FILE–Philippines’ Rogen Ladon.
Rogen Ladon put climbing up in weight class on hold in an effort to make it to the Paris Olympics, enlisting in a lighter division that eventually took its toll on the Rio Games veteran.
“Sorry, I tried my best but it wasn’t meant to be,’’ said Ladon in Filipino after seeing his Paris quest come to a bitter end at the hands of Spain’s Rafael Lozano.
He can now pursue that earlier plan of going up the scales moving forward.
According to men’s coach Ronald Chavez, elevating to a heavier category is inevitable for Ladon in the future if the two-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist and Asian Games silver medalist intends to prolong his career.
READ: Rogen Ladon’s bid for Paris Olympics ends with opening bout loss
“I tried pushing him beyond his limits, but he’s tired and found it difficult to move his legs. Going up to a heavier weight is necessary for him at this point,’’ said Chavez.
The 30-year-old from Bago, Negros Occidental, wanted to jump to the featherweight division before the Olympic qualifiers, but made the sacrifice of giving way to Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Carlo Paalam.
Lozano showed Ladon the door, 4-1, in their opening bout in the men’s 51-kilogram division.
Paalam advanced to the round-of-32 in the men’s 57-kg division on May 28 where he’s bound to face Turkmenistan’s Shukur Overzov, who defeated the Filipino pug in the round-of-16 during the first World Qualification Tournament in Busto Arsizio, Italy, two months ago.
Paalam needs four more victories to secure an Olympic berth and join fellow boxers Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas in Paris.
“I won’t be with them in Paris anymore, but will support my other teammates in the national team and pray that they make it,’’ said Ladon.
Aiming to progress to the next round as well, Criztian Pitt Laurente opens his bid in the men’s 63.5-kg division opposite Kazakhstan’s Mukhammedsabyr Bazarbay Uulu on at Indoor Stadium Huamark in Bangkok.
Hergie Bacyadan, another promising Olympic prospect, fights Monday against Spain’s Dunia Mas Martinez in the women’s 75-kg division.