JAKARTA, Indonesia – Olympian Rogen Ladon threw everything he got against against Azat Mahmetov of Kazakhstan and came away with a hard-earned 3-2 split decision win in a flyweight quarterfinal match that assured the Philippines a bronze medal in boxing in the 2018 Asian Games on Tuesday night, August 28.
Ladon, one of only four Filipino qualifiers in the Rio Olympics in 2016, threw bombs right from the onset even as he had to contend with the excessive clinching tactics of the Kazahk, also a well-decorated campaigner in the European circuit.
Brushing aside a mild cut just above his right eyebrow after a clash of heads, Ladon sustained his attacks in the second round, hitting as many as he can although Mahmetov connected with his own counter-punches on some occasion.
But it was still Ladon in the end with all the three judges from Indonesia, Romania and Tunisia giving him the nod with identical 29-28 scores.
The judges from Algeria and Japan saw it 29-28 for Mahmetov.
Ladon will go for a final seat and a guaranteed silver medal on Friday, August 31, when he takes on Thai Yuttapong Tongdee, a 3-2 winner over Gan-Erdene Gankhuyag in the other quarterfinal pairing.
Meanwhile, welterweight Eumir Felix Marcial and lightfly Carlo Paalam also go for guaranteed bronze medals when they tackle their respective quarterfinals opponents on Wednesday. – Rappler.com
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