Suarez, Aparri score easy wins; Cruz, Cantancio fall

PALEMBANG – Charly Suarez showed no mercy for his Cambodian foe as he reduced the latter to a pulp in a one-sided 20-5 victory to advance to the semifinals of the lightweight class in the Southeast Asian Games boxing competitions last night.

The victory came after a similar 11-0 destruction by Alice Kate Aparri of Mieovad Hangfa of Laos  in the lightflyweight division.

The twin triumphs offset two similar losses by Analisa Cruz at the hands of Thai Sopida Saturnum (12-15) in the flyweight class and Junel Cantancio from anotherThai, Worapoj Petchkoom (15-3) in the bantamweight class.

Suarez led the first round, 8-3 and remained in control in the second round where  a solid punch to the midsection saw Cambodian  Phal Sophat writhing in pain at the ropes while the referee made a standing 8 count. He led the round, 15-3.

Still the Cambodian remained in the game, but he became a veritable punching bag for the Southeast Asian Games defending champion who went on to finish the demolition job in one of the most lopsided bouts of the day.

Aparri gave everything she got against the hapless Laotian.