Ian Clark Bautista drawn against hometown bet in revised boxing sked
Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino has repeatedly warned the boxing bets not to leave the decision to the hands of the judges, especially when facing hometown bets.
And that reminder will be immediately put to a test as Ian Clark Bautista battles Thai boxer Sarawut Sukthet in the quarterfinals of the men’s featherweight following a revision of the opening day schedule on Wednesday, Dec. 10.
The update of the boxing schedule came after the official draw on Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 9.
A gold medalist in the 2023 edition of the biennial in Cambodia, Bautista is aiming for a strong start to his title-retention bid although he is expected to face an acid test against Sukthet.
For one, the 24-year-old Thai fighter isn’t exactly stranger to facing Filipino boxers, having defeated Bautista’s teammate Flint Jara in the 2024 ASBC Elite Boxing Championships last year also in Thailand.
Speaking of Jara, he will also open his bid against Daud Flanuari Yerikho in the men’s 54kg division. Also seeing action is Mark Ashley Fajardo who will take on Nguyen Duc Ngoc in the men’s 69kg class.
Like Bautista, Hergie Bacyadan and Junmilardo Ogayre will be tested against hometown bets.
Bacyadan will be facing up against Thai fighter and defending champion Baison Manikon in the women’s 70kg semifinals on Friday, Dec. 12, while Ogayre will be taking on Sakda Ruamtham in the men’s 60kg class.
Claudine Veloso is making her boxing debut against Vo Thi Kim Anh of Vietnam while Jay Brian Baricuatro tangles with another Vietnamese Nguyen Linh Pung.
Aira Villegas, Riza Pasuit, Weljon Mindoro and Eumir Marcial drew a bye in the quarterfinals.