Six-man boxing team vie for Olympic slots

MANILA, Philippines—Six Olympic hopefuls led by 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games gold medalist Rey Saludar leave for the AIBA World Boxing Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, Thursday to vie for slots in the 2012 London Summer Games.

Except in super heavyweight and heavyweight, from where six boxers each will be picked, the top 10 boxers from the different weight divisions in the tournament on September 26 to October 8 will advance to the Olympiad.

An Asian Olympic qualifier is scheduled in Kazakhstan next year, but it is in the World Championship where the Filipino boxers have their best shot.

Saludar will compete in the 52-kilogram flyweight division.

Joining him are light flyweight Mark Anthony Barriga (46-49 kg), bantamweight Joan Tipon (56 kg), lightweight Charly Suarez (60 kg), light welterweight Rolando Tacuyan (64 kg), and welterweight Delfin Boholst (69kg).

Tipon, a gold medal winner in the 2006 Doha Asian Games, was tapped to replace Junel Cantancio who went down with the flu.

Abap president Ricky Vargas, according to executive director Ed Picson, has committed full financial support to any boxer who will make it to the Olympics.