SF ring dual tourney: Suarez, Albania shine

CHARLY SUAREZ and Annie Albania underscored their status as the country’s top amateur boxing bets with impressive victories in a dual meet against California Saturday held at the Koret Recreational and Sports Center at the University of California in San Francisco.   The 22-year-old Suarez dropped Roman Morales of San Pedro, California Boxing Club in the dying seconds of the third round in their bantamweight bout to open the national teams’ one-week training on a high note.   Suarez, a natural featherweight who overwhelmed Thailand’s Athens Olympic Games silver medalist Worapoj Petchikoon in the recent MVP International Invitational Friendship tournament, has had to move down to bantamweight to boost his medal-potential in future international meets.    Albania, also a member of the three-boxer elite team of the PLDT-backed Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines squad, dominated US National light flyweight champ Jessica Ponce after connecting with a strong right to the head moments after the opening bell.   The solidly built and well-conditioned Albania then forced the referee to give Ponce two standing eight-counts in the fourth round en route to an impressive win.   Albania was another big winner in the MVP Cup where she whipped Thai champion Peamwilai  Laopeam.   “She hits so hard. She’s one of the hardest punchers I’ve met in my career,” said Ponce.   Fil-American Angelo Merino, the head coach of the University of San Francisco boxing team, said Suarez and Albania “were very impressive.”  “They’re lucky to be here and get to train and meet good opponents to get even better,” added Merino, who arranged the national teams’ training stint.   Lightweight Delfin Boholst, light flyweight Victorio Saludar and bantam Ricky Dulay also won.  Featherweight Joe Lagon absorbed the lone RP loss for the men’s team due to an injury.   Boholst dropped Jacob Operskolski of the Kings Gym in the third round en route to a comfortable points win.  Saludar beat Eros Correa of San Jose Police League while Dulay prevailed over Steven Rapadas of Mateen Boxing Club.