Jay Bryan Baricuatro bowed to hometown bet Sanzhar Tashkenbay in the final to settle for the silver medal in the men’s 50-kilogram event of the 2025 World Boxing Cup at the Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov Palace in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Baricuatro, a native of Talisay, Cebu, had no answer to the dominant and aggressive performance of the 22-year-old Tashkenbay, who booked an identical 30-27 decision from all five judges to secure the gold medal in this prestigious competition.

The feat was another feather on Tashkenbay’s cap as he also ruled the World Amateur Championships in Tashkent in 2023, the Asian Championships in Amman, Jordan in 2022, and the Youth World Championships in Kielce, Poland in 2021, making him one of the fastest-rising stars in amateur boxing.

But it wasn’t a bad performance for Baricuatro either.

On his way to the finale, Baricuatro stamped his class on Italian Salvatore Attrattivo in the first round, Indian Jadumani Singh Mandengbam in the quarterfinals and Australian Omar Izas in the semifinals to set the stage for a win-or-go home duel against the prolific Kazakh puncher.

Baricuatro is expected to be in the roster when the national boxers see action in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand this December.