Barriga, two others advance in Uzbekistan tilt

Three Filipino boxers led by Olympic-bound Mark Anthony Barriga won their respective assignments on the second day of the Sydney Jackson Memorial Boxing Tournament at the Universal Sports Complex in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

The 18-year-old Barriga survived an elbow to the chest in the second round before dispatching Temitas Jusupov of Kazakhstan, 11-8, in the light flyweight category.

In other bouts, world junior champion Eumir Marcial sneaked out a 14-13 win over Shaboz Muhammadov while Ian Clark Bautista beat Ilhom Ivonov of Uzbekistan, 16-13.

Barriga, the only Filipino boxer who has booked a seat in the Olympics, had scratches on his arms after he slugged it out against the Kazakh fighter three inches taller than him but the Filipino survived to make it through to the next phase.

Marcial and Muhammadov were in a tie after the second round but the 2011 AIBA junior champion went on an offensive in the final round to clinch the victory.

Charly Suarez, however, was not as fortunate after bowing to Uzbek Olympic qualifier Faziddin Gaibnazarov, 21-16.

Reports coming out of Uzbekistan said that two of the judges including Filipino Victorio Policarpio saw the bout in favor of Suarez while the Uzbek, Russian and Turkmenistan judge sided with Gaibnazarov.

Suarez could not sustain his 18-6 victory over Ismoil Haitbaev of Uzbekistan in his first bout last Monday.

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