Asian Games: Aaron Bado loses to Thai foe after cut

Philippines’ Aaron Bado.– ASBC PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Aaron Bado’s Asian Games campaign came to an abrupt end on Monday.

Bado lost to Thailand’s Thitisan Panmot via referee stoppage in the men’s 51kg class at Hangzhou Gymnasium.

The bout was stopped with 16 seconds remaining in the second round due to a cut above the right eye of Bado which was ruled off a punch from Panmot but looked like it came from an accidental clash of heads in the replay.

Unfortunately for Bado, he became Philippine boxing’s third casualty after Aira Villegas and Irish Magno also got the boot in their opening bouts.

But it wasn’t all losses for the country’s boxing contingent with Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Eumir Marcial and light welterweight Mark Fajardo scoring impressive victories to kick off their medal bids.

Making his Asian Games debut, Fajardo knocked out Bhutan’s Dorji Wangdi in the first round.

Marcial, meanwhile, outclassed Dalai Gadzorig of Mongolia in his first fight at light heavyweight.

Carlo Paalam, who won silver at the Tokyo Games, plunges into action against Jordan’s Abu Jajeh Mohammad in the Round of 32 of the men’s 57kg division on Tuesday.

His fellow Olympic silver medalist Nesthy Petecio will begin her medal quest against top seed Lin Yu Ting of Chinese Taipei in the women’s 57kg category on Friday