Friday, July 25, 2008 Velasco: Tañamor can match up with Chinese foe
NEGRENSE Olympian Roel Velasco of Bago City sincerely believes Harry Tañamor, the country's lone boxing bet in next month's Beijing Olympics, has a good chance of coming home with the gold medal.
His only worry though is Chinese Zou Shiming, the boxer who defeated him during the finals of the Aiba world championships in Chicago last year.
Velasco, who won a bronze medal during the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and who currently coaches the RP women's team, told Sun.Star Bacolod in an earlier interview that Zou "has made a reputation for beating the world's best fighters in the light flyweight division."
"Zou has defeated the likes of Russia's David Ayrapetyan, Patrick Barnes of Ireland, Nordine Oubaali of Algeria, Kazakhstan's Birzhan Zhakypov, Ssherali Dostiyev of Tajikistan and Lukasz Maszcyk of Poland and all these guys are also competing in Beijing," said Velasco.
That is why the Chinese boxer stands in the way of Tañamor's bid for the country's first ever Olympic gold, said the Bago City native.
"But make no mistake about Harry. I am convinced he is up to the challenge. In terms of speed, footwork, mental toughness and overall skills, Harry can very well match up with the Chinese," Velasco stressed.
He added: "But I have one advise for Harry - against the Chinese - I want to see him sharpen his counter-attack in order to frustrate Zou, who is a hit-and-run tactician."
Compared to the Chinese boxer, Tañamor boasts of solid credentials since he has beaten nine of the 27 Olympic qualifiers during the Chicago world championships. (HCV)
