MANILA, Philippines—Battle-tested Harry Tañamor launches his bid for Olympic glory against a virtually unknown opponent from Ghana as light flyweight boxing competitions begin Wednesday in the 29th Olympic Games in Beijing.

Is it “go” or “go home” for Tañamor, the Philippines’ biggest hope to win that long-coveted Olympic gold?

A veteran of many international fights, including the 2004 Athens Olympics, Tañamor will find the sailing rough as he is pitted against the world’s best in the 48-kg division.

For starters, the 29-year-old Tañamor, a prize find from Zamboanga, takes on unheralded Manyo Plange from Accra.

Plange is much younger at 20 and, despite his reputed lack of experience and international exposure, he is the light flyweight champion of Africa.

Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines president Manny Lopez said Plange is a brawler.

“OK lang si Harry, he is ready for his first fight,” said national boxing coach Pat Gaspi during an interview with Philippine Daily Inquirer sports editor Ted Melendres at the Worker’s Arena in Beijing. Cuban coach, Enrique Steyner Tissert, echoed the same sentiment.

Tañamor has gotten better, said his coaches before they left for Beijing. “We’ve pushed him a little harder.”

There are other 28 boxers in Tañamor’s division, including China’s Zou Shiming, who beat the Filipino fighter in last year’s World Boxing Cup finals in Chicago, an Olympic qualifier which allotted the Beijing trip to the champion and runner-up. Also in the fold are world’s No. 1-ranked David Aryapetyan of Russia, tournament’s dark horse, Luis Yanez of the United States; and the other hopefuls from Cuba, Thailand and Bulgaria.

There is no question that Tañamor has been training in earnest, but many say that technically he still needs to learn (and win) like the fighters do in Cuba, the hotbed of amateur boxing. In Cuba, boxers as young as seven years old are taught the basics of amateur boxing: learning to hit without getting hit, piling up an early big lead and protecting that lead in the final round unscathed.

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IF you think Red Bull Barako team owner George Chua is sulking nowadays because of his team’s recent loss to Barangay Ginebra Kings in the Smart-PBA Fiesta Conference, you’re wrong.

“I’m proud of my team and coach Yeng Guiao for doing such a good job,” said the soft-spoken Red Bull boss. In fact, he is satisfied with the Barako’s third-place finish despite encountering great odds, such as losing some of its superstars like Lordy Tugade, Enrico Villanueva, Larry Fonacier and, lately, Junthy Valenzuela, to the other teams.

“Coach Yeng and the boys gave their best and made it to the semifinals,” added the jubilant owner.

The team has won third place four times since joining the Philippine Basketball Association in 2000. Overall, Red Bull has won two back-to-back titles (Commissioner’s Cup in 2001 and 2002), finished runner-up once (2004 Fiesta Conference) and landed fourth twice.

“I guess, at one time or another, we’re the envy of other clubs,” Chua once said.

For his part, coach Yeng Guiao has only good words in the way the team management has been treating him. “Mr. Chua pays me for results. He doesn’t meddle with the team’s affairs. He doesn’t ask questions,” stressed the 47-year-old Guiao, who is currently the vice governor of Pampanga.

Guiao also heaped praises on his players for their devotion to their craft and for always being sharp and focused on their games.

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WARM regards to loyal reader Edu Durante of New Jersey, USA. Rest assured that I will always keep in touch. Maraming, maraming salamat!