Camat, aakyat na sa pro boxing

ATHENS -- Walang pagsisisi ang unang Pilipino boxer na mamamaalam sa 28th Olympic Games na si middleweight Christopher Camat, ngunit sa kanyang palagay, oras na para umakyat sa professional ranks.

"No excuses," wika ng 25-gulang at 5-foot-9 na si Camat matapos matalo kay Russian Gaydarbek Gaydarbekov sa first round bout noong Sabado. "I gave him a good fight but he’s simply taller and faster. He’s also got sharp punches."

"I’m going back to Manila and tell the coaching staff and (boxing) officials of my plan. After a month-long trip to the islands (Boracay and Bohol), I’d go back to San Francisco and look up my options."

Hindi nagsisisi si Ca-mat na ipaglaban ang ban-sa simula pa noong taong 2000. "I had the chance to represent the country where I was born and even made it to the Olympics. Fighting as a pro perhaps is the next best step for me."

"I studied and work at the same time. I also began fighting at 16. My coach, Flor Rivera, is also the handler of Luisito Espinosa," aniya.