Boxing: Mark Ashley Fajardo off to rousing start in Asian Games 2023

0Shares

Mark Ashley Fajardo made a smashing debut in the 19th Asian Games after scoring a first round knockout of Bhutan’s Dorji Wangdi at the start of boxing competitions Sunday, September 24, at Hangzhou gymnasium.

The young native of Cebu made it easy and quick by setting up Wangdi with a straight right, and then delivering a left to the jaw that dropped his foe to the canvas.

The Bhutan fighter tried to beat the mandatory eight count, but stood on wobbly legs, prompting the referee to stop the bout at the 2:21 mark.

Mark Ashley Fajardo of the Philippines [photo from Mark Ashley Fajardo Facebook]
Mark Ashley Fajardo of the Philippines [photo from Mark Ashley Fajardo Facebook]

It was an unexpected end to the light-welterweight bout which was only Fajardo’s second international exposure.

“Nagulat ako. Hindi ko inasahan na ganun ang mangyayari,” the soft-spoken boxer said.

The impressive win somehow made up for the loss of Aira Villegas earlier in the women’s 50 kg class.

The 28-year-old Filipina lost by points to Mongolia’s Yesugen Oyuntsetseg, 3-1, to bow out of the tournament.

Olympians Eumir Marcial and Irish Magno hope to ride the momentum of Fajardo’s inspiring win as they also see action later in the night.

Magno is slated to face Nigina Uktamova of Uzbekistan in the women’s 54 kg class, while Marcial, bronze medalist in the Tokyo Olympics, takes on Mongolia’s Dalai Ganzorig in the day’s last match in the 80 kg class.

Related Posts
FlexBox offers fitness buffs new kind of personal training despite pandemic
FlexBox photo

FlexBox offers people a new kind of way to book appointments with fitness buffs, allowing them to have workout session Read more

Eumir Marcial hits back, row with ABAP worsens
Eumir Marcial

Marcial, who jolted the sporting establishment by going public on the lack of financial support as he prepares for the Read more

Pandemic woes: GAB clears issue on Singwangcha Foundation
Games and Amusement Board Chairman Baham Mitra

Chairman Baham Mitra defended the Games and Amusements Board on its alleged failure to give pension to retired boxers as Read more

Dubai nightmare: Lesson for humility
Eumir Marcial

By this time, Eumir Felix Marcial must have learned a lesson or two about humility. What transpired in Dubai’s Asian Read more

0Shares

Leave a Reply