Bacolod-born boxer Albert Pabila stepped up his bid for a spot in the 2007 Southeast Asian Games and the 2008 Summer Olympics by ruling the lightflyweight division of an invitational tournament in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The victory of the 22-year-old Pabila, who hails from Barangay Handumanan, was relayed to the DAILY STAR by fellow RP Team member and Asian Games gold medalist Joan Tipon, whose slot in the Azerbaijan tilt was given to Bagoeño Junel Cantancio.

Cantancio, however, suffered a first-round defeat against a Jordanian fighter, whom Tipon said he has already beaten in the finals of the Tammer Cup in Finland last year.

Tipon said Pabila, a champion in the Australia Tri-Nation Tournament last year, is competing for a SEA Games slot against veteran internationalist Harry Tañamor and Cadiz native Godfrey Castro, who brought home a bronze from the Doha Asiad. *CPT

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