Philippines, Thailand resume boxing rivalry in SEA Games Tuesday

PALEMBANG — The long-running Philippines-Thailand boxing rivalry in the Southeast Asian Games resumes on Monday, when welterweight Delfin Boholst takes on Saenset Apichet at the Jakabaring Sports Hall here.

The Filipinos won a total of five golds, one more than the Thais in the 2009 Games in Laos, but Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines executive director Ed Picson said it would be hard to predict if his fighters could improve on their output.

Before Boholst climbs the ring, light fly Mark Antony Barriga opens the Philippine campaign against Indon Hitarhirhun Denisius at 2 p.m.

The other top Philippine gold prospects are Asian Games champion Rey Saludar and Charly Suarez, a gold winner in Laos, who now fights as a lightweight.

“Just like Thailand, Laos and Vietnam have been preparing under the radar,” Picson said.

Picson said it would be hard to make a projection against Thailand because they have not joined international competitions after being suspended by AIBA early this year for failure to hold an elections in June.