Boholst logs first Philippine defeat in Baku

BAKU, Azerbaijan—The PLDT-Abap national boxing team suffered its first setback Thursday as Delfin Boholst dropped a hard-fought battle to Stephen Danyo of the Nederlands, 16-11, in the 2011 World Boxing Championships in this “City of Winds” by the Caspian Sea.

Boholst tried to dictate the tempo of the fight by attacking early, but Danyo proved to be an adept counter-puncher with even quicker hands.

The first round went to the Dutch fighter, 5-3, Round 2 saw him pad the lead at 10-6. Boholst went all-out in the third by crowding Danyo and raining down multiple blows, but the tenacious European Championship finalist hung on to even add one more point to his edge.

On Friday, 20 year-old Rolando Tacuyan, progeny of former national boxing coach Orlando Tacuyan Sr. and former national track star Nenita Dungca, enters the ring against Iran’s Mehdi Toloutibandpi in the 64kg light welterweight division.

The Philippines is bannered by six boxers in the tournament which serves as the main qualifier for the London Olympics in 2012. A boxer needs to win at least three bouts to be eligible for the Olympiad, according to Abap executive director Ed Picson.

Thus far, three boxers—Mark Anthony Barriga, Rey Saludar and Joan Tipon—have hurdled their opening assignments. Charly Suarez will see action for the first time on Saturday against Ecuador’s Luiz Porozo.

The Philippine participation in the World Championships, backed by Abap chair Manny V. Pangilinan and Maynilad president and CEO Ricky Vargas, is funded by the Philippine Sports Commission and supported by PLDT, Adidas, Powerade, Accel and Clusivol.