Filipino boxers Violito Payla and Joan Tipon not only gave the
Philippines two of its three gold medals so far, their victories
may well mark a watershed in the country's battle for Asian boxing
supremacy against Thailand, local media reported on Thursday.
For years, both the Philippines and Thailand have fought a
titanic war for boxing supremacy in the region, said a report by
The Manila Bulletin daily, adding that the rivalry has extended to
the Asian Games and the Olympics where the Thais have proven to be
more superior.
Indeed, it was in boxing where Thailand won its first and second
Olympic golds while the Philippines, whose own Olympic gold medal
bid has always rested on boxing, has fallen short time and time
again, said the report.
Finally, the Philippines made a breakthrough in the 15th Asian
Games in Doha.
The 24-year-old Tipon, who nipped Athens Olympics silver
medalist Worapoj Petchkoom of Thailand Monday, firmed up his claim
as the top bantam in the region by demolishing Han Soon Chun of
South Korea, 21-10, to earn the gold in the 54-kilogram class on
Wednesday.
One day before Tipon's victory, the 27-year-old Payla
dethronedan aging Songjit Jongjohor of Thailand with an impressive
31-15 decision to claim the flyweight crown.
The Filipino boxers said they will next focus on winning the
golds in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
(Xinhua News Agency December 15, 2006)