Prime prospect Ian Clark Bautista stunned European Cup champion Alexander Samoylov of Russia with a smashing 13-5 score to nail his second straight win and assure himself of at least a bronze medal in the 21st President’s Cup at the Senayan Indoor Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia, late Tuesday.
The 16-year-old Bautista, a prized find from Himamaylan, Negros Occidental, also won his opening bout against Myanmar’s gritty Htet Aung in a slambang affair, 16-8.
Riding on Bautista’s feat, the Filipino boxers, backed by Abap chair Manny Pangilinan and president Ricky Vargas, won four of their five assignments on Day 2 of the tournament.
Multititled team captain Charly Suarez bucked a sluggish start to trounce Japanese Kenji Fujita, 14-6.
Held to a 7-7 count, Nathaniel Montealto found his range in the third and final round to hurdle hometown favorite Vinky Montolu, 11-8.
Petecio and Montealto are likewise assured of at least bronze medals.
A handful of disgruntled fans tried to start a minor riot after the Montealto-Montulo bout, forcing officials to halt the next bout, which was already in the second round, before security personnel subdued the troublemakers who were trying to agitate the crowd.
Abap executive director Ed Picson told the Inquirer that Bautista showed uncanny hand-speed, crisp and accurate punching in baffling the mean-looking 22-year-old Russian.
Samoylov copped the light flyweight title in the European Cup in Ukraine on Oct. 24, beating Elvin Mamishzada of Azerbaijan via the count back after the fight ended in a 3-3 deadlock.
Promising 19-year-old Nesthy Petecio gave Mongolia’s Shinetsetseg Davaasuren a classic boxing lesson to win by a wide 32-4 margin in the distaff side.