MANILA, Philippines – Filipino featherweight Charly Suarez scored the Philippines’ first win in the ongoing China Open Tuesday by hammering Syrian Chaman Weesap, 9-5, in Guiyang, Guizhou Province, China.

According to PhilBoxing.com, the 22-year-old Suarez started strong, even scoring a standing-8 count against his opponent, to finish Round 1 with a 4-1 lead.

Weesap closed the gap by Round 3, which still ended in favor of the Filipino boxer, 7-5.

Amateur boxing is fought in 4 rounds per match. Each competitor is scored points based on the number of clean punches landed.

Suarez, a veteran of international competitions and a gold medalist in Laos SEA Games, dominated the Syrian in the final round to win the match.

“Malakas din yung kalaban pero akala ko babagsak na sa last round kasi nung tinamaan ko ng combination nayanig din,” Suarez told PhilBoxing.com.

Suarez’s win vindicated the losses of lightweight Jameboy Vicera and light welterweight Mark John Melligen, who were defeated by their respective opponents.

Saludar secures bronze in King’s Cup
Flyweight Victorio Saludar, meanwhile, outpointed his Nepalese foe in the 32nd King’s Cup in Bangkok, Thailand to secure at least a bronze medal in the tournament.

According to boxing analyst Ronnie Nathanielsz, Saludar dominated Sanwad Laxman of Nepal, 7-2, to advance into the semifinals.

Team Philippines, however, suffered its first setback in Thailand when featherweight Jhergigs Chavez, bowed to Jo-Min Jae of Korea via a heartbreaking 3-4 loss.

Chavez had scored a comfortable 3-0 win over Vietnam’s Nguyen Van Hung on opening night.