Bangkok—Ramel Macado, 23, a promising light flyweight from Koronadal City, started off for the Philippine team in the Asian Boxing Championships here with a convincing 4-1 win over Ahmadisafa Omid of Iran on Good Friday in the very first bout of the tournament, which drew 313 boxers from 34 nations in the region.
Fate, however, put a sudden damper on the team’s opening-day efforts as Sugar Ray Ocana suffered a bloody gash over his right eyebrow in an accidental clash of heads with Japan’s Daisuke Narimatsu in the first round of their light welterweight bout. The Japanese boy was declared winner by Referee Stopped Contest due to injury (RSC-I).
On the distaff side, multi-awarded Nesthy Petecio had her hands full against another Japanese, 2018 world youth championships bronze medalist Irie Sena,19, and lost a close 3-2 split decision. Petecio just graduated her HRM course at the University of Baguio last month.
Another close match was that of Marvin Tabamo and 2017 SEA Games flyweight gold medalist Aldoms Suguro of Indonesia. This time, the Cagayan de Oro native got the 3-2 edge.
The Philippine Sports Commission funds the boxers’ participation here.
Meanwhile, ABAP Secretary-General and Philippine Olympic Committee Communications Director Ed Picson was elected to the Asian Boxing Confederation Executive Committee with 36 voting countries in attendance.
In the first Executive Committee meeting the following day, ASBC President Anas Al-Otaiba of UAE nominated Picson to be the official spokesperson of the association and the nomination was unanimously approved by the Board.
Picson’s wife Karina is a deputy here to Technical Delegate Pat Fiacco of Canada.
