The PLDT-ABAP National Boxing Team plunged into action in the Sydney Jackson Memorial Tournament less than a day after arriving in Uzbekistan.

Charly Suarez drew the very first bout of the tournament, seeing action right after the opening ceremony at the Universal Uzbekistan Stadium in downtown Tashkent.

Suarez proved much classier than Ismoil Haitbaev, his Uzbek opponent, who thought he could intimidate Suarez by tangling with the 23-year old Davaoeno in the first round.

The Filipino however displayed blinding speed and accuracy to take the first canto 4-2, then stepped on it in the second, 14-5, before coasting along in the third to win it, 18-6.

As of press time, he was fighting against Fazliddin Gaibnazarov of UZB1 and, if he keeps winning, will fight every single day until the finals Friday.

Not as lucky was light-welterweight Dennis Galvan who was in bout number 16, and had to wait four hours before getting into the ring.

He fought another Uzbek, Ergashali Tursunov, whom he hit with some explosive left hooks in the first round, giving the 2011 SEA Games native the upperhand, 4-2.

Galvan started to fade in the second round, practically getting beaten to the punch, giving up the lead, 8-9.

The 20- year old Bago City native gamely tried to get it back in the third but was visibly spent and missed badly, resulting in the 17-11 final tally for the Uzbek.

Also seeing action yesterday were Ian Clark Bautista of Negros Occidental against Uzbek Lihom Inomov, Olympics-bound Mark Anthony Barriga against Temirtas Jusupov of Kazakhstan, and World Junior Champion Eumir Felix Marcial of Zamboanga against Shahboz Muhammadov.

Coaches for the team are former Olympians Ronald Chavez and Roel Velasco.*PNA

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