Rogen Ladon, Ian Clark Bautista vie for gold medals in Thailand Open

Rogen Ladon (left) throws a left hook even as he tries to evade Thanarat Saengphet of Thailand during their flyweight semifinals bout in the Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Filipino boxers Rogen Ladon and Ian Clark Bautista punched their way into the gold medal round of their weight classes in the Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament on Friday at Angsana Laguna Phuket Resort Hotel in Thailand.

Ladon, the reigning Southeast Asian Games flyweight king, showcased his counterpuching skills in a dominant third round to outpoint hometown bet Thanarat Saengphet, 4-1.

“I just followed my coaches’ gameplan to go in-and-out to get the fight,” said Ladon. “I went toe-to-toe knowing I can take him on.

Saengphet is Ladon’s former  sparmate back in the training camp in Muak Lek District, outside Bangkok.

Ladon faces the reigning Asian Championships and Asian Games titlist Amit Panghal of India in the finals on Saturday where $2,000 is at stake.

Meanwhile, Bautista delivered a devastating right hook against Vietnam’s Nguyen Van Duong to score a knockout just 1:05 into the second round of their featherweight semis bout to advance.

The 2019 SEA Games bronze winner takes on 2021 World Championships runner-up Serik Termizhanov of Kazakhstan who won via a split 3-2 decision over Rujakran Juntrong of Thailand.

With their entry in the finals, Bautista and Ladon secured at least two silver medals for the Philippines in the prestigious tournament organized by the Thailand Boxing Association.

The Thailand Open, as well as the pre- and post-tournament training camp, is part of the PH national boxing team’s preparations for its overall title defense in the 31st SEA Games set to be held in Hanoi, Vietnam next month.