Suarez gives RP boxers 1st win in China Open

Featherweight Charly Suarez gave the Philippines its first victory in the 1st AIBA China Open International Boxing Championship when he hammered out a 9-5 win over Syria’s Chama Weesap Tuesday at Guiyang, Guizhou province. Suarez’ win softened the impact of the consecutive losses suffered by the seven-member RP boxing team after lightweight Jameboy Vicera and lightwelteweight Mark John Melligen were shown the exit door.

Vicera suffered a 10-2 thrashing from the hands of France’s Farkany Radouane while Melligen absorbed an 11-1 beating from Huricha Bilige of China both on opening night. Suarez, 22, started out strong and delivered crisp combinations towards a backtracking Weesap, who was given a standing eight count towards the end of the first round. The Davao-born Suarez enjoyed a 4-1 lead after the opening round. Suarez, despite his Syrian opponent becoming aggressive in the next two rounds, held on to a 7-5 lead entering the final frame. Suarez, a Laos SEA Games Laos SEA Games, used his veteran skills to dominate the final round and eventually win match. "I thought when I gave him a combination he would go down in the first round. He turned out to be tough after all," said Suarez in Filipino. The win assured Suarez, a veteran of the Chicago and Milan world championships, of a spot in the quarterfinals. Light flyweight Gerson Nietes assured the country of a bronze medal after a lucky draw earned him a bye. He will take on Kazakhstan’s Idyaz Sulay-Minov in the semifinal on Friday. Three more RP boxers climb the ring on Thursday with bantamweight Francis Palicte battling Hongkong’s Cho Cheng Yu while welterweight Wilfredo Lopez faces Jordan’s Mutaz Don Duk. Flyweight Rey Saludar will have a tough first round opponent when he takes on 2008 Olympic gold medalist Zhou Shimming of China also on Thursday. – GMANews.TV