Gabuco, Magno gain semifinals

SINGAPORE—Three-time gold medalist Josie Gabuco and Irish Magno eliminated their Indonesian rivals with similar 3-0 victories Saturday  to reach the women’s boxing semifinals of the Southeast Asian Games here.

The heavily favored Gabuco, 28, encountered a plucky rival in Aldriani Sugoro of Indonesia but easily triumphed in the quarterfinals of the women’s light flyweight division at Singapore Expo Hall.

Gabuco overwhelmed Sugoro with combinations in the second round and used that as buffer after two of the three judges gave the 21-year-old Indonesian the fourth round for her aggressive stand.

The Filipino sustained a gash on her eyebrow after being grazed by the strap of Suguro’s gloves in the second round but was otherwise not threatened throughout the fight.

“She (Gabuco) still lacked the fierceness and dominance, she was surprised that the Indonesian came here to fight,” said Alliance of Boxing Association of the Philippines executive director Ed Picson.

The 23-year-old Magno, bronze medalist in the 2013 Burma (Myanmar) edition, also showed total control in the women’s flyweight division fight against Novita Sinadia.

But she drew a dangerous assignment in the semifinals against Thai Sopida Satumrum, who beat Burma’s naming Anih Moh.

Both Gabuco and Magno will see action in tomorrow’s semifinals.