By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
The Philippines suffered its second casualty in the 2nd World Boxing Qualification for Paris Olympics on Sunday, May 26, after Criztian Pitt Laurente absorbed a crushing first-round defeat to a Kazakhstan foe in Bangkok, Thailand.
Competing in the men’s 63.5kg, the 24-year-old General Santos City pro fighter couldn’t muster enough energy and lost to the more aggressive Mukhammedsabyr Bazarbay Uulu, 5-0.
“It’s unfortunate that he couldn’t execute the fight plan,” said Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines secretary general Marcus Manalo on Laurente, who holds an undefeated 12-0 record including seven knockouts in the pro ranks.
“We thought he had advantages that he could have capitalized especially with his speed, lateral movement and hit-and-move style, but the Kazakh was more aggressive throughout. He’s the only one in their men’s team who hasn’t qualified yet and that probably pushed him more,” he added.
Laurente’s defeat came a day after Rogen Ladon made a first-round exit in the men’s 51kg.
The latest development leaves Hergie Bacyadan and Carlo Paalam as the remaining Filipinos fighting for slots for the Paris Games.
Bacyadan, who only last November won the country’s first gold medal in the World Vovinam Championship, is to meet Dunia Martinez Das of Spain in the opening round of the women’s 75kg as posting time.
Paalam, for his part, returns to the ring on Tuesday, May 28, when he clashes with a familiar foe in Turkmenistan’s Shukur Ovezov in the second round of the men’s 57kg.
