Tipon leads RP bid in King's Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Joan Tipon and five other national teammates plunge into action starting today in the 31st King’s Cup boxing tournament in Bangkok featuring top boxers from Europe and other Asian countries.

“This is like a mini-world championship,” said executive director of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines Ed Picson said. “It’s going to be tough but we’re ready for battle.”

Joining Tipon, the bantam gold medallist in the 2006 Asian Games, light flyweight Gerson Nietes, flyweight Aston Francis Palicte, featherweight Charly Suarez, lightweight Joegen Ladon and light welterweight Genebert Basadre.

Nietes is a nephew of world title holder Donnie Nietes, while Palicte and Suarez are veterans of the World Championship.

Ladon salvaged the gold medal in the China Asian Boxing Championship, and Basadre reached the semifinals in the Doha Games.

Thailand is fielding in its second squad but remains a force to reckon with. Bannering the hosts’ campaign are former welterweight Non Boonjamnong, middleweight Angkhan Chomphuphuang, lightweight Sailom Adi and flyweight Amnat Ruenroeng, all veterans of the Beijing Games.

Fighters from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Russia and China are also competing in the tournament.

To motivate the RP fighters, ABAP chairman Manny V. Pangilinan and president Ricky Vargas have offered P30,000 to the gold medal winner while silver and bronze medallists will get P20,000 and P10,000 in bonus, respectively.

Also in the team are coaches Ronald Chavez, International Referee/Judge Dante de Castro and Jesus San Esteban but Cuban coach Dagoberto Rojas Scott failed to join due to visa woes.