By JP Abcede
MANILA--Criz Russu Laurente absorbed a heartbreaking loss to Kazakhstan's Makhmud Sabyrkhan in the 48kg light flyweight quarterfinals on Thursday to bow out of the ASBC Asian Junior Boxing Championships at the Puerto Princesa City Coliseum in the said city.
Four of the five judges gave the nod to Sabyrkhan, thus making Laurente the first casualty among Filipino boxers competing in the 15-16 year old Asian competition. Laurente won the first round in the judges' scorecards, but lost the next two to end his bid.
The General Santos City native opened his campaign by defeating China's Cai Yujun in Wednesday's preliminaries.
Laurente's exit left Kenneth dela Peña, John Vincent Pangga, and Norlan Petecio to carry the fight for the Philippines in the competition.
Pangga is set to face United Arab Emirates' Saif Alkharoosi in the 50 kg flyweight division, dela Peña is slated to battle India's Soy Selay in the 44-46 pinweight class, and Petecio is scheduled to meet Sherzod Kodirboev in the 60 kg lightweight category.
Follow him on Twitter: @jpabcede
.jpg)
