Filipino boxers in 2-1 start at China Open

GUIYANG, China—Veteran Orlando Tacuyan and Wilfredo Lopez won their opening bouts for the PLDT-Abap team at the start of the second China Open Sunday.

Tacuyan, coming off a two-year training stint with the Philippine Air Force, showed no signs of rust in a 9-2 win over Qatari Abdullatef in their lightweight clash.
Lopez, who had to shed off extra poundage two weeks before the tournament, humbled local pug Cong Wenbing in their 69 kg fight on a 13-7 verdict.

The two victories came after featherweight Ricky Dulay, 17, bowed to Beijing Olympics veteran Anvar Yasunov of Tajikistan, 13-2, in the first bout of the 19-country tournament.

Three fights are up Monday for the Filipinos with Tacuyan taking on a Chinese, his younger brother Rolando tackling a Korean and Lopez battling a Tajik.

Also in the team are the Saludar brothers Rey and Victorio, who will get going on June 1, and the lone Filipina, Analisa Cruz, who sees action Tuesday.

The PH team is sponsored by PLDT with Accel providing the uniforms and other apparel.