Brin resumes bid, faces Thai

ATHENS (Via Globe Telecom) – Lightwelter Romeo Brin put his comeback bid on the block against a flamboyant Thai fighter Thursday night at Peristeri boxing hall in a bid to refuel a Philippine campaign hit by another setback in the Athens Games.

Brin, the only three-time Olympian in Team Philippines and on his final stint with the national team, fights Manus Boonjumnong in the second round at 8 p.m. hoping for a win that will set him up against the Russian Tank in the quarterfinals.

But first there’s Boonjumnong.

Aware what has happened to teammate Violito Payla who was beaten by his Uzbek rival whom he has tormented twice in the past, Brin knew he would be up against a resurgent Thai fighter he has defeated in the Asian qualifier in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

In fact, he would need some divine help to pull through.

"Malakas ang kalaban pero mas malakas ang kakampi ko sa itaas," said Brin.

The classy fighter from Bangkok, who finished third in the last year’s World championship, humbled hometown bet Spyridon Ionannids, 28-16, in the first round while Brin upended Sweden’s Patrick Bogere, 43-35 in a bruising four-round context.

The Filipino veteran is still aching all over and had a bruised nose to show from the fierce encounter.

"Masakit ang katawan ko. I didn’t know I was ahead, kaya nilabanan ko ng husto sa last round," said Brin.

And that is the kind of a fight he would need against Boonjumnong, according to assistant national coach Pat Gaspi.

"Pressure, pressure, pressure," said Gaspi, "ganoon ang gagawin naming laban dahil si Brin may experience na at alam na ang laro ng kalaban."

Gaspi said it was the battleplan they carried out when they pulled off a 17-7 decision over Boonjumnong in the first round of the Palawan qualifier. "Naunahan naming sa puntos." Going up against the Thai fighter is somewhat a gravy to Brin’s amazing comeback tale for this Olympnics.

He failed to advance against Cuban Julio Gonzales in Atlanta in 1996 in a thriller of a fight that drew a standing ovation and also lost his bout in Sydney four years ago.

"Sana magtuloy tuloy ngayon," he said.

If he were to hurdle Boonjumnong, he would go up against top seed Russian Alexander Maletin in the quarterfinals although the man has to beat world No. 2 Willy Blain of France in the featured match of the evening.

The 29-year-old Maletin, the world titlist in 1997 in Budapest and bronze medalist in the Sydney Games, is a Filipino tormentor, having beaten Anthony Igusquiza, Roel Barega and Brin himself in a lightweight showdown in Indonesia.

"Siya ang pinakamabigat na dadaanan ko," said Brin.