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Source: Gerry Carpio, philstar.com

-- The Philippine boxing team braces for a showdown with archrival Thailand in four weight classes, hoping to claim at least three gold medals in 10 events when boxing competitions start today at the National Booyoung gymnasium of the National University.

Harry Tanamor, Bill Vicera and Annie Albania loom as the country’s brightest hopes against a tough Thai team that has already produced two Olympic boxing champions.

Tanamor, at 31 still undiminished in strength and guts, will banner the country’s campaign, although he admitted he had only one competition abroad after his stint in the Beijing Olympic Games where he lost in the first round to Manyo Plange of Ghana.

Vicera will compete in the 45 kg (pinweight) division against a field that includes Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia.

The international boxing federation earlier cancelled the event since it is not in the calendar of the Olympic Games but reneged later following an appeal of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines.

Vicera is set to compete in the first round this afternoon.

Albania (71 kg), the Asian Indoor Games gold medal winner, spearheads the women’s team that includes Alice Kate Aparri (46 kg), Josie Gabuco (48 kg) and former Asian champion Mitchel Martinez (60 kg).

ABAP executive director Ed Picson said AIBA decided on the issue as early as September, but was only told about it by the Laos technical delegate yesterday.

The world governing body for boxing already turned down the initial appeal made by the host, although a second request has been made that includes the endorsement coming from participating countries such as the Philippines.

Owing to the last-minute muddle in the schedule, Thursday’s draw will be held instead this morning, hours before formal competitions begin at the Olympasia gymnasium inside the National University.

Picson also turned down a proposal by the organizing committee to make the weight class a demonstration event.

“I told them that the 45 kg class has long been there and was actually a breeding ground of future Olympic medalist,” said the ABAP official, citing the case of Mansueto `Onyok’ Velasco who began as a pinweight and eventually won a silver medal as a light-fly during the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

The men’s team will be the first ones to plunge into action, with two-time Olympian Harry Tanamor (48 kg.) leading the way. Also in the roster are Asian Games gold medalist Joan Tipon (54 kg), Rey Saludar (71 kg), Charly Suarez (60 kg) and Joegin Ladon (64 kgs).