by Jason Guiterrez, November 30, 2005
BACOLOD, Philippines, Nov 30 (AFP) - Boxing rivals the Philippines and Thailand are trading powerful blows at the 23rd Southeast Asian Games here.
Matches that showcased top Thai and Philippine boxers since Monday have not failed to disappoint, and the rivals are blazing their way to a finals showdown reminiscent of the 2003 Games hosted by Vietnam.
"We can say it's a grudge match," Philippine team manager Ruben Roque told AFP. "This will be a huge confrontation. Remember, they got seven golds in Vietnam at the expense of the Filipinos and we only got one."
Roque said the Philippine team trained hard for this year's bouts, and will give the hometown crowd a show.
"We will get them back this time," Roque said. "The Thai's were impressive but we also had a good start."
In the featherweight (57 kg) quarter-finals Wednesday, Thai Athens Olympics silver medalist Worapoj Pethkum ran rings around Korm Bora of Cambodia, forcing the referee to stop the contest in the first round.
Worapoj is fighting for the first time in the featherweight division, having put on three pounds from bantamweight, where he ruled during the 2003 SEA Games.
In another featherweight match Filipino, Joegen Ladon, dispatched his Indonesian opponent, scoring 26-12 at the final bell.
But perhaps in a preview of things to come, Filipino lightweight (60 kg) Genebert Basadre beat Thai Tun Dansamak in a gruelling head-to-head.
Basadre's win carries him through to the semi-finals where he will face Malaysia's Paunandes bin Paulus, who beat Lao's Udone Khanxay, 29-12.
Also advancing to the semis was Vietnam's Do Duk Than, who edged Myanmar's Soe Yar Zar, 26-25.
"I am not afraid of anyone," Worapoj said when asked to assess the Philippine team. "No problem fighting the Philippines," he added.
Ladon meanwhile said he has been studying Warapoj, who could be his likely rival for the gold.
"He may be a little bit nervous because the Philippines has hometown advantage," Ladon said. "We can beat Thailand. I am also nervous, but I know we can beat any opponent."
On Monday, Thailand's Asian flyweight champ Somjit Jongjohor stopped Cambodia's Roeung Sarorth in the second round. His rival, Warlito Parenas of the Philippines finished off Laotian Nhotin Holapatiphonee in the third.
The following day, Philippine light-flyweight Harry Tanamor -- the only gold medalist in boxing in 2003 -- defeated Thailand's Suban Pannon with a final score of 26-14.
Roque said the Philippines was targeting a total of at least five gold medals, against Thailand's aim of six.