The Philippines' Rogen Ladon (centre, right) was inspired to victory by legendary boxing compatriot Manny Pacquiao (centre, left) on day three of the AIBA World Boxing Championships ©AIBA

Filipino light flyweight Rogen Ladon said he felt the support of onlooking compatriot Manny Pacquiao as he claimed an unexpected points win against number one seeded Mexican Joselito Velazquez Altamirano at the International Boxing Association (AIBA) World Championships here today.

A special guest of AIBA President C K Wu, eight-weight boxing world champion Pacquiao watched from the stands as Ladon swarmed the much-fancied Velazquez Altamirano with lightning-fast combinations from the opening bell. 

Velazquez steadied midway through the first round, but he found himself overwrought and ultimately fell to a 3-0 defeat.

"I felt I shined in the ring today," said Ladon.

"Our legend Manny Pacquiao was in the venue and I felt his support.

"I thank God I beat my Mexican rival and need only one step to get a medal in the Doha 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships.

"Still can’t believe it."

Pacquiao, who was invited to the event by C K Wu, President of AIBA, and Yousuf Ali Al-Kazim, President of the Qatar Boxing Federation and executive director of the Local Organising Committee, was quick to congratulate Ladon after the bout and spoke of how impressed he was by the standard of competition.

"It is a pleasure to be here among these exceptional boxers and supporting my fellow countryman Rogen Ladon at the historic first edition of the competition in the Middle East," he said.

"The boxers here are chasing not just gold, but a place in their national team for the Olympic Games, the dream of any sportsman and the result of years of hard work.

"The Qatar Boxing Federation and Local Organising Committee have provided a magnificent stage for them to compete on."

Manny Pacquiao (centre) was welcomed here by Yousuf Ali Al-Kazim (left), President of the Qatar Olympic Committee and executive director of the Local Organising Committee, and C K Wu, President of AIBA (right)
Manny Pacquiao (centre) was welcomed here by Yousuf Ali Al-Kazim (left), President of the Qatar Olympic Committee and executive director of the Local Organising Committee, and C K Wu, President of AIBA (right) ©AIBA

Shortly afterwards, the fight of the day saw Uzbekistan’s Murodjon Akhmadaliev, one of the most promising young bantamweight boxers around, comfortably defeat Kazakhstan’s Kairat Yeraliyev, a bronze medallist at the 2013 World Championships, 3-0. 

Former ASBC Asian champion Shiva Thapa of India appeared to be on the back foot after two rounds against World Series of Boxing (WSB) fighter Mohamed Hamout of Morocco, but he steadied himself enough to deliver a lethal left hook knock-out and win their bantamweight bout.

Similarly, reigning light welterweight EUBC European champion Vitaly Dunaytsev of Russia turned around his contest against Great Britain’s Pat McCormack after looking sluggish early on, and went on to book his place in the quarter-finals with a comfortable points win

Meanwhile, WSB team champion and London 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Yasniel Toledo Lopez was the first Cuban boxer to take to the ring in Doha.

Leading from the front, he won all his rounds against Morocco’s Abdelhak Aatakni and seems a strong contender for the light welterweight title.

In the evening session, the hopes of Qatari light welterweight Thulasi Tharumalingam were extinguished, along with those of the home fans, after just 80 seconds as Uzbekistan's Fazliddin Gaibnazarov beat him by TKO.

Baku 2015 European Games gold medallist Michael O’Reilly of Ireland took it to Australian middleweight Daniel Lewis in the first round of their match, and with the crowd firmly behind him, he had the bout sewn up by the mid-point of round two.

O’Reilly wasn’t helped in his quest for a medal by any surprise results, as young Uzbek star Bektemir Melikuziev wore down a gutsy challenge from Frenchman Christian Mbilli Assomo, while defending champion Zhanibek Alimkhanuly had a straightforward route through to the quarter-finals at the expense of Mexico’s Misael Rodriguez Olivas.

Underlining their prowess in the ring, Cuba had no fewer than five boxers in action on day three, all of whom progressed to the last eight.

Toronto 2015 Pan-American Games winner Andy Cruz Gomez replaced London 2012 Olympic champion Robeisy Ramirez in the team, but was able to see off EUBC European champion Bakhtovar Nazirov of Russia in their bantamweight match.

Also flying high are Azerbaijan, Russia and Uzbekistan, all of whom have four boxers qualified for the quarter-finals, while Ireland have three.



Related stories
October 2015: Pandemonium as Pacquiao pays visit to AIBA World Boxing Championships
October 2015: Official medical partner of 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships to host specialised medical conference
October 2015: Uzbekistan shine on day two of AIBA World Boxing Championships as hosts Qatar make history
October 2015: Daniel Etchells: Opening day of World Boxing Championships really Pacs a punch as AIBA President announces the visit of Filipino great
October 2015: Temple and Melikuziev demonstrate their punching prowess on opening day of AIBA World Boxing Championships