National pugs armed, ready for Bangkok

MANILA, Philippines - With guarded optimism, the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines will have its top five boxers vying in the Asian Championships in Bangkok starting tomorrow.

“We’re very optimistic of our chances in Bangkok. But remember there’s always the luck or bad luck of the draw,” said ABAP executive director Ed Picson yesterday.

“Anything can happen. That’s why we’re hoping for a good draw,” he added during the PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate.

Two hundred of the finest amateur boxers from over 30 Asian countries will compete in the event that serves as qualifier to the World Championships in Doha, Qatar in October.

The top three boxers in each weight class in Doha will make it to the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Carrying the Philippine flag are lightfly Roger Ladon, flyweight Ian Clark Bautista, bantam Mario Hernandez, lightweight Charly Suarez and welterweight Eumir Felix Marcial.

They are the best of the Philippine team.

Hernandez is a back-to-back champion in the SEA Games, joining Bautista and Marcial as gold medalist in Singapore last June. Ladon won the silver in the last SEA Games.

Suarez, on the other hand, is the leader of the band. The silver medalist in the 2014 Asian Games will also provide the experience.

“I don’t like making forecasts. But all our five boxers here have a chance of qualifying to the World Championships – with no exception,” Picson said.

“This tournament is Asia wide with countries from the former Russian Republic. It will be tough,” said Picson, citing the presence of boxers from North and South Korea, Thailand, Japan and those from the former Russian Republic.

The Filipino boxers left for the Thai capital last Monday accompanied by coaches Pat Gaspi, Nolito Velasco and Reynaldo Galido.

Action begins tomorrow with the draw scheduled today. From the 200 boxers in the field, 70 of them or seven from each of the 10 weight classes, will make it to Doha.

The ABAP headed by Ricky Vargas is bent on fielding as many entries to Rio Olympics. The past two Olympics, it was only Harry Tañamor who made it to Beijing in 2008, and then Mark Anthony Barriga in London in 2012.

“We’re taking it step by step, beginning with the Asian Championships and then the World Championships, heading to the Olympics,” said Picson.

The ABAP official is heading to Bangkok to join the team tomorrow, confident that the five boxers will have a solid crack at slots to Doha.