MANILA, Philippines - Kaagad na nasibak ang una sa limang bagitong Filipino boxer sa 16th World Youth Amateur Boxing Championships sa Baku, Azerbaijan kamakalawa.
Natalo si featherweight Nathaniel Montealto ng Puerto Princesa kay Oliwo Kazeem Tosin, 2-7, ng Nigeria sa isang three-rounder para sa unang laban ng mga Pinoy.
“Monty needs to stick to the basics,” ani Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) executive director Ed Picson kasama sina coaches Elmer Pamisa at Sonny Dollente. “He tends to go wild in a pinch although I admire his courage and aggressiveness. Monty really needs to gain more experience. These are 17 to 18 year old kids so they’ve got lots of time to improve.”
Nakatakda namang harapin ni lightflyweight Mark Anthony Barriga ng Panabo, Davao del Norte si Zhang Liang ng China, hababng makakatapat ni bantamweight Ricky Dulay ng Calbayog City, Samar si Patrick Velky ng Czech Republic sa preliminary bouts.
Sasabak rin sa aksyon sina flyweight Jenno Cabugngan ng Tagbilaran City, Bohol at lightweight Michael Delorino ng Catarman, Northern Samar.
Nakakuha ng bye si Delorino, habang makakasagupa naman ni Cabugngan si Hong Min ng Korea.
“It’s tough to comment on who got the breaks from the draw because the fighters are all unknown kids with limited experience,” wika ni Picson. “The reputation of our first foes is quite impressive. But our boys aren’t impressed although Monty displayed some opening day jitters. The other boys calmed him down by horsing around and the coaches reassured him.”
Samantala, dinaluhan naman ni AIBA (International Boxing Association) president Dr. Ching Kuo-Wu ng Taiwan ang delegation managers’ meeting noong Linggo.
Upang makapag-uwi ng gold medal ang isang boksingero, kailangan nitong manalo sa lima niyang laban.