Basadre opens RP campaign vs Pakistani

MILAN – Light-welterweight Genebert Basadre kicks off the Philippines’ bid in the 15th AIBA World Amateur Boxing Championships Tuesday as he squares off with Aamir Khan of Pakistan at the Mediolaforum here.

The 27-year-old Basadre, bronze medalist in the Doha Asian Games, hopes to use his experience against Khan, who is making his first appearance in the big stage.  

Top RP bet Harry Tañamor, meanwhile, drew a first round bye and found an Armenian he has never fought or even seen before as his first assignment in the light flyweight class on Thursday in the biennial, prestigious ringfest.

“I’m in good condition. I’ll just give it my shot in every fight),” said Basadre, fighting out of Misamis Oriental who’s won some but lost in most of his several big tournaments in a career spanning six years. “

“Basadre can handle the guy,” coaches Pat Gaspi and Ronald Chavez told Filipino journalists. 

Tañamor, the country’s strongest hope for a medal who won a silver in the same tournament in 2007 (Chicago) and a bronze in 2001 (Budapest, Hungary) and 2003 (Bangkok, Thailand), will take on unheralded Armenian Hovhannes Danielyan.

“I haven’t seen him fight, we haven’t met in the ring,” said Tañamor, elated by the fact that he drew a bye in the first round like the top eight seeds in the lightest of the 11 divisions to be disputed in the two-week long meet.    

The drawing of lots attended by Gaspi, Chavez and ABAP executive director Ed Picson saw featherweight Charly Suarez meeting Stan Julian of Rumania, lightweight Joegin Ladon tackling Thomas Stalker of England and Joan Tipon taking on Sri Lankan Kamal Gamaethiralalage as first round rivals.

Tipon and Ladon make their appearance on Wednesday while Suarez sees action on Thursday on the third day of this meet which drew more than 600 boxers from 144 nations headed by Cuba, the winningest country in the meet launched in 1974.             

Basadre’s biggest claim to fame was a silver medal victory in the tough King’s Cup in Bangkok this year. He won a bronze in the 2006 Doha Asian Games and bagged a gold in the weak SEA Games competitions in 2005 as a young boy who was discovered in the National Open.