Marcial drives past opponent

BANGKOK – With his long reach and solid credential, Filipino bantamweight Eumir Felix Marcial outclassed Uulu Erkinbek Bolotbrk of Kyrgyzstan Friday in the ASBC Asian Boxing Championships in this rain-drenched Thai capital.

The 19-year-old Marcial flexed just enough muscles during the three-round contest, and left the ring at the Thammsat University Gymasium with a lopsided 3-0 victory, and oozing with confidence.

“First sparring,” Marcial said as he walked toward the dressing room, buffing his face with an ice-cold bottle of mineral water.

Marcial enjoyed a longer reach, and used it to his great advantage. The only time his opponent connected was when he got close to the Filipino gold medalist in the 2011 World Junior Championships and the 2015 SEA Games.

It was the second win in as many days for the five-man squad sent here by the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines and fully backed by telecommunications giant PLDT.

Last Thursday, bantamweight Mario Fernandez, also a gold medalist in the last SEA Games, pulled off a similar 3-0 win over Iran’s Reza Korzbori.

Now things will only get tougher.

Marcial will next face second seed Israil Madrimov of Uzbekistan in the round-of-16 Sunday, the same day Fernandez meets Kairat Yeraliyev of Kazakhstan, also the second seed.

“Felix won handily today but we can be certain that his next fight is not going to be as easy. But he’s as ready as can be. The same goes with Fernandez,” said Ed Picson, ABAP secretary-general.

Depending on the number of entries, the top six or seven boxers in each of the 10 weight classes here will advance to the AIBA World Championships in Doha, Qatar in October, where slots to the 2016 Olympics in Rio will be up for grabs.

Also representing the Philippines here are lightweight Charly Suarez who faces Zakir Safiullin of Kazahkstan Saturday; lightfly Rogen Ladon who will take on Rakhmankul Avatov of Kyrgyztan on Sunday; and flyweight Ian Clark Bautista who will test Bui Trong Thai of Vietnam on Monday.

“Ginamit ni Felix yung haba niya (Felix used his reach advantage). Mahahaba ang tinapon (He threw long punches),” said Philippine team head coach Pat Gaspi.

“Five-to-one ang tamaan (It was 5-to-1 in the punches landed),” said Gaspi, chairman of the ASBC coaches commission and assisted here by Nolito “Boy” Velasco and Reynaldo Galido.

With as many as 20 entries in some weight classes in this 33-nation event, it’s tough to land even in the top six or top seven, and make it to Doha.

But the directive from ABAP president Ricky Vargas is clear: get to the Olympics.

“That’s the order of the day. After you qualify ABAP will see to it that you get the best possible preparations for the Olympics,” said Vargas.