Gen-San pug shoots for Paris berth

Criztian Pitt Laurente (photo above) takes time off money fights to chase Olympic glory. —PHOTO FROM CRIZTIAN LAURENTE/FACEBOOK

Criztian Pitt Laurente will undergo a changeover in fighting style as he pursues a slot for Team Philippines in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The unbeaten 24-year-old pro from General Santos City is back with the national boxing team as he tries to become the fourth pug for Team PH in the world’s fashion capital later this year when takes part in the World Qualification Tournament in Bangkok, Thailand, next month.

“It’s more of quantity over quality in the amateurs. Since the fight lasts only three rounds, it’s more fast-paced and requires more hand speed to earn points,’’ said Laurente, a winner of his first 12 pro fights who will try to join Eumir Marcial (light heavyweight), Nesthy Petecio (women’s featherweight) and Aira Villegas (flyweight) after the qualifiers.

“I see no problem with my adjustments because I also fought as an amateur.’’

A mainstay of the national squad for four years from 2015, Laurente will be joined in the last Olympic qualifier by Tokyo silver medalist Carlo Paalam (featherweight), Rogen Ladon (flyweight) and Hergie Bacyadan (women’s middleweight).

“It’s an invite that was hard to refuse. I would love to be in the Olympics and this is a great opportunity for me,’’ said Laurente, who thanked his father Cristino and promoter Gerry Penalosa for allowing him to pursue his Olympic dream.

Laurente, nicknamed the “Golden Boy,” beat Mongolia’s Munkhdalai Batochir in his last fight, a nontitle bout held in March 2023 in South Korea.

Winning the gold medal at the 2016 Children of Asia boxing tournament in Yakutsk, Russia, and a bronze medal at the 2018 Asian Boxing Confederation Youth Championships in Bangkok were among the highlights of Laurente’s amateur stint.

In 2016, Laurente was named best junior boxer in the continent by the Asian Boxing Confederation. INQ