Junior boxing champ Marcial falls to local bet in Uzbekistan

World junior champion Eumir Marcial succumbed to a local bet Thursday as London-bound Olympic boxer Mark Anthony Barriga and Ian Clark Bautista prepare for their semifinal outings in the Sydney Jackson Memorial Tournament at the Universal Uzbekistan Sports Complex in Tashkent.

The 16-year-old Marcial, who won the AIBA World Juniors Championship in 2011, failed to advance into the next round as he was beaten by Uzbek national champion and world championship campaigner Babur Aytbaev, 6-1.

Barriga, meanwhile, hopes to step closer in successfully defending his light flyweight crown he won last year as he goes up against Shahobidin Zoirov of Uzbekistan

Bautista, on the other hand, will have Shaxriyor Isakov as his next foe in the semis after the Uzbek won over Muhriddin Davronov, 13-10, in the quarterfinals.

The defeat by Marcial will only be a plus for him in his next bouts, according to ABAP executive director Ed Picson.

“This tournament features high level boxing from the former Soviet states and we are privileged to be exposed to this style. It is particularly helpful to our young boxers who need the experience,” said Picson.

Ronald Chavez and Roel Velasco accompanied the team as coaches.

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