Will Thai star Woorapoj Petchkoom once again turn Bacoleño Joan Tipon's Olympic dream into a nightmare?

The answer will be known today when the two fighters who are armed with similar styles square off in a do-or-die duel in the bantamweight division of the Asian Olympic Boxing Qualifiers in Bangkok , Thailand .

But the excitement of possibly gaining a slot in the Beijing Games has been tempered by the idea that a possible hometown decision may once again put Tipon's Olympic dream on hold.

Tipon, however, seems undaunted.

“Just watch me there inside the ring,” he said after dismantling Pakistan 's Mukammamad Ali for his second win Monday to forge the rematch with Petchkoom, whom he beat in snaring the Asian Games gold medal in 2006.

Tipon won that fight by superiority after the judges had scored, 13-all.

But Tipon was sent crashing back to earth by Petchkoom in the Chicago World Championships, where the Thai came away with a commanding 13-5 win.

The former Negros Amateur Boxing Association protégé said he was way below his best in Chicago .

He pointed out that he has improved by 40 per cent since losing to Petchkoom, flashing all-around ring savvy in scoring two convincing victories on his way to a semis duel with the Thai.

Only the gold and silver medalists will be given slots in the Beijing Games, reason why Tipon, being the last Filipino fighter in the hunt, is hard pressed to win.

Boxing officials, likewise, have brought up two scenarios that will increase the probability of a Tipon victory.

“He must take extreme care not to get hit,” RP coach Pat Gaspi said in a press release from the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines .

ABAP president Manny Lopez, on the other hand, believes Tipon could win only by knockout, sounding off caution there would be cheating in scoring to favor the Thai today.

“Nobody wins here if the Thai finishes the fight standing,” Lopez said.

Gaspi also acknowledged that Tipon's fate lies in the hands of the judges.

“He must stay out, otherwise they would score even nudges,” Gaspi explained.

In forging a duel with Tipon, Petchkoom had a nervy start before settling down to beat Holmuratov Ulugbek of Uzbekistan on Tuesday.

The Thai claims he was only 75 percent of his old self, following that win but has now insisted he is peaking fast.

In the other semifinal bout today, India 's Akhil Kumar battles Chol Jin Ryom of North Korea .

The semifinal winners today gain automatic slots to the Beijing Olympics. And with the scenarios drawn up by RP boxing officials, Tipon needs should do more than his best.*CPT

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