Bautista, 2 others take boxing opener

MANILA, Philippines - Mario “Jordan” Bautista, younger brother of SEA Games and China Open gold medalist Ian Clark Bautista, knocked down Sirozhiddin Abdullaev of Kyrgyzstan in the second round in an auspicious start by the six-man ABAP national team in the ASBC Asian Men’s Elite championships in Tashkent Uzbekistan Sunday.

Once he gained his confidence, Bautista, 20, started peppering his aggressive opponent with effective combinations and counter punches leading to a second round knockdown and a 5-0 victory.

He was to face his first big test , No. 3 seed Kairat Yeraliyev of Kazakhstan, yesterday.

In Sunday’s evening session, lightweight James Palicte, who turns 23 on Wednesday, also sailed past Singapore’s Muhamad Bin Ahmad, 5-0.

In the welterweight class, Joel Bacho of Mandaluyong, fresh from his upset victory over Cuban veteran Aristoidys Despaigne in the King’s Cup in Thailand a month ago, had to muster almost all his skills to beat a scrappy and wily Elmer Sakenov of Kyrgyzstan, 4-2.