Two Filipino boxers secure berths for Youth Olympic Games
BOXING brothers Cris Russu Laurente and Criztian Pitt Laurente outclassed their respective foes in the Asian Youth Championships in Bangkok Tuesday night to secure spots in this year’s Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Criz Ruzzu scored a 4-1 decision over Indian Shagolshem Barun Singh in their light flyweight second round bout to progress to the semifinals with Criztian, who stopped fellow bantamweight Bang Non of Cambodia in the first round.
Flyweight Milenino Anduyan, however, failed to get over the hump after bowing to a more experienced Samandar Kholmudorov of Uzbekistan, 0-5.
Anduyan could still earn a slot in the YOG once Kholmudorov ends up with any medal color on the victory podium. A total of seven YOG spots are up for grabs in the tournament.
The YOG is the youth version of the elite Olympic Games where the best athletes in the world age 14 to 18 years old see action.
According to Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines secretary general Ed Picson, national headcoach Pat Gaspi was very impressed with the performances of the Laurente brothers, who were both discovered from General Santos City.
The father of the Laurente brothers, Cristino, is a boxing coach while their mother, Rosalinda, is an Abap referee-judge.
They have another brother, Criz Sander, who also used to compete for the national team.
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