Karachi next stop for five Pinoy pugs

KARACHI, Pakistan — The five-man RP Team-Revicon, with hardly enough rest following a successful campaign in India, plunges into action with two tough bouts on Wednesday in the 12-nation Green Hill Cup Boxing Tournament here.

Arlan Lerio and Junard Ladon, gold medalists in the recently-concluded first Goa International Championships along with Harry Tanamor, climb the ring with only one mission–keep the win streak for the Filipino boxers running.

Sydney Olympics veteran Lerio, the pride of Antipas, North Cotabato, drew Yutthaphonsut Nongbu of Thailand as his first assignment in the bantamweight division while Ladon, a Bago City native and one of the promising members of the RP boxing pool, fights Song Guk of Korea in a featherweight duel.

"Non-stop ang campaign natin para makapaghanda talaga tayo sa darating na SEA Games. Hindi madali ang misyon natin na makuha uli ang overall title sa SEA Games boxing kaya kahit wala halos pahinga ang mga bata, tuloy ang laban," said George Caliwan, head coach of this team backed by Pacific Heights, Accel and the Philippine Sports Commission.

Warlito Parrinas, silver medalist in Goa, is next to fight in a flyweight bout against Kim I-hyon of Korea.

Lightwelter Florencio Ferrer, also a silver medalist in Goa, and lightfly Tanamor cheer for their teammates while they wait for their turn up in the ring.