Two More Filipino Boxers Win in Milan, Italy
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Two more Filipino boxers have hammered their way into the next round of the World Amateur Boxing Championships in Milan, Italy with impressive victories over tough opponents.
Doha Asian Games gold medalist Joan Tipon used a furious third round to overcome Ananda Gamaethiralalage of Sri Lanka in a bantamweight battle while Joegin Ladon scored a big upset when he outpointed England’s fancied Thomas Stalker in a lightweight clash.
The Filipino rookie who was making his first appearance in a major international meet started off in great style to race to a 5-0 lead in the very first round and then edged the English fighter in the next two rounds by 3-2 margins to score the biggest win of his career by a comfortable 11-4 margin.
The Ladon win was all the more significant since the southpaw Stalker was the silver medalist in the European Boxing Championships and was also in the finals of the British Boxing Championships.
Tipon was expected to have an easy time against his Sri Lankan opponent but soon realized that Ananda was no pushover as he battled Tipon all the way in the first two rounds losing the first by a slim 1-0 margin with the second round an even 2-2.
Tipon using his vast experience and his skill out-punched the Sri Lankan 5-1 in the third round to ultimately emerge the winner by an 8-3 margin.
Tipon and Ladon joined opening day winner Genebert Basadre in the next round where light flyweight World Cup champion and Olympic veteran Harry Tanamor will make his first appearance in Milan.