Aaron Jude Bado provided the lone bright spot for Team Philippines as his teammates fell like dominoes at the start of the 2024 World Boxing Cup at the UG Arena in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Monday, Sept. 23.

Bado, who won the gold medal in last year’s Asian U22 Boxing Championships in Bangkok, Thailand, flexed his might and dismantled Miles Okay of Germany via 4-1 split decision in the opening round of the men’s 51kg.

The Iligan City native’s victory provided a soothing balm for the PH squad as it saw four boxers succumb to their respective foes in lopsided fashion.

Three-time Southeast Asian Games champion Ian Clark Bautista suffered the toughest blow as he lost to top seed Ganbold Drojnyambuu of host Mongolia via 4-1 split decision in the men’s 57kg.

Veteran Riza Pasuit also absorbed a beating from local bet Namuun Monkhor in a similar 4-1 split decision in the women’s 60kg, even as Ofelia Magno yielded to another Mongolian fighter in Nomin-Erdene Battsetseg via 4-1 split decision in the women’s 50kg.

Promising fighter Mark Ashley Fajardo also stumbled in his opening bout against Japanese Shion Nishiyama, losing via 5-0 unanimous decision in the men’s 63.5kg.

With the development, only two Filipino fighters are left in the four-day tournament with Tyler Tanap joining Bado after earning an opening round bye in the men’s 71kg.

The event is the third World Boxing Cup this year following tournaments in Sheffield, England in January and in Colorado last April.

This is the first tournament for Team Philippines after the 2024 Paris Olympics where Filipino boxers delivered two bronze medals courtesy of Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas.

Coaches accompanying the roster Olympic bronze medalist Roel Velasco and Asian Games bronze medal winner Mario Fernandez.