Even without its most accomplished pug, the president of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines yesterday expressed optimism that members of the RP Team who will see action in the Doha Asian Games can break the 12-year gold drought for the sport.

"All of them are gold medal prospects," ABAP president Manny Lopez told the DAILY STAR last night in a phone interview.

The last time boxing made a golden harvest in the Asiad was in 1994 in Hiroshima, where Negrenses Mansueto "Onyok" Velasco, Elias Recaido and Reynaldo Galido accounted for three golds. Lopez, however, added that the door is already closed for multi-titled Harry Tañamor, leaving the door open for Negrenses Godfrey Castro of Cadiz City and Albert Pabila.

Tañamor bagged a bronze in the 2002 Busan Asian Games duplicating the feat of Romeo Brin during the same year and Eric Canoy in 1998.

"It's game over for him (Tañamor). We want to discipline our boxers and this is one way of showing that there are no sacred cows in the team," Lopez, whose wards bagged nine golds in the Southeast Asian Games last year, said.

The ABAP president said he hopes Tañamor's sacking will help inspire the remaining members of the team. "This shows that discipline is always paramount," he added. Lopez said both Castro and Pabila will participate in a tri-nation meet in Baguio early next month as part of the selection process.

"Our boxers just need a little fine-tuning, especially (Joan) Tipon," Lopez further said.

Tipon, who hails from Talisay City, emerged as the lone Filipino gold medalist in the recent Tammer Cup in Finland. He also won a gold in the SEA Games, after emerging as the best boxer in the Asian Championships in Vietnam last year.

Also part of the Asian Games-bound squad are SEAG gold medalist Genebert Basadre, Violito Payla, Daniel Boholst*CPT

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