Fernandez beats Iranian in Asian tilt

BANGKOK – Size did not matter for Filipino bantamweight Mario Fernandez who pulled off a unanimous decision over Iran’s Reza Korzbori Thursday at the Thammasat University Gymnasium here.

Fernandez landed the clearer punches against his heftier opponent and got the nod of all three judges in scoring the 3-0 win in day two of the ASBC Asian Boxing Championships.

The 23-year-old Fernandez, gold medalist in the last two SEA Games, drew support from members of the Philippine team that watched the bout from the stands.

The event serves as qualifier to the World Championships in October in Doha, Qatar.

Fernandez, bronze winner in the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, raised his hands and faced the members of the PLDT-ABAP Philippine team as he walked away from the ring.

His victory should provide the spark for the five-man team in this event that drew close to 200 boxers from 33 Asian countries.

For all the boxers here, it’s the first step to Rio.

From the opening bell, Fernandez took control of the three-round fight even if his Iranian opponent, who must have a background in wrestling, tried to pin him down a few times.

But Fernandez kept his focus and went on to win each round.

The other members of the Philippine team, light-fly Rogen Ladon, flyweight Ian Clark Bautista, lightweight Charly Suarez and welterweight Eumir Felix Marcial, cheered from start to finish.

Also in this Thai capital that was recently rocked by a bomb blast are coaches Pat Gaspi, Boy Velasco and Reynaldo Galido, one of three Filipino gold medalists in the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games.

The top seven boxers in each of the 10 weight classes here will advance to the World Championships in Doha, where the top three will march on to the 2016 Rio Olympics.