Marcial halts foe as Palicte, Bautista pull off victories

WORLD Youth champion Eumir Felix Marcial stopped Turkmenistan’s Shamurat Cherkezov in their light welterweight clash last night to cap a perfect start for Team Philippines in the 2013 ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships at Subic gym.

Marcial, who ruled the light bantamweight division of the 2011 World Junior Championships held in Kazakhstan, won by Referee Stopped Contest (RSC) over Cherkesov in 2:02 of the second round as he joined teammates Ian Clark Bautista and James Palicte in the winners’ circle.

Bautista prevailed by countback in his 52-kilogram tussle with India’s Kavinder Bisht, while Palicte repulsed a rallying Yuuta Akiyama of Japan, 11-9.

Trailing, 10-9, Bautista staggered Bisht with a counter right cross in the closing seconds to force the countback.

Bautista prevailed in the individual score of the five judges, 33-30.

National coach Romeo Brin said Bautista’s youth and inexperience got the better of him.

“He (Bautista) is not yet accustomed to these fights,” said Brin in Filipino. “He got complacent, but we’ll be able to correct that in his next fights.”

Jonas Bacho (56kg-bantamweight) and World Junior bronze medalist Jade Bornea (49kg-light fly), who drew byes, will make their debut for Team Philippines today in the event confined to 17- and 18-year-olds.

Bacho faces Sri Lanka’s Ruchira Gunasena, while Bornea meets Uzbekistan’s Murodjon Akhmadaliev.

“It’s not dangerous, but not light either,” said national coach Elmer Pamisa in Filipino of the opening day bouts for the hometown bets. “These are good bouts. You’ll know where you stand right at the start.”

From 26 countries, the field was reduced to 24 following the last-minute withdrawals of Malaysia and Pakistan. Roy Luarca