Confident Pinoy fighters unfazed by Thais return

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines’ tough boxing rival, erstwhile suspended Thailand, can now field in bets to the 16th Asian Games and a Filipino official welcomed this additional challenge that Phl pugs will face in their quest for glory in Guangzhou, China.

Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) executive director Ed Picson said the six-member Pinoy crew is all geared up to face SEAG foe Thailand, which cleared the way for its Asiad stint last week when it got a favorable ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sports overruling its suspension by the International Boxing Association (AIBA).

“Our six boxers are very much ready for the Asian Games,” Picson said of pugs Victorio and Rey Saludar, Charly Suarez, Delfin Boholst, Wilfredo Lopez and Annie Albania during his radio program yesterday. “Everybody’s healthy and in good condition and they’re enthusiastic in training and very determined.”

The Philippines looks to at least equal its two-gold, two-bronze output in the 2006 Asiad. But along the way, it expects opposition from the countries that finished ahead in the medals table, Uzbekistan (3-1-2) and China (2-0-3), as well as Thailand, which ended up one rung below the Phl at fourth (1-3-1).

The Thais will send 11 boxers – eight men and three women – with Amnat Ruenroeng (49kg) and Chatchai Butdee (52kg) tipped as their best bets for two golds. Thailand was earlier barred from the Guangzhou slugfest as the Aiba suspended Amateur Boxing Association of Thailand president Gen Taweep Jantararoj and the association last September for “continuous violations of AIBA’s Ethics and Disciplinary Codes.”

“They (Thailand) apparently got a favorable ruling from the CAS last week and are now allowed to compete. We welcome that because we know that boxers from Thailand are really good. It’s going to be a pity if the boxers will not be able to compete just because of supposed mistakes by their leaders,” Picson said.

“We would want them to be in Guangzhou so that if there’s a chance we get paired up with them, then we can settle our score,” added Picson.