Magliquian, Montealto hammer boxing foes in President’s Cup boxing

JAKARTA, INDONESIA—After a slam-bang opening salvo, Day 2 of the 21st President’s Cup International Boxing Championship at the Senayan Indoor Stadium here produced mixed results for the PLDT-ABAP national team.

The Filipinos logged two victories and as many setbacks Monday, all in the men’s division. The Nationals did not drop a single match on opening day, with victories from Josie Gabuco in the women’s 48-kg class, Analisa Cruz in the 51-kg category, and Ian Clark Bautista in the men’s 49kg.

Nico Magliquian, 18, who started off as a gangling sparring partner for the national boxers at the ABAP gym at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, made full use of his long reach and lateral movement to thwart 23-year-old Mohammad Solihin Nordin of Singapore, 26-4.

Lanky Nathaniel Montealto, 19, engaged Malaysia’s Khir Anyazlan in lively exchanges that delighted the crowd, with the boy from Palawan emerging with a 14-8 decision on the strength of clearer and more telling blows.

The defeats came from Edilio Abrea of Southern Leyte, who lost to Afghan Ajmal Faisal, 16-11, and Mico Brina, who drew the unfortunate assignment of facing veteran 69-kg European champion Alexander Klinkov of Russia.

The 19-year-old rookie got caught by a wicked left from the 24-year-old Klinkov, sending him down. The referee immediately stopped the fight.