Philippines opens bid in World Boxing tilt

BAKU, Azerbaijan—Light flyweight Mark Anthony Barriga gets the PLDT-national boxing team’s campaign going when he tangles with Romanian Stefan Caslarov on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) in the inaugurals of the 2011 Aiba World Boxing Championship.

Guangzhou Asian Games gold medalist Rey Saludar will see action Tuesday versus Canada’s Tanjit Lally in the flyweight division.

Joan Tipon, the 2006 Doha Asian Games champion, takes on Alberto Melian of Argentina in the bantamweight division on September 28 followed by Delfin Boholst against the Netherlands’ Stephen Danyo in the welterweight category on September 29.

Light welter Rolando Tacuyan takes on Iran’s Mehdi Toloutibandpi on September 29 while lightweight Charly Suarez sees action on October 1 against Ecuador’s Luiz Porozo.
The biennial championships, which will last until October 8, lured a record field of 570 boxers from 130 countries this year.

The national boxers’ trip in this qualifier for the 2012 London Olympics is bankrolled by the Philippine Sports Commission and supported by PLDT, Accel Powerade and Clusivol.
The top 10 boxers in each weight division (except heavyweight and super heavyweight, which is top six) will qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.