Tañamor, RP boxers try to end ’08 jinx

MANILA, Philippines – The national boxers will get a chance to somewhat erase the stigma of defeats they suffered this year as the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines will compete in two international events this month. Harry Tañamor, the 1st AIBA Presidents Cup gold medalist in the light flyweight division, is the country’s lone representative to the AIBA World Cup set from December 10 to 14 at Megasport Sports Palace in Moscow, Russia. The event will feature world class boxers invited by AIBA with the top three finishers to receive cash incentives of $10,000, $5,000 and $2,500 respectively. Tañamor, who left the country last Saturday, has a strong chance of winning the 48 kilogram division since reigning World and Olympic champion Zhou Shiming is not competing. Completing the eight boxers in the division are Lukasz Masczczyk of Poland, Sardamba Purevdorj of Mongolia, Murodjov Rasulov of Tajikistan, Yampier Hernandez of Cuba, Birzhan Zhakypov of Kazakhstan, Paulo Carvalho of Brazil and Bejik Galarov of Russia. “We are honored to be part of this exclusive tournament that features the best boxers in the world. We’re confident Harry will be able to perform well," said outgoing ABAP president Manny Lopez. A silver medalist in the 2007 World Championships, Tañamor failed in his bid to win a medal in the Beijing Games as he was sent crushing out the event by unknown Manyo Plangue of Ghana right in his first fight. Mongolia’s Purevdorj looms as the top boxer in the said division after bagging the silver medal in Beijing while Hernandez took the bronze medal. Five other boxers namely Michael Parragoso, Rey Saludar, Larry Abarra, Jherjigs Chavez and Junel Cantancio will banner the nine-man RP team to the 1st China-Asean Boxing Championships in Nanning, China from December 18 to 25. The junior boxers who are preparing for the Asian Youth Olympics in Singapore next year will have a dual meet with Guam’s boxers in January. Rolando Tacuyan, Adones Cabalquinto, Aston Francis Palicte, Jame Doy Vicera and Mark John Rey Melligen are tapped in the dual meet in Agana from January 17 to 21. Tapped as head coach to the China event are Elias Recaido Jr. and Isidro Vicera while Romeo Brin and Nollito Velasco will handle the junior boxers. – GMANews.TV