Uzbekistan’s super fighter ousts Ogayre

Filipino fighter Junmilardo Ogayre slammed into Olympic, world champion and defending champion Abdumalik Khalokov of Uzbekistan and lost 5-0 to bow out of contention in the men’s 60 kilogram of the boxing competitions on Sunday at the Nishio Gymnasium in Nagoya.

A win would have assured Ogayre of at least a bronze but Khalokov proved too good as he banked on his vast experience to send another Filipino entry out of the medal race.

It was Khalokov’s second win over Ogayre, whom he had also beaten during a tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria, in February 2023.

Khalokov, who beat Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Carlo Paalam for the gold in Hangzhou in 2023, was never threatened in the entire match.

The loss leaves Tokyo Olympics silver medalists Paalam and Nesthy Petecio as the only bets for medals in boxing following the loss of Ogayre, Riza Pasuit, Norlan Petecio and Ogayre.

The Philippines is hoping to break a 16-year gold medal drought in boxing.

Last time a boxing gold was produced was during the 2010 edition in Guangzhou when Rey Saludar captured the flyweight gold.

In the Hangzhou Asian Games, Eumir Marcial settled for silver in the 80 kilogram (light-heavyweight) class.

Marcial was supposed to see action in Nagoya but he was withdrawn at the last minute as he was coming off a pro bout in the United States three days before his scheduled match.

In Incheon in 2014, Charly Suarez, now the world’s top sup[er-featherweight, also got the silver, while Ladon bagged the same color in 2018 in Jakarta.