PH boxers off to hot start in Aiba World Championships

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines is off to a blistering start in the 2019 Aiba World Championships with three of its boxers breezing through the preliminaries in Ekaterinburg, Russia.

Ian Clark Bautista was the latest Filipino to prevail after a 5-0 win over Slovakia’s Villiam Tanko in the men’s bantamweight division Wednesday at Expo Centre.

The dominant victory was a continuation of the country’s early success in the first day of the tournament on Tuesday with 2017 Southeast Asian Games gold medalists Eumir Marcial and John Marvin outclassing their respective foes.

Marcial took a 4-0 win over Ecuador’s Bryan Angulo in the men’s middleweight division.

Marvin, meanwhile, brushed off Lithuania’s Paulius Zujevas, 4-1, in the men’s light heavyweight division.

The Philippine boxers are not only aiming for podium finishes in the World Championships but they’re also gearing up for the 2019 SEA Games in November here.