3 pugs gain semifinals

MANILA, Philippines - Victorio Saludar, Charly Suarez and Delfin Boholst turned up the heat in a cold Thursday night as they pounded out victories over their respective rivals to advance to the semifinal round of the 31st Tammer Cup in Tampere, Finland.

Saludar stopped Al Mas Dhandhani of the United Arab Emirates in the first round (RSC) with the Filipino ahead, 5-0; Suarez stunned Russian Anatoly Bokreev, 2-0; and Boholst crushed Scotland’s Jason Easton, 4-1.

Bokreev, a bronze medalist in this year’s European Championship, put up a tough stand but found the slippery Suarez beyond his reach.

The 19-year-old Saludar, the youngest in the PLDT-ABAP team of four, used barely a minute of fight time in disposing of his foe. He went after the startled Arab fighter at the start, unleashing a flurry of punches that forced his opponent to reel back.

Referee Mik Basi of England issued the first of two standing 8-counts just a little over half a minute into the match at the Pynikki Palloiluhalissa Stadium.

The UAE fighter tried to fight back but the Polomolok, South Cotabato native pressed his attack, forcing the referee to stop the fight with 1:51 left in the first round.

With the win, Saludar earned a slot in the semifinals on Saturday against Russian Artem Ivaschenko, a 3-2 decision winner over Robert Kanalas of Hungary, assuring him of at least a bronze medal finish.

On Friday, Charly Suarez (56 Kg) sees action against Anatoly Bokreev of Russia, light welterweight Delfin Boholst versus Scot Jason Easton, and Rey Saludar, elder brother of Victorio, against another fighter from the UAE, Ahmed Al Mesmari, in the 52 kg category.

Suarez faces Petteri Frojdholm of Finland, who beat Sheng Hao Tseng of Chinese-Taipei, 9-3, while Boholst goes up against another hometown bet, Jarkko Putkonen, who edged France’s Hassan Amsile.

Rey Saludar, elder brother of Victorio, was to battle another fighter from the UAE, Ahmed Al Mesmari, in the 52 kg category at press time.

The tournament, started in 1977, has produced the likes of Mike Tyson and Oscar de la Hoya. The Tammer Cup drew 22 countries this year with 92 boxers.