KUALA LUMPUR -- Three Filipino boxers on Sunday defeated their respective foes in separate categories to advance into the next round in the ongoing 29th Southeast Asian Games here.
Bantamweight Mario Fernandez highlighted the Filipino boxers’ three victories of the day by knocking out Maung Nge of Myanmar.
Flyweight Ian Clark Bautista started the onslaught of the Filipino boxers by demolishing host Malaysian boxer Abdul Salam Kasim, 5-0.
Almost an hour later, middleweight Eumer Felix Marcial capped the night with another spectacular 5-0 win over Nguyen Manh Cuong of Vietnam.
The boxing matches are being held at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibit Center (MITEC), almost an hour by public transport away from the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
“We are very happy for the performance of our boxers, three out of three, you cannot get any better than that,” said Ed Picson, secretary-general of the local boxing association of the Philippines.
“Sana tuloy-tuloy ang supporta ng mga kababayan natin, at makaka-asa kayo na tuloy-tuloy ang ating mga boxers," Picson added.
“Masaya ako, sana tuloy-tuloy,” said Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco who, together with other senior officials, personally witnessed the victories of the Filipino pugilists.
Bantamweight Fernandez, the defending titlist, delivered a stunning right upper to the face of his Myanmar foe that led to a standing count by the referee in just two minutes in the first round.
“Masaya at ibinigay ng ating Panginoon ang panalo,” said Fernandez, pointing out that he just followed the instruction of his coach not to be over confident.
On Monday (Aug. 21), action shifts to Olympian Charly Suarez, John Novel Marvin and Carlo Paalam.
Suarez will fight in the 64 kg, Marvin in the 81 kg while Paalam sees action in the 49 kg. (PNA)
