Olympic door still open for Suarez
MANILA, Philippines - Although lightweight Charly Suarez fell a win shy of booking a ticket for the London Olympics in the recent Asian qualifiers, the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) is hoping he may be considered as a late entry in the event of a reallocation of unused quota places by AIBA (Association Internationale de Boxe), the world amateur governing body for the sport.
ABAP executive director Ed Picson admitted yesterday it’s a long shot but there’s still a small window open for Suarez. Unfortunately, the Philippines is not eligible to receive a wildcard, now known as a Tripartite Invitation Place (TIP), in boxing because it is allocated only to countries that averaged six or less athletes in their delegation in the past two Olympics. The Philippines sent 16 athletes to Athens in 2004 and 15 to Beijing in 2008. In case a qualified entry withdraws, AIBA is empowered to name a replacement in consultation with the International Olympic Committee and the National Olympic Committee where the substitute is accredited.
There is a TIP open in the lightweight division in London and AIBA will allocate it to an eligible country or if no eligible country has a competitive fighter, to the next highest ranked athlete not yet qualified. The distribution of TIPs and unused quota places will be done between May 1 and July 9.
Picson said he appealed to AIBA officials to consider Suarez after the Filipino bet lost a 15-11 decision to China’s Qiang Liu in the Asian Olympic qualifying lightweight finals at the Daulet Stadium in Kazakhstan recently. Suarez fell behind, 3-1, in the first round and 8-4 in the second but nearly bowled over Qiang in the third. Qiang was given a standing eight-count and examined by a ringside physician for a bloodied nose in the final round which the judges scored 7-all. When the decision was announced, the crowd booed.
“There were only 10 Filipinos in the stadium and three of us were in the ring so we couldn’t have initiated the jeering,” said Picson. “Charley clearly landed the more telling blows. I found the 3-1 score in the first round totally absurd and I also couldn’t understand how Qiang pulled away at the end of the second. It was useless to protest as the jury gave no indication it would reverse the decision. All we can do now is to appeal to AIBA for consideration and pray.”
Picson said Suarez, 23, is well-known in AIBA circles as the only Filipino to participate in the World Series of Boxing. Suarez made a big splash when wearing the Mumbai Fighters’ colors, he stunned world No. 4 Semen Gribachev of Azerbaijan. In Kazakhstan, he upset Tajikistan’s Madadi Nagzibakov, Mongolia’s Anarbay Uulu and Japan’s Daisuke Narimatsu before facing Qiang.
“I think Charly has a good chance of getting a medal in London,” said Picson. “Of course, a lot will depend on the draw. But in the World Series, he showed he can take care of bigger guys when he blanked the 5-11 world No. 4 from Azerbaijan. In Kazakhstan, he waited too long to unload against Qiang. He waited him out, timing his ambush then poured it on in the third. He could’ve been more dominant but I think he did enough to win the decision. AIBA does not interfere in scoring bouts. Under the administration of AIBA president Dr. Ching Kuo Wu, scoring is very transparent with so many safeguards to prevent suspicion of favoritism.”
Picson said ABAP chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, president Ricky Vargas and secretary-general Patrick Gregorio are leaving Suarez’ fate up to AIBA.
“Charly displayed not only courage and determination but also top-level boxing skills and immense crowd appeal in Kazakhstan,” said Picson “His finals match was wildly applauded and the crowd cheered him lustily when he was declared the loser. He was mobbed by fans taking photos and asking for his autograph. His stint with the Mumbai Fighters also showed his charisma borne out of his fighting heart which always translates into exciting fights. It would be a regretful waste if such a crowd-drawer and exciting boxer as Suarez is left out even as he won the hearts of thousands of boxing fans in the Asian qualifiers.”
Only lightflyweight Mark Anthony Barriga gained a ticket to London from the World Championships, the first level of Olympic qualifications, in Azerbaijan last year. He defeated Romania’s Stefan Caslarov and Ireland’s Paddy Barnes but lost to eventual gold medalist Zou Shiming via a 12-5 decision in the quarterfinals. Since Zou took the gold medal, Barriga got a free ride to London as the rules allow a ticket to each quarterfinal loser to the gold medalist.
In Kazakhstan, five Filipinos were wiped out. Lightwelterweight Dennis Galvan lost to Korea’s Kim Chol Song, 18-8, flyweight Rey Saludar was halted by Mongolia’s Tsogsogt Nyambayar, welterweight Wilfredo Lopez was dumped by China’s Qiong Maimaititue, 20-10, bantamweight Joegin Ladon bowed to China’s Zhang Jiawai, 13-8, after beating Jordan’s Seif Qraish, 12-7 and Suarez was tripped in the finals.
Flyweight Nesthy Petecio, 20, will bid for an Olympic berth in the World Women’s Boxing Championships in Qinhuangdao, China, on May 9-20. ABAP will send two other fighters, lightflyweight Josie Gabuco and bantamweight Alice Kate Aparri, to the tournament but they will not compete in any of the three Olympic events for women’s boxing – 48-51 kilograms, 57-60 and 69-75.
