CHARLY Suarez failed in his gold medal bid after dropping a split decision loss to Mongolian Dorjnyambuu Otgondalai Saturday in the Asian/Oceanian Olympic Qualifier in Qian’An, China.
But the loss hardly mattered as the 27-year-old veteran is already assured of an Olympic slot in Rio de Janeiro in August along with Rogen Ladon (49 kilograms).
Otgondalai also beat the Filipino for the 60 kg gold in the Incheon Asian Games in 2014.
Suarez barged into the finals—and gained an outright Olympic berth—via a sensational second round technical knockout of China’s Shan Jun in the semis.
With two Olympic qualifiers, the country surpassed its performance in London four years ago where Mark Anthony Barriga was the lone boxing bet.
Southeast Asian Games champions Eumir Felix Marcial and Mario Fernandez failed to make it to the Games.