By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Paul Julyfer Bascon continued to impress in the 74th Strandja International Boxing Tournament Wednesday, Feb. 22, after booking a quarterfinal berth in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Inspired by his strong start in the men’s 60kg lightweight division, the 25-year-old Davaoeño displayed his aggressive stance and overwhelmed Kazakhstan’s Yerassyl Tankay, 4-1, to strengthen his title bid.
Judges from Netherlands, Bulgaria and Denmark gave Bascon a 29-28 victory in the three-round bout, while the judge from the United States made him a 30-27 winner. The judge from Ireland, however, scored 29-28 in favor of Bascon’s rival.
The triumph set him up a quarters date with Uzbekistan’s Abdumurodov Dilsoh, who trounced Indian Varinder Singh, 5-0.
Tokyo Olympian Irish Magno, however, suffered a first-round defeat at the hands of Spain’s Maria Gonzalez Caceres, 5-0, in the women’s 52kg flyweight class.
A victory for Magno could have earned her a quarters ticket and a match against Serbian Sara Cirkovic, who had an opening-round bye.
So far, five boxers remain in contention in Europe’s oldest boxing competition with Marvin Tabamo opening his bid in the men’s 51kg flyweight against Serbia’s Omer Ametovic.
Other fighters who won their first-round bouts were Aira Villegas, Carlo Paalam and Junmilardo Ogayre.
