By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Two more Filipino boxers bolstered their 2024 Paris Olympics bids on Tuesday, March 5, after scoring contrasting victories to advance to the next round in the World Qualification Tournament in Busto Arsizio, Italy.
Cebuano Mark Ashley Fajardo made his campaign felt with a resounding knockout win over Portugal’s Albertino Monteiro to barge into the second round of the tough 59-player field of the men’s 63.5kg division.
Fajardo, who debuted at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China last September, pounced on his rival with vicious shots before taking him down in the 43-second mark of the third round.
His victory arranged him a meeting with Colombian Jose Manuel Viafara Fory, who escaped a 3-2 decision over local bet Gianluigi Malanga.
Ronald Chavez Jr., meanwhile, had to dig deep into his bag of tricks to survive Cape Verde’s Bruno Fernandes De Barros with a close 3-2 split decision in the opening round of the men’s 71kg.
Judges from Mongolia, Puerto Rico and Italy gave Chavez a 29-28 win, while judges from Azerbaijan and Morocco scored the bout 30-27 in favor of his rival.
Up next for Chavez will be Zeyad Eashash of Jordan, who overpowered Tajikistan’s Shokhobzhon Shukurov, 4-1.
More Filipino fighters are still competing in the coming days with Hergie Bacyadan and John Marvin fighting their way into the next round of their women’s 75kg and men’s 92kg divisions at press time.
Other Filipinos who has yet to see action are Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Carlo Paalam (men’s 57kg), Aira Villegas (women’s 50kg), Claudine Veloso (women’s 54kg), who earned opening-round byes in their respective weight classes.
A total of four Olympic berths are at stake in each division except in women’s 57kg, which only rewards two tickets, and women’s 60kg, which awards three seats.
