By MARK REY MONTEJO
The Philippine boxing team will go home heavily disappointed from its campaign in the 2025 World Boxing Championships in Liverpool, England.
That’s because no one from the 6-player PH team was able to reach the medal round that even Tokyo Games silver medalist Carlo Paalam got ambushed in his second fight following a rousing win in the Round of 32 of the 55kg division.
Jay Bryan Baricuatro, the last Filipino standing, suffered a heartbreaking 2-3 defeat to Spanish Martin Molina, 3-2, in Round of 16 of the men’s 50kg class.
The flashy Cebuano tried to use his speed but no avail as the Spaniard was more precise and savvy to earn the judges’ nod.
Earlier, Riza Pasuit was hardly a shadow of her brilliant self the last time she absorbed a 5-0 beating to Brazilian Rebeca Santos in the Last 16 of the women’s 60kg. class.
The 32-year-old Pasuit was coming off a second-round stoppage win over Pagad Alnaimi of Saudi Arabia.
Ronald Chavez Jr., who had a tight 3-2 triumph against Irish Matthew McCole in the Last 32, lost his footing and fell to French Makan Traore, 0-5, in their Round of 16 match.
The other members of the PH team – Junmilardo Ogayre (men’s 60kg) and Mark Ashley Fajardo (65kg) – were likewise eliminated early.
