Saludar, 6 others vie in China Open

GUIYANG, China – Guangzhou Asian Games gold medalist Rey Saludar leads six other Filipino bets competing in the China Open Boxing Championship starting Sunday in Guiyang Province.

Joining Saludar in the team is his younger brother Victorio, along with Ricky Dulay, Wilfredo Lopez and the Tacuyan brothers, Orlando and Rolando.

A lone female entry, Ana Liza Cruz, will compete in the 51-kilogram class.

“The China event will gauge the worthiness of our boxers against some of the best fighters in Asia. Achieving that, we will know what adjustments we need to make,” said Ed Picson, executive director of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines.

Victorio competes in the 49 kg. division, Rey at 51kgs., Dulay at 56kgs., Orlando at 60 kgs., Rolando at 64kgs., and Lopez at 69kgs.

The elder Saludar ruled his class in the 2010 Asian Games, stunning hometown bet Yong Chang, 13-11, in the golf medal bout.

Coaching the squad are Roel Velasco, bronze medalist in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, and Ronald Chavez.

Also in the delegation is Karina Picson, a member of the Asian Boxing Confederation Women’s Commission who also recently passed the International Technical Officials’ examination in Turkey.

The Philippines won three bronze medals in this tournament last year, according to Picson, with the medals coming courtesy of Lopez, Gerson Nietes and Aston Palicte.

The event is part of the boxers’ buildup for the Southeast Asian Games in November in Palembang, Indonesia and the World Championships in Azerbaijan in September, which will serve as the qualifying event for the 2012 London Olympics.