The Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) is sending what it has labeled as the finest squad ever assembled in years to the Asia/Oceania Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Qian’an, China.
The six-man team is composed of light-flyweight Rogen Ladon, fly Roldan Boncales, bantam Mario Fernandez, lightweight Charly Suarez and welter Eumir Felix Marcial and lady puncher Nesty Petecio.
The Chinese slugfest will run from March 25 to April 3 with the top three bets securing berths to the Rio Olympics this August, according to Abap executive director Ed Picson during yesterday’s PSA Forum.
Marcial and Suarez are the top guns but Picson assures everyone that the team is oozing with talent and fighting spirit.
“Matibay ito and they are all willing to fight to the finish,” said Picson, who accompanied the boxers and members of the coaching staff to an 18-day training camp recently in the US.
“We have a pretty good chance. We are excited with this group that we have.
Mas malakas ito kaysa dun sa 2012 that we fielded. We are prepared for the best that they (opposition) will range against us.”
But Picson maintains that it will short of foolish to guarantee success knowing the subjective nature of the sport.
“I am not promising anything and not guaranteeing anything. But we will be there and the boxers have promised they’ll leave everything in the ring,” said Picson.