Ladon could spoil party in AIBA tilt

HAMBURG, Germany – Owing to his lofty status as the bronze medalist the last time in Qatar, Rogen Ladon has earned the respect of the boxing cognoscenti in the 17th AIBA World Championship that formally kicks off Friday.

Ladon, third-placer in 2015 in Qatar, is among a handful of entries classified in a group of five that can ruin the party being planned by the division's top guns.

Rio Olympics gold medalist and Best Boxer awardee Hasanboy Dusmatov of Uzbekistan is the handsdown favorite to rule the 49 kg class and the troika of Yuberjen Martinez of Colombia, Joahnys Argilagos of Cuba and Vasilii Egorov of Russia are there to crowd the podium.

The official draw is scheduled Thursday at 2 p.m. (8 p.m. in Manila) and Ladon might find himself seeing action as early as Friday at the 7,000capacity Sportshalle.

Ladon is in the company of other notables names: Samuel Carmona of Spain, Carlos Quipo of Ecuador, Galal Yafai of England and India's Amit Panghai.

Flyweight bet Dannel Maamo could see action Saturday and like Ladon, is also entered in a weight class teeming with talent.

But national coaches Nolito Velasco and Ronald Chavez aren't losing sleep over their presence.

''Preparado naman ang dalawa dahil matagal ang kanilang ensayo sa Baguio,'' said Velasco.

The Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines and the Philippine Sports Commission have joined hands in making the trip here possible as the event is regarded as second in terms of importance next to the Olympics.

''Ang mga boxers na makikita mong lumalaban sa Olympics ang mga lalaban dito,'' said Chavez.