Rio-bound Ladon settles for silver; Fernandez misses chance

Rogen Ladon.

WITH a stint in the Olympics in the bag, Rogen Ladon settled for the silver medal even as Mario Fernandez and Eumir Felix Marcial saw their ticket to Rio de Janeiro slip away after losing to their respective foes Friday in the Asia-Oceania Qualifying Tournament in Qian’an, Hebei, China.

Ladon, the 21-year-old prized find from Bago City, bowed to Hasanboy Dusmatov of Uzbekistan, 29-28, 28-29, 29-28 in their 49-kilogram final. Dusmatov also beat Ladon for the gold medal in the ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships last year.

Charly Suarez, who will join Ladon in the Olympics following his TKO win over China’s Shan Jun, will go for the gold on Saturday in the 60 kg finals against Mongolian Otgondalai Dorjyambuu. The two split their first two meetings.

Fernandez lost to Kairat Yeraliyev of Kazakhstan in their Olympic berth boxoff in the 56 kg class. The Kazakh won, 30-27, on all three judges’ scorecards.

Marcial also failed to catch the bus to Rio after bowing to Mongolia’s Byamba Tuvshinbat, 29-28, on all three cards.

Marcial fought with a swollen left hand and defied doctors’ recommendation by insisting on fighting.

“Ladon and Fernandez both wanted to win badly, but perhaps the fatigue factor and the emotional ups-and-downs here may have caught up with them,” said Ed Picson, delegation head and executive director of Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines.