Ian Clark Bautista, right, with his coach Elias Recardo. INQUIRER/ Marc Anthony Reyes
KUALA LUMPUR — Ian Clark Bautista punched his way through the flailing arms of his Malaysian foe Abdul Salam Kasim, whose every move elicited uproar from the big hometown crowd here Sunday.
Fortunately for Bautista, his fists managed to silence them.
“I don’t know what to do about the crowd, even if he (Kasim) blocks, the crowd applauded,” said the 22-year-old Bautista.
He said he got confused and in the chaos that gripped the cramped Hall 8 of the spanking new Malaysia Interntional Trade and Exhibition Center, left everything to God.
“Good thing He didn’t leave me,” said the defending 52kg champion.
His coach, former Asian Games champion Elias Recaido told him to get the opening round.
“We needed that first round, but in the second round he got too eager,” said Recaido. “I was telling him to go for his midsection.”
That visibly slowed down Kasim in the third round and the arena noise fell several decibels lower.
“Good start sir,” said Bautista. “I will just fight on.”