Eight Filipino boxers gun for SEAG golds Wednesday

The Philippines Josie Gabuco (blue) against Leona Hui of Singapore (red) during the 28th SEA Games Women’s Boxing Light Flyweight semifinal bout held at the Singapore Expo Hall 1. Gabuco beat Hui in a decision and advances to the finals.
INQUIRER PHOTO/RAFFY LERMA

SINGAPORE—The Philippines gets eight shots at boxing gold medals Wednesday as the country with the most number of finalists in the Southeast Asian Games at Singapore Expo Hall.

“We are happy but we can’t be contented because their opponents won’t just sit down and wait,” said Ed Picson, executive director of the Alliance of Boxing Association of the Philippines. “They will also fight because it’s the gold medal we are talking about.”

Of the eight boxers, two will slug it out withfighters from Thailand, the Philippines’ old nemesis in the sport. The Thais settled for five boxers in the finals after two of them bowed to Filipinos in the semifinals.

Three-time SEA Games champ Josie Gabuco, fighting in women’s light flyweight, will spearhead the campaign against Raksat Chuthamat, the same Thai fighter who beat her in a tournament in China last year.

Chuthamat is noted for her straights and sharp jabs but the 28-year-old Gabuco said she’s ready for the Thai this time.

Fellow SEA Games defending champion Mario Fernandez also has a Thai assignment in Tanes Ongjunta in the men’s bantamweight.

Two Filipinos will clash with hometown bets with flyweight Ian Clarck Bautista, who stopped Laos’ Thongbang Seuphom in the semifinals, facing Singapore’s Hamid Muhamed.

Eumir Marcial goes up against Singapore’s Tay Jia Wei in the men’s welterweight final.

Also fighting for the golds are Irish Magno against Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Yen in women’s flyweight, Nesthy Petecio versus Le Thi Bang of Vietnam in women’s bantamweight, light flyweight Rogen Ladon against Langu Kornelis of Indonesia and lightweight Junnel Cantancio versus Nguyen Van Hai of Vietnam.