Junmilardo Ogayre escaped with a 3-2 split decision victory over Mongolia’s Gantumur Lundaa on Wednesday to make up for Paris Olympics bronze medalist Aira Villegas’s early exit in the Aichi-Nagoya 20th Asian Games.
The 27-year-old Ogayre had to survive a standing eight-count to advance to the next round of the men’s 60-kg class against Nepal’s Roka Magar in the boxing competitions being staged at the Nishio Gymnasium in Nishio City, some 50 kilometers south of Nagoya.
Lundaa was aggressive from the opening bell and pressed Ogayre to the ropes, but the Filipino countered with jabs and inside shots to take the first two rounds on four of five judges’ cards.
Lundaa continued to attack in the third round and managed to sneak one in that forced the referee to issue a standing eight-count against Ogayre.
The Mongolian took the final round 10-9 on all five cards, but Ogayre held on for Team Philippines supported by the Philippine Olympic Committee and Philippine Sports Commission.
Judges from Guatemala, Bulgaria and Argentina scored for Ogayre, while judges from Uzbekistan and Mauritius scored for Lundaa.
‘It’s good to be back on the winning track after Aira’s loss yesterday,’ said Marcus Manalo, president of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines.
The result moved the Philippine boxing team to 2-1, with Norlan Petecio delivering the team’s first win before Villegas dropped her opener in the women’s 51kg class.
Olympic medalists Nesthy Petecio (women’s 60kg) and Carlo Paalam (men’s 55kg), and Riza Pasuit (women’s 54kg), are scheduled to see action in the coming days.