Olympics or bust for three RP pugs

CHICAGO, Illinois – Light-flyweight Harry Tañamor, flyweight Violito Payla and lightweight Genebert Basadre on Monday vowed to dish out their best and beat their respective rivals in the round of 16 of the World Boxing Championships at the University of Illinois-Chicago Pavilion here.

Payla meets Rau’shee Wareen of the United States, Tañamor battles Sherali Dostiev of Tajikistan and Basadre tackles Hrachik Javakhyan of Armenia Wednesday with the winners advancing to the quarterfinals and earning berths to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

“Warren is slippery but I’ve fought a lot of fighters like him before. I know what to do,” said Payla, who is dedicating the bout to his three-year-old daughter Bea, during a practice session Monday.

Payla and company are members of the RP PLDT-Smart boxing team and supported by PLDT-Smart chair Manny Pangilinan.

Both Payla and Warren are southpaws. Payla beat Andrew Selby of Wales and England’s Khalid Said before making it to the round of 16.

“It’s not going to be easy, but Payla has the game to win this one. We’re fighting a hometown bet and we need a very clear win,” said Gaspi.

Payla and Warren saw action during the 2004 Athens Olympics but failed to land in the medal round. To make it to Athens, Payla needed to go through three Olympic qualifiers, an experience he isn’t willing to endure again.

“I want to get a berth here so that I can focus on Beijing,” Payla said.

Tañamor had beaten Dostiev during the Athens Olympics preliminaries but knows the rapid-punching Tajik is hungry for revenge.

Basadre faces Javakhyan, who stunned Sadam Ali of host United States, 20-16, in the round of 32.

“I’m sure he remembers what transpired in Athens,” Tañamor said. “I’m ready.”

“The better counter puncher will win. Power is nothing in amateur boxing. It’s a mind game,” said 1970 Asian Games bantamweight gold medalist Ricardo Fortaleza.

Manny Lopez, president of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines, said the Nationals are on target for winning two slots in the Olympics.

“It will be excellent to get three. The Nationals’ performances here show that we can excel in the face of world-class opposition,” said Lopez.