The 24-year-old Tañamor, probably one of the best lightflyweights to come out of Zamboanga City, pounded Kaezov Aedlot of Kazakhstan, 21-7, to assure the Philippines at least a bronze medal in this tough, 12-nation event.
The Tubungan native and a member of the army special service unit under Col. Manuel Marcon was all over his rival from the opening bell and sustained his calculated attack up to the end for the convincing win.
He will next face PDL Bedak of Hungary in the semifinals on Saturday, vowing to shoot for a win and a possible gold for the five-man team backed by Pacific Heights, Accel and the Philippine Sports Commission.
Tañamor’s win somewhat eased the rage and frustrations felt by head coach George Caliwan and assistant Nolito "Boy" Velasco who strongly felt Lerio and Ferrer were robbed of victories.
Lerio, like Tañamor a gold medalist in the first Goa International Championship in India just last week, hit Kim I-hyon of North Korea with crisp blows but the five judges in their bantamweight quarterfinal bout surprisingly scored it 15-17 against the Sydney Olympics veteran.
Even head jury Z. Sabeb of Pakistan was enraged with the results that he immediately accosted the judges and berated them for what seemed to be a conspiracy to deny Lerio a spot in the next round.
Ferrer, on the other hand, climbed the ring a better lightwelter than when he won a silver in India against Somchai Nakbalee of Thailand but, like Tanamor, lost in the scorecards, 19-23.
"Marami naman ang nakakita at alam nila na dapat panalo tayo sa dalawa lalo na ‘yung kay Arlan. Pero hindi pa tapos ang laban," said Caliwan.
Still waiting to join Tanamor in the medal round is Warlito Parrinas, the youthful lightwelter from Cadiz City.