MANILA, Philippines—“He fought the wrong fight.”

This was the straightforward assessment Thursday of Mansueto ”Onyok” Velasco, the last Filipino boxer to win an Olympic medal, on why light flyweight Harry Tañamor stumbled in the first hurdle Wednesday evening in the Beijing Olympics.

Speaking in Filipino, the now 35-year-old Velasco, who awed the nation with his silver medal finish in the same division during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, said Tañamor blundered when he elected to slug it out with African brawler Manyo Plange during their round of 32 bout at the Beijing Workers Stadium.

“The Tañamor I knew was a boxer who played outside, throwing jabs and straights to pile up points. He’s never an inside fighter,” noted Velasco, who said he joined countless Filipinos who were glued to their TV sets.

Velasco said he was dismayed when Tañamor apparently lost his bearing after the Ghanaian took the upperhand early in the fight.

“He should have waited for the Ghanaian to come to him. After two rounds, Harry still had good chances of taking the upperhand,” said Velasco, adding that the Army sergeant didn’t box like a veteran.

“Plange broke away in the third because Harry continued to mix it up. Hit and run was a better tactic.”