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PH boxers to figure in two Olympic qualifiers

Mark Barriga. Reuters (file photo)
By JP Abcede

MANILA--The Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines can still add to the two boxers it will send to the next Summer Olympics as two more qualifiers are lined up in the coming months.

The AIBA Women’s Boxing Championship will be held in Astana, Kazakhstan on May 19-27, while the AIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament will be in Baku, Azerbaijan on June 7-19.

Slated to see action in these tournaments are Irish Magno, Nesthy Petecio, and Josie Gabuco in Kazakhstan, as well as Eumir Felix Marcial, Mario Fernandez, Roldan Boncales, and Mark Anthony Barriga in Azerbaijan.

“We have scheduled several exposures, both local and international. We’re already talking to the people concerned kung saan namin sila pwedeng dalhin [and] what sort of training they need,” said ABAP executive director Ed Picson. “We need to focus on strength and conditioning to complement the tactics and strategy of our boxers.”

Light flyweight Rogen Ladon (49kgs) and lightweight Charly Suarez (60kgs) already made it to Brazil after reaching the final round of the Asia and Oceania Olympic Boxing Qualification Tournament held in China last week.

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