Black Sunday start as two boxers fall

KUALA LUMPUR (Via Globe Telecoms) — Team Caltex Philippines opened its campaign in the 21st SEA Games boxing competitions on a sad note as pinweight Juanito Magliquian, one of the only two boxers who produced gold in the Brunei Games, suffered a close defeat to Thailand’s Keaw Pongprayoon.

Magliquian, the 27-year-old pug from Talisay, Negros Occidental, put up a gallant fight but went short of his bid against his young Thai rival, absorbing a 10-11 loss.

Pongprayoon, one of the new boxing hopes of the tough Thai team, assured himself of the bronze medal as he advanced to the semifinals against Malaysia’s Zamzai Aziz Mohamad who scored a 13-9 victory over Laos’ Vongpakhoun Sikham.

Magliquian failed to live up to expectation of Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines president Manny Lopez, who before the bout, expressed confidence the seasoned Negrense fighter would hurdle the Thai and provide the spark in the RP team’s possible good showing here.

Instead, Magliquian got the boot, signaling what could become another rough sailing for the RP team which last reigned as SEAG overall boxing champion in Manila in 1991.

Light middleweight Junie Tizon fared even worse in a 5-17 defeat to Dachapon Suwunnaliad also of Thailand.

Team Caltex Philippines didn’t get favorable results in the draw held Saturday with several Filipino fighters finding themselves in an early collision course with Thai rivals.

Only featherweight Ramil Zambales drew bye, thus, gaining automatic shot at the finals. The Palawan native is assured of the bronze whatever happens in his bout against Laos’ Tanovanh Nilondone. — Nelson Beltran