FILIPINO pug Ronald Chavez, Jr. outlasted his Hungarian opponent Karoly Botos, 3-2, to mark his Aiba Youth World Boxing Championships 2016 debut on high note in Saint Petersburg, Russia Friday, November 18.

Chavez got the nods of judges American Jeffrey Friedman, Argentinian Gonzalo Guzman and Italian Maria Rizzardo who all scored the bout, 29-28, in their men's light welterweight (64 kilograms) encounter.

Judges Wulfren Olivares of Colombia and South Korean Jung Sook Cho, for their part, favored Botos who each recorded 29-28.

Chavez will next face top-seeded Hugo Micallef of Monaco who drew a first round bye.

Filipino coach Ronald Chavez, in a message sent to Amateur Boxing Alliances of the Philippines (Abap) Ed Picson and furnished to SunStar Davao Saturday, said his wards Carlo Paalam, Mark Lumbab, and John Patrick Cagumay will have yet to see action.

Paalam faces Alarcon Ternera of Colombia while Lumbab battles Bowe Jack of Australia and Cagumay clashes against Frankham Charles of England.

Ranjo Napoles, meanwhile, will collide with Patrick Donovan of Ireland.

The latter defeated Durkacz Damian of Poland.

A total of 351 boxers from 65 countries are competing for honors in the tournament.

Coach Chavez said the lean-but-mean delegation is well except for the freezing cold weather.

"Okay naman po kami lahat dito Sir. Hindi lang po kami makalabas-labas sa sobrang lamig. Madalas ding mag-snow po," the coach reported to Picson.

Also part of the team is coach Elias Recaido, Jr.