PH boxers Suarez, Lopez defeat Iraqis to advance at Asiad

Two more members of the Philippine boxing team advanced in the Asian Games boxing tournament on Monday, September 29 as lightweights Charly Suarez and middleweight Wilfredo Lopez defeated Iraqi opponents by decision.

Suarez, 26, of Panabo City, Davao Philippines lost a point for ducking but still managed to defeat Ammar Jabbar Hasan Hasan by the scores of 29-27 on all three scorecards to advance to the semifinals.  

Suarez, who won gold at the 2011 SEA Games, is already assured of at least a bronze as both the third and fourth finishers receive a medal. Suarez will face  Obada Mohammad Mustafa Alkasbeh of Jordan on Thursday, October 2 with the winner to fight for the gold medal.

Lopez, 29, of South Cotabato, Philippines earned passage to the quarterfinals with a unanimous decision over Waheed Abdulridha Waheed Waheed by the scores 29-28 on all three cards. Lopez, who stands 5-foot-10, is seeking his first international gold medal to go with his three previous bronzes and a silver.

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Lopez will face Mongolia’s Shinebayar Narmandakh on Tuesday, while junior flyweight Mark Anthony Barriga and bantamweight Mario Fernandez – the only other two of the original 8 person boxing team still active in the tournament – compete in their own quarterfinal matches.

The Philippines won a gold, a silver and a bronze at the 2010 Games. – Rappler.com