Heartbreak Kid’s back: Lerio to pursue Olympic dream

Two months after his heart-rending experience in the Sydney Olympics, boxer Danilo Lerio is back on top of the ring – a few kilos heavier than his fighting form but with the same old fire and intensity in his eyes.

Danilo, supposedly the brightest medal hope among the four RP boxers who competed in Sydney, blew away a rare chance for Olympic fame – and fortune, at least for the meantime, when he took a 17-15 loss in his opening bout to veteran Rafael Lozano of Spain.

Danilo actually lost what many perceived a won bout, leading by two points with only 17 seconds left in their lightflyweight (48 kgs) encounter before Lozano, 30, unleashed a four-point flurry to snatch the victory and shatter the Filipino pug’s dream.

Danilo’s elder brother Arlan, a flyweight (51 kgs), suffered the same fate in the hands of Poland’s Andrzej Rzany, leading by a point in the final seven seconds only to allow his rival to tie the score at 18-18. In the countback, Arlan lost, 70-69.

Those twin defeats led to the ouster of Cuban coach Raul Liranza who eventually took the blame for ordering the Lerios, particularly Danilo, to mix it up with their opponents instead of dancing the precious ticks away.

The rest is history. But for Danilo, he couldn’t help but look back at that harrowing Olympic experience.

"Sayang talaga. Grabe," said Danilo, who celebrated his 20th birthday last month with fellow members of the national pool at the ABAP quarters inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

"I really thought I won but when I saw our coaches and my brother throwing things in the dugout I realized I lost. That’s when I cried," Danilo said in Tagalog.

As far as he can remember, it was Liranza who ordered him to mix it up with Lozano during the bout’s final break. "I really thought I was ahead. Nobody would fight it out if he’s ahead but I was ordered to, " he said.

Danilo, however, refused to put all the blame on the Cuban coach who was highly credited for Onyok Velasco’s silver medal finish in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

"Madami din naman kasi siyang naituro sa akin. Manok niya kasi ako. Wala ngang ibang coach ang nakahawak sa akin sa training para sa Olympics. Magmula sa road work hanggang sa gym, si Cubano ang palaging nakatutok sa akin. Kaya alam kong ayaw din niya ako matalo ( He taught me a lot. I was really his ward. No other coach handled me in my training for the Olympics. From roadwork to gym work. The Cuban was in full charge and I knew he didn’t want me to lose)," said Danilo.

From Sydney, Danilo, with his brother Arlan, went home to Antipas, North Cotabato, before reporting back for training at the ABAP gym last week. Arlan has yet to resume training – busy remodeling his house in Antipas – along with fellow Olympians Larry Semillano and Romeo Brin.

"We went on vacation and took a long rest because we were away for four months. But

we’re back in training," said Danilo, now weighing close to 53 kgs (almost good for a bantamweight). "

Danilo and the rest of the members of the national pool are now focusing their training for the 2001 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, and the 2002 Asian Games in Pusan, South Korea.

At one point during his much-deserved vacation, Danilo entertained thoughts of turning pro but was prevailed upon by his family, and his desire to bring pride and honor to the country and pursue his Olympic dream.

Danilo added that the support of ABAP chief Manny Lopez and corporate sponsor Caltex also made him think twice on his plans to enter the world of big-time boxing.

For now, Danilo is thinking of moving up to the flyweight class since Arlan is also planning to go up to the bantamweight division.

"I may move up to flyweight. I feel I'm a natural for a flyweight. I was forever watching my weight as a lightfly and it affects my style," he said.

He also said it was his lack of exposure in international meets which did him in in his first crack at the Olympics.