By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Boxers Rogen Ladon and John Marvin asserted their mastery over their rivals to advance to the next round of their respective weight classes in the World Qualification Tournament for the 2024 Paris Olympics on Wednesday, March 6, in Busto Arsizio, Italy.
Ladon, who won bronze in the 2015 world championships, flexed his might by scoring a knockout win over Morocco’s Said Mortaji to book a seat in the Round of 16 in the men’s 51kg.
The Bago City native came through with a flurry of punches before sending Mortaji down in the 1:01 mark in the second round to set up his next bout against the dangerous Kiaran MacDonald of Great Britain.
The English fighter also made his Olympic campaign felt with a referee-stopped-contest (RSC) triumph over Trinidad and Tobago’s Al Jaleel Ortega Jokhu.
Marvin, meanwhile, displayed his strength in the men’s 92kg division with an RSC victory over Iran’s Pouria Amiri to barge into the Round of 32.
The Filipino-English fighter, who won after Estonian referee Dmitri Meliss stopped the match shortly at the start of the second round, next faces Kevin Prudence Lonlon Ko Kuadjovi after the Togolese earned an opening round bye.
Not so fortunate was Hergie Bacyadan, who bowed out of contention in the women’s 75kg after yielding to Brazil’s Viviane Pereira with a close 3-2 split decision in the first round.
Bacyadan joins Riza Pasuit as the other casualty in the 10-player PH team seeking berths to the Games.
Meanwhile, competing at press time for seats in the Round of 16 are Mark Ashley Fajardo (men’s 63.5kg), Ronald Chavez Jr. (men’s 71kg), Claudine Veloso (women’s 54kg), Nesthy Petecio (women’s 57kg) and Marvin.
Carlo Paalam (men’s 57kg) and Aira Villegas (women’s 50kg) gets their turns on Friday, March 8.
