Lone RP boxing bet eliminated

BEIJING – Light-flyweight Manyo Plange of Ghana dealt Harry Tañamor a stunning 6-3 loss last night as the overall Philippine campaign suffered a severe blow in the Beijing Olympics.

Plange, the African champion who trained under Cuban coaches, was the more skillful fighter, connecting with good counter-punches that took the game out of the Filipino.

The 20-year-old Ghanaian went up 2-1 in the first round and led 5-2 at the end of the second. He scored another point in the third round where Tañamor went scoreless.

Tañamor, 11 years older than his opponent, tried to rally in the final two minutes but only managed a point. He often went for the body where it is difficult to score.

Tañamor tried hard to hide his disappointment after the final bell, bowing his head, his hands on the ropes as he faced his Cuban coach Juan Enrique Tissert in his corner.

It was the second and last Olympic stint for Tañamor who carried the hopes of the entire Filipino nation as one of the country’s brightest medal hopes in the 29th Olympiad.

Tañamor, silver medallist in the 2007 World Championships, was one of the favorites in the 48 kg class, and was even tipped to land in the finals by Sports Illustrated.