Two RP pugs advance

BELFAST, Ireland – Violito Payla and Arlan Lerio hammered out impressive victories Monday night as Team Caltex Philippines came through with an auspicious start in its bid for the country’s first-ever gold medal finish in the World Amateur Boxing Championships here at the Oddysey Arena.

Payla, campaigning in the flyweight division (51 kg.), outboxed Eraliev Ravkat of Uzbekistan, 23-13, and Lerio, one of the best hopes for a medal finish here, thumped South Korean Jo Suk Whan, 13-7, to similarly grab a seat in the next round of the bantamweight class (54 kg.).

"This is what we needed, a good start for the needed momentum," declared delegation head and Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines president Manny Lopez. "We hope that the two wins will give us the headstart in our campaign here. No team has dominated this tough tournament which is made even more prestigious by the fair officiating. This will really give our boys fair chances to win."

Actually, Payla trailed the Uzbek fighter, 2-5, after the first round as the Filipino used the two minutes to size up his opponent. Payla then gave his rival a neat lesson in boxing and by the time the next round was over, he was leading, 10-8.

Payla never let up from there and, with crisp left-right combinations, piled up points while dodging his rival’s blows en route to the big victory.

In contrast, Lerio used his vast experience to dominate the Korean right from the start, taking a 4-2 lead in the first round, a lead he never relinquished in the four-round bout.

The twin win set up Payla for a meeting with German Zakorjan Vardan and Lerio against Filipov Vitalijut Tuesday night (Wednesday morning in Manila).

Wednesday will also see the debut of Anthony Igusquiza who will tangle with Romanian George Lungu in the lightweight division (60 kg.).

Light flyweight Harry Tanamor, the last of the four-man Team Caltex squad sent here by Caltex Philippines, Philippine Sports Commission, Pacific Heights and Adidas Philippines as part of the ABAP buildup for the Malaysian Southeast Asian Games, sees action on Wednesday against Lee Kyung Yeh of South Korea.