Suarez, 10 others in MVP finals

MANILA, Philippines - Featherweight Charly Suarez feasted on his opponent from Chinese-Taipei yesterday and towed 10 other Filipino fighters into the finals of the MVP International Boxing Friendship Cup at the PICC Forum.

The heavy-handed native of Davao del Norte was all over Chin Yuan Kao from the start. There were four standing eight counts before the end came with 45 seconds left in the second round, and the Filipino way ahead on points, 15-0.

Suarez scored heavily with both hands, and often pinned his hapless opponent on the ropes. The first standing eight came just 34 seconds into the fight, then late in the opening round and again early in the second.

“Each time he missed with his straight, he got open for my hook, and I also got my straights in. This was an easier fight for me because he kept on charging, unlike my first-round opponent from Sri Lanka who covered up,” said Suarez.

Suarez, a gold medalist in the 2009 SEA Games, will face his biggest test in three days when he takes on Thailand’s Worapoj Petchikoom in today’s finals. He said he’d seen the Thai before but they’ve never gone up the ring to fight.

“Nagkikita lang kami sa ibang tournaments,” said Suarez.

Also hurdling their semis assignments yesterday, and getting cracks at the gold, and the $1,000 bonus that goes with it were flyweight Annie Albania and featherweight Nesty Petecio in the women’s side; and lightfly Victorio Saludar, lightweight Joegin Ladon and lightwelter Jimmy Vallares.

Albania, a blue-chip fighter, took a walk in the park, 9-0, against Sri Lanka’s Jan Jayasinghe while Petecio needed a late surge to get past Thailand’s Rewadee Damsri, 11-7. Saludar was a 6-0 winner over Sri Lankan TM Tennakoon, Ladon an 8-3 winner over China’s Yu Cen, and Vallares 14-1 over Sri Lanka’s Pri Rajapaksha.

Lightfly Bill Vicera bowed to China’s Zhongling Wu, 12-2, while Rolando Tacuyan took a 10-1 loss to Thailand’s Oatcharija Haewsuno.

Making it to the finals the other day were lightfly Alice Kate Aparri, pinweight Josie Gabuco, flyweight Gerson Nietes, bantamweight Glicerio Catolico III and welterweight Delfin Boholst.                   

It will be a very busy day for the local fighters in the closing day of this seven-nation tournament. with 11 of them vying for the gold in the 12 divisions being contested.

But while the country’s women boxers may have the upperhand in their quest for the gold, their male counterparts will have their hands full against boxers from Thailand, the perennial powerhouse in Southeast Asia