The Philippine boxing team’s hopes now rest on Leo Mhar Lobrido after Justin James Zampatti bowed out of the 3rd Asian Youth Games. Zampatti fell in the preliminaries of the boys’ 75kg division Monday at Hall 9 of the Exhibition World Bahrain.
In his first international competition, the 15-year-old Zampatti suffered a referee stoppage at 1:44 of the second round against Uzbekistan’s Diyorbek Murodilloev. He received two standing eight counts near the end of the first round before a third prompted the referee to stop the bout.
![Leo Mhar Lobrido eyes a spot in the light flyweight final. [POC photo]](http://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Boxing-Leo-Mhar-Lobrido1.jpg)
Lobrido to carry Philippines’ hopes
Zampatti’s loss left 16-year-old Lobrido as the lone fighter representing the six-man Philippine boxing squad. A nephew of Olympians Isidro and Virgilio Vicera, Lobrido is already guaranteed a bronze medal.
He will aim higher Tuesday in the boys’ 46kg semifinals against Abdugani Yorkinjonov of Uzbekistan. Lobrido has previously sparred with Yorkinjonov during a training camp in China.
“They were able to spar against each other, pero more of a training camp yun,” said Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines secretary general Marcus Jarwin Manalo. “May tournament din doon, but hindi naman sila nagkalaban.”
Other Filipino boxers sidelined alongside Zampatti were Ernale Caballero, Jefferson Amaya, John Michael Estorba, and Shairylle Pores.
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