Thai foe not same formidable champ of 1998 Asiad

BUSAN – Harry Tanamor’s semifinal opponent in the 14th Asian Games on Saturday is no longer the same fighter who won the lightfly gold in Bangkok four years ago.

Suban Pannon of Thailand made it to the semis here by beating a Cambodian and a North Korean although the reigning Asiad champion is nursing an injury on his right knee, heavily bandaged during his opening bout at the Masan Gymnasium.

The 24-year-old Suban, according to a Thai sportswriter, tore a ligament on his knee during the quarterfinal round of the 2000 Sydney Olympics where he lost to a German fighter.

Suban, according to the Thai scribe, was never the same again although he remains Thailand’s best bet in the 48 kg. division won by RP’s Mansueto "Onyok" Velasco in the 1994 Hiroshima Asiad.

"May tama siya (Suban). Kahit na defending champion, medyo mabagal na kasi may knee injury," said RP amateur boxing chief Manny Lopez.

Tanamor, the only one left to carry the load for the eight-man Team Caltex, worked out Thursday afternoon and, according to coaches Gregorio Caliwan, Nolito Velasco and Patricio Gaspi, is confident of going all the way.

Tanamor has already won three bouts here. He defeated Myanmar’s Aung Swar Kyaw, 25-7, then China’s Zou Shiming, 15-13, before turning back 2002 Commonwealth Games gold medalist Ali Qamar of India, 21-11, to assure himself of a bronze on his first Asian Games.

In the RP dugout after his smashing victory over Qamar, Tanamor was doing the normal post-fight shadow boxing when he was reportedly asked by PSC commissioner Leon Montemayor who his next opponent would be.

"Thailand po. Pero wala yan," was Tanamor’s quick reply.

Good for confidence building, huh. But in sports, never underestimate your opponent. Or you pay the price. — Abac Cordero