Asian Games: Pinoy boxer Charly Suarez assured of medal after entering semifinals

Filipino boxer Charly Suarez entered the semifinal round of the men's lightweight division after winning via unanimous decision against Iraq's Ammar Jabbar Hasan Hasan on Monday.

 

Suarez is already assured of at least a bronze medal finish in the Asian Games, as the bronze is no longer contested by the boxers who are defeated by the finalists and instead automatically awarded to both.

 

He will exchange hostilities with Jordan's Obada Mohammad Mustafa Alkasbeh on Thursday to go to the final round and get a shot at the gold medal.

 

Meanwhile, Wilfredo Lopez qualified for the quarterfinals after beating Waheed Abdulridha Waheed Waheed via unanimous decision in the men's middleweight.

 

Olympian Mark Anthony Barriga and Mario Fernandez, who earlier barged into the quarters in the men's light flyweight and bantamweight divisions, will fight to march into the semifinal round along with Lopez on Tuesday.

 

Boxing is one of the country's strongest performing sports in the Asian Games, with 15 gold, eight silver, and 25 bronze medals since the Philippines joined in 1951.

 

This year, the Filipino boxers are hoping to surpass the Philippines' three-medal haul (one gold, one silver, and one bronze) in the 2010 Asian Games held in China. — JST, GMA News