ABAP executive director Ed Picson admitted yesterday it’s a long shot but there’s still a small window open for Suarez. Unfortunately, the Philippines is not eligible to receive a wildcard, now known as a Tripartite Invitation Place (TIP), in boxing because it is allocated only to countries that averaged six or less athletes in their delegation in the past two Olympics. The Philippines sent 16 athletes to Athens in 2004 and 15 to Beijing in 2008. In case a qualified entry withdraws, AIBA is empowered to name a replacement in consultation with the International Olympic Committee and the National Olympic Committee where the substitute is accredited.
There is a TIP open in the lightweight division in London and AIBA will allocate it to an eligible country or if no eligible country has a competitive fighter, to the next highest ranked athlete not yet qualified. The distribution of TIPs and unused quota places will be done between May 1 and July 9.
Picson said he appealed to AIBA officials to consider Suarez after the Filipino bet lost a 15-11 decision to China’s Qiang Liu in the Asian Olympic qualifying lightweight finals at the Daulet Stadium in Kazakhstan recently. Suarez fell behind, 3-1, in the first round and 8-4 in the second but nearly bowled over Qiang in the third. Qiang was given a standing eight-count and examined by a ringside physician for a bloodied nose in the final round which the judges scored 7-all. When the decision was announced, the crowd booed.
“There were only 10 Filipinos in the stadium and three of us were in the ring so we couldn’t have initiated the jeering,” said Picson. “Charley clearly landed the more telling blows. I found the 3-1 score in the first round totally absurd and I also couldn’t understand how Qiang pulled away at the end of the second. It was useless to protest as the jury gave no indication it would reverse the decision. All we can do now is to appeal to AIBA for consideration and pray.”
Picson said Suarez, 23, is well-known in AIBA circles as the only Filipino to participate in the World Series of Boxing. Suarez made a big splash when wearing the Mumbai Fighters’ colors, he stunned world No. 4 Semen Gribachev of Azerbaijan. In Kazakhstan, he upset Tajikistan’s Madadi Nagzibakov, Mongolia’s Anarbay Uulu and Japan’s Daisuke Narimatsu before facing Qiang.
“I think Charly has a good chance of getting a medal in London,” said Picson. “Of course, a lot will depend on the draw. But in the World Series, he showed he can take care of bigger guys when he blanked the 5-11 world No. 4 from Azerbaijan. In Kazakhstan, he waited too long to unload against Qiang. He waited him out, timing his ambush then poured it on in the third. He could’ve been more dominant but I think he did enough to win the decision. AIBA does not interfere in scoring bouts. Under the administration of AIBA president Dr. Ching Kuo Wu, scoring is very transparent with so many safeguards to prevent suspicion of favoritism.”
Picson said ABAP chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, president Ricky Vargas and secretary-general Patrick Gregorio are leaving Suarez’ fate up to AIBA.
“Charly displayed not only courage and determination but also top-level boxing skills and immense crowd appeal in Kazakhstan,” said Picson “His finals match was wildly applauded and the crowd cheered him lustily when he was declared the loser. He was mobbed by fans taking photos and asking for his autograph. His stint with the Mumbai Fighters also showed his charisma borne out of his fighting heart which always translates into exciting fights. It would be a regretful waste if such a crowd-drawer and exciting boxer as Suarez is left out even as he won the hearts of thousands of boxing fans in the Asian qualifiers.”
Only lightflyweight Mark Anthony Barriga gained a ticket to London from the World Championships, the first level of Olympic qualifications, in Azerbaijan last year. He defeated Romania’s Stefan Caslarov and Ireland’s Paddy Barnes but lost to eventual gold medalist Zou Shiming via a 12-5 decision in the quarterfinals. Since Zou took the gold medal, Barriga got a free ride to London as the rules allow a ticket to each quarterfinal loser to the gold medalist.
In Kazakhstan, five Filipinos were wiped out. Lightwelterweight Dennis Galvan lost to Korea’s Kim Chol Song, 18-8, flyweight Rey Saludar was halted by Mongolia’s Tsogsogt Nyambayar, welterweight Wilfredo Lopez was dumped by China’s Qiong Maimaititue, 20-10, bantamweight Joegin Ladon bowed to China’s Zhang Jiawai, 13-8, after beating Jordan’s Seif Qraish, 12-7 and Suarez was tripped in the finals.
Flyweight Nesthy Petecio, 20, will bid for an Olympic berth in the World Women’s Boxing Championships in Qinhuangdao, China, on May 9-20. ABAP will send two other fighters, lightflyweight Josie Gabuco and bantamweight Alice Kate Aparri, to the tournament but they will not compete in any of the three Olympic events for women’s boxing – 48-51 kilograms, 57-60 and 69-75.
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