal in Palembang. He drew a bye in the quarterfinals and repulsed Malaysia’s Khir Akyazlan in the semis. If Galvan reaches the semifinals in the coming continental qualifiers, he’ll automatically clinch a slot for London. But who will represent the country in the lightwelterweight division at the Astana qualifiers – Galvan or the injured fighter he replaced Rolando Tacuyan?

The country’s two SEA Games gold medalists in women’s boxing will decide between themselves whom to compete for an Olympic berth. The gold medalists are pinweight Josie Gabuco (46 kilograms) and lightflyweight Alice Kate Aparri (48 kilograms). In London, there will only be three divisions for women’s boxing – flyweight (48-51 kilograms), lightweight (57-60) and middleweight (69-75). Aside from Gabuco and Aparri, the only Filipina boxers in Palembang were bantamweight (54 kilograms) Nesthy Petecio and flyweight Annalisa Cruz.

The Olympic qualifiers will be the World Women’s Boxing Championships to be held in Chungqing, China, in May. The top eight in the three weight divisions will advance to compete in London. Petecio, who claimed a silver in Palembang, must drop three kilograms to make the flyweight limit and battle for an Olympic ticket with Gabuco, Aparri and Cruz. Or she could gain three kilograms to qualify as a lightweight contender.

In all, the Philippine boxing squad bagged four golds, a silver and a bronze in Palembang. Flyweight Rey Saludar, 24, took the bronze. At the previous SEA Games, the boxing team brought home five golds, a silver and three bronzes. The gold medalists from the Laos campaign were pinweight Bill Vicera, Suarez, Gabuco, Aparri and flyweight Annie Albania.

In the men’s category, the Asian quota for the lightflyweight class is filled up. The slots up for grabs are four in the flyweight division, three in bantamweight, one in lightweight, four in lightwelterweight and three in welterweight. There are also tickets left in the middleweight, lightheavyweight, heavyweight and superheavyweight classes but no Filipino campaigns in any of those categories.

Saludar should try to clinch one of the four flyweight slots. Junel Cantancio, 25, was the country’s bantamweight hope in Palembang and took a silver in the 2007 edition. He was a late replacement for former Asian Games gold medalist Joan Tipon who won a match at the recent World Championships before crashing out of contention. Welterweight bet Delfin Boholst, 28, also didn’t go far in Palembang. Surprisingly, the lone Filipino Olympic boxing qualifier Barriga was upset in his first outing via a countback from 14-all. If the 18-year-old Barriga couldn’t even handle Indonesia’s Denisius Agustinus in the SEA Games, how can he be expected to overachieve in London and earn a medal?

The ABAP may also explore the possibility of requesting for a wildcard entry. The deadline to submit applications for a wildcard berth is Jan. 16 and they must be coursed through the Philippine Olympic Committee.

For the record, the three Olympic qualifiers from Thailand pocketed medals in Palembang. Lightflyweight Kaeo Pongprayoon claimed the gold, flyweight Chatchai Butdee the silver and Ardee the bronze.