Negrense boxer opens

qualifier with victory

Negrense boxer Ian Clark Bautista opened his campaign in the Asia/Oceania Olympic boxing qualifying tournament last Monday at the Prince Hamzah Hall in Amman, Jordan with a 3-2 win over Hayato Tsutsumi of Japan in the men’s featherweight division.
“Talagang nag-focus ako sa laban na ito (I was really focused on this fight),” the Binalbagan native said after the fight. “Malakas at magaling talaga siya pero talagang pinilit ko (My opponent was strong and talented but I really pressed on).”
“Alam ko pagkakataon na para makapunta sa Olympics (I know this is my chance to compete at the Olympics),” he added.
Bautista next faces Thai fighter Chatchai Butdee tomorrow, March 7.
The two previously met during last year’s Southeast Asian Games with the Pinoy boxer falling 3-2 in the men’s bantamweight semifinals.
Bautista needs to pull off two more wins to assure a spot in this year’s Summer Games in Tokyo, Japan./ASC, WDJ