SEA Games: Rogen Ladon gives Philippines 2nd boxing gold

Rogen Ladon throws punches against Thailand’s Ammarit Yaodam in the 30th Southeast Asian Games boxing final. INQUIRER PHOTO/SHERWIN VARDELEON

MANILA, Philippines—Rogen Ladon played it cool and took a unanimous decision win over Thailand’s Ammarit Yaodam, 5-0, for the gold medal in the boxing men’s flyweight division of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games Monday at PICC Forum.

Ladon is the second gold medalist so far from the Philippines, which has 10 boxers in the final round.

Yaodam had his guard most of the match and would sometimes let go of his hands to clinch Ladon to the point that the bout nearly looked like a wrestling fight with the two fighters falling to the mat thrice.

Ladon, who was the aggressor for most of the bout, easily danced around Yaodam, launching flurries down the Thai’s defense.

“I remained patient because that was his tactic so I just played my game because if I get frustrated then that would throw me off,” said Ladon in Filipino. “I just let him and I didn’t let myself be distracted.”

Ladon, a silver medalist in the 2018 Asian Games, won the first SEA Games gold medal of his career.