Rogen Ladon’s bid for Paris Olympics ends with opening bout loss
FILE–Philippines’ Rogen Ladon.
Rogen Ladon saw his quest for a trip to the 2024 Paris Olympics come to a bitter end at the ongoing World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Bangkok, Thailand.
“Sorry, I tried my best but it wasn’t meant to be,’’ said Ladon in Filipino after falling to Spain’s Rafael Lozano, 4-1, in their opening bout in the men’s 51kg.
Ladon sacrificed his weight plans and instead enlisted in a lighter division that eventually took its toll on the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympian.
READ: SEA Games: Rogen Ladon wins Philippines’ first boxing gold
“Footwork, counter attacks and volume of punches were not his usual,’’ said Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines secretary general Marcus Manalo, who paid tribute to Ladon’s sense of teamwork in agreeing to stay at the flyweight division.
The 30-year-old from Bago, Negros Occidental wanted to move up the scales before the Olympic qualifiers, but gave way to Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Carlo Paalam.
“The effects of weight reduction were evident this time. But Rogen has given every ounce of his energy to represent us at this stage and we thank him for that,’’ said Manalo.
READ: Carlo Paalam off to rousing start in Paris Olympics qualifier
According to men’s coach Ronald Chavez, going up to a heavier category is inevitable for Ladon in the future if the two-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist and Asian Games silver medalist intends to prolong his career.
“I tried pushing him beyond his limits, but he’s tired and found it difficult to move his legs. Going up to a heavier weight is necessary for him at this point,’’ said Chavez.
Paalam advanced to the round of 32 in the men’s 57kg division on May 28 where he’s bound to face Turkmenistan’s Shukur Overzov, who defeated the Filipino pug in the round of 16 during the first World Qualification Tournament in Busto Arsizio, Italy two months ago.
Paalam needs four more victories to secure an Olympic berth and join fellow boxers Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas in Paris.
Meanwhile, Criztian Pitt Laurente opens his bid in the men’s 63.5kg division opposite Kazakhstan’s Mukhammedsabyr Bazarbay Uulu on Sunday at the Indoor Stadium Huamark in Bangkok while Hergie Bacyadan fights on Monday against Spain’s Dunia Mas Martinez in the women’s 75kg division.
