ROGEN Ladon’s Olympic comeback bid abruptly ended last Saturday when he absorbed a stinging 1-4 decision to youthful Spanish boxer Rafael Lozano Serrano Jr. in the opening round of the 52kg division of the 2nd World Olympic Boxing Qualification tournament in Bangkok, Thailand.
A veteran of the 2016 Rio Olympics, Ladon, 30, was a step and punch slower than Serrano, 19, in becoming the first of four Pinoy boxing hopefuls to drop out of contention.
Two judges had it 29-28 while another scored it 30-27, all in favor of the Spanish pug, while a fourth scored it 30-27 for Ladon, who found it difficult to reduce in his usual weight, according to boxing secretary general Marcus Manalo.
“The effects of weight reduction were evident this time. He (Ladon) wanted to move up in the weight class before the competition but Carlo (Paalam) also moved up so they would be competing in the same weight class,” explained Manalo.
Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Paalam earlier scored a unanimous 5-0 triumph over Alexei Lagkazasvli of Greece, the first of five wins he needs in the 57k category to make it to Paris.
