Gabuco guaranteed of bronze in Asian boxing tiff
MANILA, Philippines – Josie Gabuco edged Alua Balkibekova of Kazakhstan, 3-2, to advance to the semifinals and ensure herself of at least a bronze medal in the women’s flyweight division of the Asian Boxing Championships in Bangkok Monday night.
The 32-year-old Gabuco, who is eyeing his fourth gold in the Southeast Asian Games in Manila late this year, will battle Mongolian Mungunsaran Balsan, who turned back Thai Ratchaneekorn Sikadon, 3-2, in the semis Wednesday for a crack at the gold.
Ian Clark Bautista likewise assured himself of a bronze after he whipped Chinese Chen Zhihao, 4-1, in their bantamweight duel.
A gold medal winner in the 2018 Feliks Stamm tournament in Warsaw, Poland, Bautista tackles Uzbekistan’s Mirazizbek Mirzahalilov, who pulled off a 3-2 win over Thailand’s Chatchai Butdee, in the semis today.
Not so fortunate were flyweight Marvin Tabamo, who fell to Japan’s Tosho Kashiwasaki, 1-4, and light flyweight Ramel Macado, who absorbed a 1-4 defeat at the hands of Kazakhstan’s Temirtas Zhussupov.
Nicezzaa Petecio was battling India’s Manisha in the quarters as of posting time with hopes of joining Gabuco and Bautista in the semis.
The Philippines’ campaign is being bankrolled by the Philippine Sports Commission.
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