Filipino boxer Ladon dominates Polish foe, Marcial loses in AIBA quarters

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The Olympic dream of Filipino boxer Rogen Ladon just took a big step forward, while his teammate Eumir Marcial hit a speed bump in his own Road to Rio.

Ladon, 21, advanced to the semifinals of 2015 World Amateur Boxing Championships junior flyweight tournament with a dazzling shutout of Poland’s Dawid Jagodzinski on Saturday, October 10, winning by the scores 30-27 on all 3 scorecards. 

The southpaw from Bago City, Philippines continued his dominance in Doha, Qatar, having defeated the world no. 2 Joselito Velazquez of Mexico on Thursday. 

“Rogen fought according to plan,” said Ed Picson, the executive director of Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines, in a text message to Rappler from Doha. “Instead of his usual attacking style, he baited the Pole to come in. Ladon was ready to meet him with a barrage of punches.”

Ladon will have little rest as he is set to compete in the semifinals on Sunday against Russia’s Vasilii Egorov. Egorov, 22, is rated no. 10 in the world while Ladon is rated no. 17.

“The Russian throws a lot of punches but so does Rogen. We think we have the edge so long as our boy keeps himself busy,” said Picson.

Filipino champ Rogen Ladon aims for the Olympics! البطل الفليبيني روجن لادون يطمح للوصول لأولمبياد ريو 2016 pic.twitter.com/KOA6F8OGkK

— AIBA Doha 2015 (@AIBADOHA) October 10, 2015

Ladon has to win one more match to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics as the top two fighters at junior flyweight will be automatically entered.

Marcial loses to top-rated Kazakh

Welterweight Eumir Marcial, who is the only other Filipino in the competition, was defeated 30-27 on all 3 scorecards by the no. 1 ranked Daniyar Yeleussinov of Kazakhstan in his quarterfinal match.

Despite sustaining a cut on his left eye, Yeleussinov was elusive, moving around the ring and contorting himself in awkward angles to counter-punch the 19-year-old from Zamboanga City. Marcial was the aggressor throughout but did not get credit for pushing back the 2012 Olympian. 

Marcial can still qualify for the 2016 Games at the AIBA Asian & Oceania Continental Olympic Qualifying Competition from March 23-April 3 and the Final AOB World Olympic Qualifying Event from June 7-19 in Baku, Azerbaijan. – Rappler.com